TuklaserangMatipid | Philippine Travel Blog

GEVORA HOTEL DUBAI - WORLDS TALLEST HOTEL

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 01:09:00 +0000

GEVORA HOTEL DUBAI

Gevora hotel has taken the title last 2018 as the worlds tallest hotel standing at 356 meters and 53 centimeters high that makes a meter taller than the previous title holder, the JW Marriott Marquis. Went to Dubai last January and had the opportunity to stay for 4 nights in the 68th floor which we requested days before our intended stay. We booked a Superior Sheikh Zayed View Room which cost around Php 10,000 per night ( $180) with free breakfast . The room also boast impressive view of Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed road and Burj Al Arab right in your room window. Room amenities includes coffee maker, small fridge, tea, water and coffee, an iron and ironing board, in-room safe, refrigerator, hairdryer and free WIFI. By the way, Gevora have six elevators where you can reach the highest floor in 38 seconds.

Gastronomy

For just 100 AED per person, take your dining experience to a whole new level. Highest view Lounge and Restaurant is located at the 75th floor of the hotel, the restaurant is the highest in middle east and unparalleled 360 degree view over the entire city and iconic landmarks such as Burj Khalifa and Royal Palaces. Other restaurants are Le Veyron Cafe on the first floor next to the lobby and Gevora kitchen located at the mezzanine floor . We had our sumptuous breakfast at Le Veyron Cafe that caters for both in-house guest and walk-ins.

Persian Gulf

Burj Khalifa can be seen beside the front building

It will end its reign as the worlds tallest hotel when Dh2 billion Ciel hotel in Dubai, Marina is completed later this year which stands at 365 meters tall surpassing Gevora. Hotel experience was very good, quite expensive but worth every penny. Food was great, guest experience was top notch and our check-in experience was seamless. Gevora's location was a big plus because it's close to everything like the metro station was just 3 minute walk, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall is just a 15 minute walk, Museum of the Future is just a 10 minute walk. Overall it was great and highly recommended.

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Siem Reap Travel Guide | Everything You Need to Know

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Wed, 12 May 2021 12:33:00 +0000

If you think of Cambodia, what is it that comes to your mind first? Some would say Tomb Raider, others would think of Angkor Wat, while some think of exotic food or the bad past that took place 45 years ago in the hands of the Khmer Rouge.

Five years ago, We took a 3 hour flight from Manila, Philippines to the capital city of Siem Reap, the gateway to the temples of Angkor. We landed twenty past ten in the evening (10:20 PM) to be exact and were ushered to the immigration entrance of the airport. The immigration process was seamless and made our way out of the airport. Awesome! because our hotel pick -up service was already waiting near the exit and quite impressed because there were no taxi touters around trying to scam or intimidate you.The driver then took us to his tuktuk, a two wheeled open carriage that is attached to the driver's motorbike. We took off towards the main road that leads to the city and passed by some nice hotels with grandiose facade. There are few expensive hotels like Sokhalay Angkor and Anjali but most hotels are not that expensive. We arrived at the hotel past 11:00 pm and the checked -in was fast and seamless.

Where to Stay?

There are plenty of hotels to choose from that suits your budget. They can range from Php 1,500 ( $30) to Php 10,000 ( $200). You can check on Agoda to get a lower price or similar booking gateway. I highly recommend Rithy Rine Angkor Residences because of positive reviews, location, inexpensive and hospitality. We paid around Php 1,500 ($30) for the pool view room with breakfast and WiFi. For the hospitality side, the staff were great and they tend to our needs as soon as possible. Rithy Rine Angkor is just a kilometer away from the famous Pub street and there's a convenience store nearby where you can buy Angkor beer and snacks.

Currency:

Cambodia is the only country that accepts both USD and Riel. While the riel is the official currency of Cambodia, the US dollar dominates. All the prices displayed in Siem Reap are in dollars. Dollar bills need to be kept crisp, clean and most importantly untorn, especially for larger notes. If your $100 bill has the tiniest of tears in it, the chances are it will be rejected. While many of the major outlets, hotels and restaurants now accept credit and debit cards, the vast majority of the country’s small- and medium-sized businesses only accept cash. There are ATM's and banks where you can withdraw foreign currencies with a fee if you run out of cash.

Transportation:

Tuktuk rides in Siem Reap cost around Php 100.00 - 250.00 ($2.00 - 5.00). Temple tours can range from Php 500.00- 1500 ( $10 -25). You can check this post Must See Temples in Siem Reap for more more information. You can also hire a private car that cost around Php 2,000 to 3500 ( $40-60) to tour you around.

Where to Eat?

Pub Street is the place if you want to eat good food or have a drinking session with your friends and family. Plenty of restaurants to choose from, whether western, asian or traditional cuisine. There are several fine dining restaurants in Siem reap like the Embassy Khmer Gastronomy which earned a lot of positive reviews from travelers, Abacus Restaurant and Cuisine Wat Damnak.

Visa:

For Visa information head to this link https://www.embassyofcambodiadc.org/how-to-get-a-visa.html .

Siem Reap Tips

Bring small dollar bills because small stores and shops don't have change for $100 dollar bill.
Avoid fish spa. Total waste of money.
Go shopping at the old market. You can find just about anything under Php 250.00 ($5.00).
Get a full body Khmer massage for only Php 600.00 ( $6.00).
Take a cooking and pottery class.
Planned your itinerary well. Traffic is a major problem in Siem reap.
Get a travel insurance before traveling to Siem Reap.
Wear mosquito repellent bands when visiting the temples during wet months.

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THE BLUE PUMPKIN CAFE

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Tue, 11 May 2021 02:00:00 +0000

After hopping from one store to another for some souvenirs in Pub street, we decided to stopped by at Blue Pumpkin to refresh ourselves and seek refuge from the blistering 38 degrees heat outside. The Blue Pumpkin is a home grown French bakery, an ice cream parlor and a restaurant combined. They are known for their delicious ice cream, fantastic desserts and a delectable array of pastries that you will surely love. We didn't order their famous ice cream because we had it yesterday so we decided to try their desserts instead. The price is fair and what we like about this place is their lounge. It's a fabulous place to relax, check your emails, surf and yes, they offer free WiFi to their customers.

Plenty of space

The desserts was fantastic and they are a must-try when you visit Siem Reap. The staff's and service were great. The place is tidy and clean. We grab some macaron's on our way out and have them as a snack inside the bus to Phnom Penh. Blue Pumpkin is open from 7am to 11 pm daily.

The Blue Pumpkin
563 Mondol 1
Svay Dang Kum
Siem Reap, Cambodia
TEL: (855) 063 963 574
FAX: (855) 063 760 742

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Must See Temples in Siem Reap Before You Get Templed - Out

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 05:23:00 +0000

ANGKOR WAT

Siem Reap, Cambodia is where the iconic Angkor Wat - world's largest religious monument in the world is located and home of 72 more temples housed inside the massive Angkor Archeological Park ready to be explored. On top of that, Cambodia is known for its exotic food, cheap accommodations and unrivaled Khmer hospitality with a smile that makes Cambodia a worthy destination in Southeast Asia. The temples are Siem Reap's biggest draw, attracting 2 million tourist annually. The area is massive and should be plan well on which temples you would like to visit before you get "templed-out"

Templed-out - a phrase bandied about by travelers to describe the dead legs and the slightly blasee attitude to incredibly beautiful architecture that comes of having seen too many temples

Getting to Angkor Archeological Park

Siem Reap has no public transport so a tour is the most cost-effective route to see the Angkor temples. It cost more or less $15 ( Php 778.96) per person to hire a tuktuk driver for one day. I highly recommend our very kind and patient tuktuk driver Sok Menea. If you want the tour more comfortable and relaxed , you can hire a private car for around $15.00 for a half day rental and $35.00 for a full day rental per person.

Routes and Temples

Tours are divided into two routes - small and big circuit. The most popular one is the small circuit but you can do both in 3 days .I'm pretty sure you will get templed-out on your third day because most of the temples are all the same. I suggest you create a customized itinerary and just handpicked the temples you would like to visit. You have to negotiate with the tour driver first if he allows it or not and would probably cost more if he does. We paid extra $5.00 ( Php 250.00) per person on top of our customized tour to see the magical sunrise in Angkor Wat.

Our Customized Itinerary

Angkor Wat Sunrise→ Bantay Srei → Ta Prohm →Bayon → Back to Angkor Wat

Small Circuit

Angkor Wat -The largest monument of the Angkor group and the best preserved, is an architectural masterpiece.Located south of the Angkor Thom, Angkor Wat is the most iconic and the most visited temple in Siem Reap.

Bayon - Stands in the center of Angkor Thom, Bayon is dubbed as the face temple and one of our favorite temples in Siem Reap.

Baphuon Temple - is one of the quieter of the main Angkor ruins, despite being almost right next to the Bayon Temple, with the Terrace of the Elephants nearby.

Ta - Phrom - Made famous by the movie " Lara Croft Tomb Raider" this temple is known for the huge trees and the massive roots growing out of its walls. You will be deeply fascinated on how the temple is devoured by the jungle in time.

Ta Keo - One of the first temples that is built using a sandstone. Consist of overlapping terrace and the towers represent the holy place Mount Meru.

Big Circuit

Preah Khan - The temple is located just outside the capital city Angkor Thom and was built in 1191; its name translates to “the Sacred Sword” It's also one of the largest complexes at Angkor, a maze of vaulted corridors, fine carvings and lichen-clad stonework.

Neak Pean - It's an artificial island situated in the middle of the Jayatataka Baray. It is surrounded by four smaller ponds that may have functioned as ablution ponds for pilgrims.
Ta Som - It's smaller than some of the other main temples at Angkor. The temple has well preserved bas-reliefs to examine without being jostled by crowds.
Pre Rup -This temple resembles Angkor Wat in a smaller scale and a perfect spot to see Angkor Wat during sunset.

Angkor Pass

The Angkor Pass costs $37.00 for a 1-day ticket, $62 for a 3-day ticket and $72 for a 7-day ticket. The ticket counter is open from 5:00 am to 5:30 pm and can be purchase using major credit cards ( Discovery, Visa, Mastercard, Union Pay, JCB and Diners Club), Cambodian Riel and US dollars.

TIP: If you're short on cash, there's an ATM machine beside the shop " Angkor Local Handicraft"

MUST SEE TEMPLES IN SIEM REAP

Weeks prior to our departure date, I contacted Sok Menea - our tuktuk driver and informed him about our custom itinerary which is adding Bantay Srei temple and Angkor Wat sunrise to the small circuit tour. Angkor Archeological Park is huge so it's not possible to tour both circuits in one day.You need at least 2 days to see all the temples in the list. The small circuit tour is the most popular tour where you will get to see the most famous temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park. Without further ado, here are the temples we visited in Siem Reap.

TIP: Angkor Passes bought after 5:00 pm will then be valid the next day. For example, If you bought your pass before 5:00 pm, it will be counted used for that day. But if you bought your pass after 5:00 pm, it will then be valid the next day. Quite useful to avoid queue at the ticket counter on the day of your tour.

Angkor Wat Sunrise

One of top bucket list by most travelers in Siem Reap is to visit Angkor Wat during sunrise where the sun rises behind Angkor Wat and creating hues of yellow, red and orange. This natural spectacle entice hundreds of tourist everyday armed with selfie sticks and professional cameras near the entrance of the complex. Woke up at 4:30 am and hit the road with our tuk-tuk driver and arrived at the ticket booth around 5:00. As soon as we got our passes, we head straight to the Angkor Wat entrance. The photo spot was easily filled with tourist, patiently waiting for the sunrise. It came but we failed because of low cloud cover and poor visibility. After the failed attempt, we head back to our hotel to have our breakfast and our tour officially started. Normally, tourist will visit Angkor Wat first then to other temples which is spread out in different parts of the park. The smart idea to beat the crowd is to visit the temples in reverse. Outlying temples first then Angkor Wat for the finale.

Failed Angkor Wat sunrise

Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei means " Citadel of Women," also known as the pink temple and said that the reliefs are so delicate that they could only have been carved by the hand of a woman. It is constructed with pink sandstone which has much better quality than grey sandstone used to build the Angkor temples. The quick downpour brought the details in much clearer view. It's the most beautiful temple we have visited and can't imagine how the details are made using only the tools available and the working hours spent building it.The doorway lentil is quite impressive as you can see.

Fully intact doorway in Banteay Srei

Impressive details of a doorway lentil

Banteay Srei temple which is commonly referred to as the 'jewel of Khmer art'

It started to rain again but didn't bother us at all because of our sheer excitement to explore the temple complex plus we have umbrellas, courtesy of our kind tuk-tuk driver. I was fascinated by the intricacy of the carvings in walls, columns and doorway lentils. Among the major temples like Angkor Wat, Bayon or Ta Prom, This temple has its own identity that stands out among other significant temples. Bantay Srei was not even built by a King, but rather a King’s Counselor.

Ta Prohm

If you're a huge Tomb Raider fan 19 years ago, then you might be interested to include this temple in your bucket list. It is located one and a half kilometers east of Angkor Thom (2 km by road). Ta Prohm catapulted to the international stage after portions of the Tomb Raider film were shot there. It's like stepping into a realm where colossal trees rule and act as the guardians of the land. At the temple entrance, a massive Banyan tree spreading roots awaits tourist and visitors to this enchanting place filled with overgrowth trees and temple ruins.

Ta Prohm Entrance

Surreal

Few meters from the temple entrance, lies ahead the most enchanting section of the temple. The sun made a cast through a small opening highlighting the ornate carvings on the wall. It was indeed a magical scene and was like straight out of a fantasy - adventure movie. Huge stone pillars provides support for the roof which is made of stone and bricks. There are a total of 48 ornate stone pillars supporting a corbelled roof in the temple.

Paramount Pictures paid $10,000 a day to film in the temple Ta Prohm for the 2001 film ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

The famous spot where people queue to get their photo op done. Ta Prohm is one of the few temples in the Angkor region where an inscription provides information about the temple's dependents and inhabitants. The inscription states that they were around 80,000 workers, including 2700 officials and 615 dancers. It was astounding and left abandoned after the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 15th century. You'll wonder how this giant Banyan tree worked its way up there seemingly devour the temple structures with its monstrous roots. Ta Prohm is left in much the same condition in which it was found to preserve the photogenic scenery and original atmosphere that gives visitors the experience of exploring an ancient site. Except for the maintenance, they have to trimmed the trees a bit, clear the undergrowth and reinforced some of the structures with steel to prevent further collapse.

Piles of ruined sandstones and laterite covered in lichen moss were scattered throughout the complex. Sadly, Ta Prohm was looted quite heavily in recent years and many of its ancient stone reliquaries have been lost.

Ta Prohm is one of the most impressive temples in Siem Reap and the most visited next to Angkor Wat. You need to have at least 2 hours to explore the maze -like corridors linking courtyards and temples. A must -see! and shouldn't be missed.

Bayon Temple

Located inside the center of the ancient city of Angkor Thom lies Bayon - a mountain temple built to represent Mount Meru, the center of the universe in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. Built from laterite, sandstone and sand in the late 12th century, Bayon was the last major temple constructed at Angkor. We called it " The Temple of Many Faces" or some call it " The face temple" on which giant mysterious faces were carved on stone towers and were believed to represent Brahma, the Hindu God of creation depicted with four heads. When it was later established that the Bayon was not a Hindu temple but a Buddhist one, archaeologists believed the faces to be of Lokeshvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion. The similarity of statues of Jayavarman VII and the face towers had led some to believe that it is the King himself whose face is depicted on the towers.

Outer Bas-relief Galleries

The bas-reliefs on the outer gallery are a marked departure from anything previously seen at Angkor. They contain genre scenes of everyday life as well as history scenes with battles and processions.. The relief are more deeply carved than at Angkor Wat but the representation is less stylized. The scenes are presented mostly in two or three horizontal panels.

Do not get so absorbed with the reliefs that you forget to stop at each opening and enjoy the view of the faces on the third level.

TIP: Appropriate attire when visiting temples in Angkor Wat is long pants (covering the knee) and shirts that cover shoulders. Skirts, small shorts, tank tops, and other items of revealing clothing are not allowed within temple grounds.

Over 2000 massive faces carved on 54 towers give this temple its majestic character. Its well- preserved bas-reliefs in the inner and outer galleries is a visual representation of
mythological, historical, and mundane scenes. Bayon remains on top our list as the most visually stunning temple we visited during our trip.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is the most iconic landmark in Cambodia and world's largest religious monument in the world. It's the crowning glory of a kingdom built 900 years ago that stood what in what is today northwestern Cambodia. It took 30 years to complete and dedicated to Vishnu, the Supreme God of Vaishnavite Hinduism. This enormous building complex is surrounded by moat- a wide trench about 200 meters wide and has a perimeter of 3 miles for security, water source, and a part of a complicated groundwater system. I has five lotus- shaped towers, a central tower surrounded by 4 small towers representing the five peaks of Mt. Meru.

TIP: Be careful of fake tour guides. Legit ones wear light yellow shirts and lanyards.

According to the inscription, A total of 6,000 elephants, 3000 ox-carts and 300,000 laborers were involved in the construction of Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat translates to "City of Temples" and it has become a symbol of Cambodia, appearing on its national flag, and many denominations of the riel. Angkor Wat is the country's main attraction with over a million tourist arrivals each year. The highlight of the temple are the 13,000 square feet of bas-reliefs intricately carved in the sandstone.

TIP: Don't lose your pass. Ticket checkers might check in random so have it always with you.

On Nov 1967, Jacqueline Kennedy, the US first lady, had a visit to the temple during the Vietnam War to persuade her “lifelong dream of seeing Angkor Wat”

You need at least a day to cover most of Angkor Wat's temple grounds. If you're into history or some sort, I would suggest getting the three day pass or the more relax 7 day pass. But for most tourist, a day pass is enough to cover what they call " The Big Three" namely Angkor Wat, Bayon and Ta Prohm. Got templed-out after Angkor Wat and decided to skipped Baphoun temple which is similar to other temples and head to the bus terminal to catch the 7:00 pm bus to Phnom Penh. Our itinerary felt short but we're pretty much contented with it.

MORE SIEM REAP TEMPLE TIPS

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes.
Wear insect repellent bands.
December and January is the best time to visit Siem Reap. The weather is sunny and dry. Just be aware that it's the peak tourist season and the streets are crowded.
Be careful of fake tour guides. Legit ones wear light yellow shirts and lanyards.
Don't feed the macaques in Bayon and Angkor Wat.
Don't give chocolates, candies and lollies to children. Dental care is expensive in Siem Reap. Instead, give them pencils or small items.

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Sihanoukville, Otres Beach | How to Get to Sihanoukville from Siem Reap

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 05:05:00 +0000

How to get to Sihanoukville from Siem Reap

After spending three wonderful days in Siem Reap, we bid farewell to our tuktuk driver (Sok Menea) who made our Siem Reap trip extra special. We head to Giant Ibis transport office located in Sivutha Boulevard and purchased tickets online for a five hour trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital for $15 ( Php 770.00). Our journey does not end there, we still have to board a bus for another five hours bound for Sihanoukville, a coastal town famous for having some of the best beaches in Cambodia. I'm not in any way connected to Giant Ibis or paid, but I highly recommend Giant Ibis for safety, comfort, reliability and road worthiness. The bus comes with onboard WIFI, power outlets, sanitize blankets, pillows and toilet. By the way, before you board, you will be given a plastic bag to put your shoes in. The bus had single and double berths, purchasing your tickets online gives you the flexibility to choose your berths. As of this writing, they had just open Siem Reap to Sihanoukville route to cater tourist who wants to go directly to the coastal town. You can book your tickets here and they charge $1.00 (Php 51.00) processing fee.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia's Capital

The following morning we arrived in Phnom Penh. Most shops and stores around are still closed and had to wait for 3 hours before we can board the first bus to Sihanoukville. Unfortunately, we were stuck in traffic for over an hour and had to change to another bus because of a faulty air conditioning system.We continued on and we only have one bathroom break for the entire journey.

The Coastal town of Sihanoukville

We arrived in Sihanoukville past noon and while they are offloading the luggage's, one of the passengers lost her mobile phone. I recognized her because we took the same night bus from Siem Reap. Gladly, they found her phone and was returned to her the following morning. Afer getting our bags, we took a 30 minute tuktuk ride to Otres Beach that will cost around $2.00 ( Php 110.00) . We passed by a roundabout called Golden Lion, It's the most prominent landmark in Sihanoukville that was constructed in 1996.

There are two beaches you can enjoy while visiting Sihanoukville: One is Ochheuteal Beach where late night bars and gigs are found, and the other one is Otres Beach if your looking for serenity and relaxation. We chose Otres over Ochheuteal because it's more quieter and serene. Oh I almost forgot, there's a third beach called Independence - It is less busy and quieter and good for swimming. We booked our 2 night stay in Mary Beach Bungalows- the location is great as well as the breakfast but quite disappointed with our room because it's not what we expected for $50 room. The roof is made of Nipa leaves with no ceiling and had a strong smell inside.

During our second night, we were awakened by a strange noise in the Nipa leaves just above us. We turned on the lights and spot something blending in the leaves. "At first I thought" it was a snake but it's a gecko about a feet long. It will probably freak me out if it's a snake.

Beautiful Sunset in Otres Beach

We were greeted with a beautiful sunset as we walk along the shore and got to photograph some of the activities that made this part of the beach a laid back feel. Also be prepared for hawkers to approach you throughout the day selling fruit, sunglasses, massages, boat tours & leg hair threading

Beautiful Sunset

Good food and Relaxing Ambience

There are no large restaurants on Otres, just a string of beach-shack bars and small restaurants. On our first night, we ordered some wood fire pizza nearby called Tokae and it was great. Breakfast buffet is included in our stay which is delicious and had to pay for additional $20 ( Php 1,000) for two for our lunch and dinner buffet. Most all of the beach restaurants serve seafood and more, but each place has its own unique flavor.

Cambodia's Paradise

Otres Beach is the next beach south of Ochheuteal Beach and resembles Ochheuteal in many ways - a three kilometer crescent of near white sand facing the southwest. But Otres is far less developed and touristed than Ochheuteal, offering a more leisurely, relaxed atmosphere, and caught the eye of Forbes this year, listed amongst the Top 22 Beaches in Asia.

Snorkeling and Plankton watching

You can do beach hopping or you can join a swimming and snorkeling day trip to Koh Rong Island - an island known for its sandy coves and coral reefs. Round trip ride cost around $30.00 ( Php 1,100) and takes 45 minutes or so or you can go the Sihanhoukville ferry terminal and ride from there which cost around $10 ( Php 510.00) per trip. If you're staying in Koh Rong, the easiest way for you to see the plankton is by booking a boat tour from main pier of the island.

Lounging and Relaxing

Our time here were spent lounging, eat good food and on my last day leg hair threading - a technique of hair removal using just normal sewing thread for about $5.00 ( Php 220.00) Quite effective because the hair did not reappear for another few weeks.

Getting to Sihanoukville from Siem Reap

Getting here is fairly easy. Head to the Giant Ibis main office in Siem Reap in Sivutha boulevard and catch the bus from there. You can book your tickets at their main office or you can get it online through the website. Once you arrived in Sihanoukville, hire a tuktuk to get to your hotel or guesthouse.

Travel Tips

The beach is safe but the main road have no lights. Always bring a torch or something to navigate.
Otres Market is only open on Saturdays during high season, It's a Goa-inspired weekend market featuring all sorts of local handicrafts and products, food and drinks. After dark, live music and dance acts start playing to the crowds.
Otres Beach is more cleaner than Ochheuteal Beach and Serendipity in terms of garbage and water quality.
Always have a travel insurance when traveling to Cambodia. You can get a free quote below.

Overall, we enjoyed staying at Otres despite the issues we had with our accommodation. The people are friendly and safe. Just lounging and relaxing by the beach is what we need to prepare ourselves for the back breaking ride to Phnom Penh and finally a 10 hour bus trip to Ho Chi Minh City.

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5 EXOTIC CAMBODIA STREET FOODS WE DARE YOU TRY

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Sun, 12 May 2019 23:16:00 +0000

The Khmer Rouge took control of the Cambodian government in 1975, with the goal of turning the country into a communist agrarian utopia. Polpot (Khmer Rogues leader) wanted to reset everything, Anyone considered an intellectual, including teachers, doctors, nurses, journalists, authors and people who wore glasses is killed. His victims were often forced at gunpoint to dig their own graves which are now known as "the Killing Fields." Forms of livelihood that were difficult to centralize were also destroyed, including hospitals, medicine and trees. His three year regime finally ends when Vietnam invaded and depose Polpot and later died in his sleep on April 15, 1998, at age 72 due to heart failure. An estimated 1.5 to 2 million Cambodians died of starvation, execution, disease or overwork during the Khmer Rouge regime. Plague by massive starvation, Cambodians took to eating whatever insects, snakes, snails and frogs they could find. And now, without further ado, here is my top 5 exotic Cambodian treats we dare you to try.

STIR FRIED SILKWORMS PUPAE

Silkworms aren't just good for silk but a tasty snack as well to the Cambodians. Haven't tried it but I think it's gooey on the inside. They use strong marinade mix before roasting to replace the flavour and to get rid of the strong metallic insect taste. I read it somewhere that trying it is a liquidy and popping experience.

FRIED WATER SNAKES

Water snakes are the most exploited for food and only found in the waters of Tonle Sap in Cambodia. They are insanely popular as a delectable treat by Cambodians, however, their numbers are declining because of wholesale slaughter that ends mostly in the streets of Cambodia. The snakes are gutted out, sprinkled with mix spices and powder, speared it in a bamboo stick then fry. Some say they taste like chicken but haven't tried it.

FRIED TARANTULAS

Tarantulas gained notoriety for their black ,venom and fearsome appearance to humans. In Cambodia, this creepy crawlies are considered a delicacy. They are sprinkled with spices and some seasoning then into a hot pan for several minutes. Some of them are slightly shriveled during the cooking process and sold in Cambodia streets for Php 50.00 ( $1.00). I think there is some sort of cooking techniques when cooking tarantulas with the urticating hairs on because from what I've heard, the hairs will give you some sort of gastric distress when consume.

STIR FRIED CRICKETS

Crickets are considered plague in most parts of the world, but in Cambodia, they are eaten as snacks and are sold for less than a dollar in Road 60- a famous street market. I think they used a strong seasoning and bath them with spices to get rid of the Cricket's foul odor.

STEAMED RIVER SNAILS

The snails are spiced either with red chili sauce or with garlic and salt. Sold by the bucket or the cup, it makes for an interesting treat to snack on! Batches of snails are sold by the container, an entire “bucket” costing roughly 30,000 riel ($7.40). Some vendors sell up to 100,000 riel worth of snails per day.

To eat safely this street food you want to make sure the snail are thoroughly cooked. Try a sample and decide if you ready to indulge for more! By the way, some of the stalls have a " No Taking of Photos Sign" you have to buy first before you can take pictures.

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Siem Reap's Road 60 | Where to buy cheap produce and exotic food

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Sun, 13 Jan 2019 10:50:00 +0000

Located in the outskirts of Siem Reap town, about 15-30 min by Tuktuk, is a place where locals hang out after days work. Every evening after 5:00 PM, this one-kilometer stretch of road comes alive as locals gather to dine or buy fresh produce which is much cheaper from the city. Food stalls offering a variety of local bbq and snacking options, a night market selling everything from deep-fried tarantulas and crickets to silk worms and a rainbow of tropical fruits. Many mats are laid out for visitors who wish to dine or drink "picnic style". Other stalls sell everything from Children toys, jeans to bags to shoes to bracelets, cellphone chargers and accessories. Quite early to check the place out but we took it as an advantage to capture some images with a less crowded scene. It's exclusively local and you won't find a mass of tourist coming your way not like Pub street in downtown Siem Reap.

Window shopping without windows

Getting here

Hire a tuktuk from downtown Siem Reap for Php 1,200 ($18-20) round trip. Just tell the driver "Road 60" or show him the location in the google map.

Vibrant Atmosphere

Mats are laid out " picnic style "

Some have portable stoves for DIY cooking

Fruits are much cheaper than those in downtown Siem Reap

Fruits to be sell in the stalls

Prepping some Cambodian snacks to sell

Heading towards the aroma of fried insects

CAMBODIAN DELICACY

It's worth a try but we have solid itinerary the following day. I don't want to mess that up with a bad stomach or something. A cup of boiled snails is about 2,000 Riel ( 0.49 USD) and fried silkworms cost around 3000 Riel ( 0.74 USD). These edible critters are a good source of protein and a daring experience for foodies and tourist

Fried Crickets and Silkworms

Boiled Snails

Tuktuk

An hour later, we're back on the road and into the Cambodian traffic.We bought some exotic fruits like Salak and Burmese Grapes for us to try, then went outside the hotel to grab some Angkor beer and dinner at a nearby store to finish off the night.Our Road 60 experience was great and that stretch of road is a summary of Cambodians way of life. The only strip where they can dine, be merry and drink in their own local way " Cambodian Style" .

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Daraga Church: Albays Architectural Gem

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 02:20:00 +0000

A beautiful and rustic church, perched on top of the hill in Albay, Nuestra Señora de la Porteria Parish Church commonly known as Daraga Church built by the Franciscans in 1772 under the patronage of the Our Lady of the Gate. Certain church sections were declared as a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2007. The design of the Daraga Church can be described as a blend of architectural styles: Renaissance Gothic and Mexican baroque and was supposedly built by the women (thus the name "Daraga" which means Lady/Single Woman). The facade was carefully carved from volcanic stones and some distinct features of the Daraga Church facade include four spiral columns with medallions at the center of each column bearing images of the four Evangelists. One of the best location to see Mayon's beauty and grandeur.

Getting here

From Legazpi City: Ride a jeep marked ‘Daraga-Legazpi’. Alight at the Daraga Municipal Hall. A staircase at the right of the Municipal Hall will take you to the church.

The church facade and the majestic Mayon

The arch over the entrance has an inscription in Latin which reads, "Bene fundata est domus Domini supra firmam petram" (Well founded is the house of the Lord on firm rock)

A simple and perfect interior with natural lightning

What a spectacular view!

Restoration had been completed. Exposure to the elements for more than 230 years has eroded the architectural details of the facade made from blocks of volcanic rock. A lime coating was applied which is meant to save the church for future generations although it obliterated the famous ‘old world’ look temporarily. The protective coat will enhance and protect the structure and in a year’s time the church facade will return to its original look. Today, the church is one of the most visited destinations in the province of Albay and a good location to see Mayon.

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Exploring Caramoan: Bicol's Kept Secret

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 04:06:00 +0000

Our trip to Caramoan is one of the highlights during our Bicol trip and were incredibly blessed to have been able to cross this one off of the list. Eric and I wanted to visit Caramoan ever since, but the plan have been shelved for the time being due to lack of time and rising airline prices. It took us 2 years to finally mapped out and include Caramoan in our travel plans for 2016. This half-hidden paradise located at the tip of Caramoan Peninsula , has made its name as one of the top destinations in the Philippines and on a par with Coron and El Nido. Not just that, Caramoan soared to fame even more when the popular reality show " Survivor" was filmed there.

Getting to Caramoan

It is quite challenging to visit because of the different transportation modes you need to use before you can reach the island but getting there is definitely worth it.You can check this post on how to get here.

What to see?

The main draw are its beautiful islands surrounded by crystal clear waters and populated by diverse rich marine corals making it in our top list as one of the best so far. So here is a quick list of islands and beaches we visited during our trip. Some of the islands are closed because of the ongoing filming of the Survivor franchise.By the way, we paid around Php 4,000 for a whole day private boat tour excluding lunch.

According to our guide and boatman, the Survivor franchise contract is 20 years

MINALAHOS ISLAND

Minalahos is known for the towering limestone cliffs comparable to Coron in Palawan. It's quite unique because you can walk to the opposite side in under 5 minutes.Crystal clear water gently laps the white sandy shore of the island.

Crystal clear waters of Minalahos

Just a short stroll to the opposite side of Minalahos

Such a Beautiful Island

MATUKAD ISLAND

Just a short boat ride from Minalahos is the most popular island in Caramoan " Matukad". Our guide and boatman had already informed us the day before that he's unsure if Matukad is already open because of the ongoing filming of Survivor. Luckily, the filming crew had already left before we arrived. We climbed up for about 10-15 meters without safety ropes or gears to see the lagoon and to get a good view of Matukad. The climb was definitely worth it as you get to see the amazing view at the top. On the opposite side is a lagoon where a giant milk fish lives. The locals believed that the little creature protects the island and brings ill fortune to those who harm it.

Gorgeous view from the top

The hidden lagoon where a giant milk fish lives

Majestic view from the top

LAHUS ISLAND

Located just minutes away from Matukad is Lahus Island. It's closed for filming so we don't have the opportunity to visit the island.

COTIVAS SANDBAR

From Matukad we traveled for an hour to a sandbar near Cotivas Island. We docked and saw the dreaded box jelly fish. You can easily tell that it's a box because of its long tentacles and boxy umbrella shape body. Unlike most jellyfish, the box are fairly adept at navigating around obstacles and swimming swiftly to a desired location. The box jellyfish's venom is among the most deadly in the world, containing toxins that attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. You're in serious trouble if you get stung because the nearest hospital is in Tawog which is an hour away from Cotivas and another 20 min to the hospital by trike. Going back, we lose track of the jelly fish and our guide set up a beach umbrella for us while they head off to Cotivas Island to cook our lunch. About an hour later, our lunch is cooked and off we went to the most visited sandbar in Caramoan " Manlawi Sandbar".

Calm and Blue Skies

Box Jellyfish

Idyllic place to doze off

MANLAWI SANDBAR

Manlawi Sandbar is situated east of Cotivas Island and on the shore of Lahuy Island. It only appears during lowtide and completely submerge during high tide. Entrance fee is Php 50.00 and Php 100.00 if you opt to rent a hut. We didn't rent but instead we set up our beach umbrella in the middle of the sandbar and put a table and chairs courtesy of our boatman. It was just an idea I shared to him the day before the island hopping but he did a good job in turning it into a reality. A fantastic experience and amazing place not to be missed when visiting Caramoan.

Mouth-Watering Lunch

SNORKELING NEAR CAGBALINAD ISLAND

Snorkeling in Cagbalinad is one of the best experienced we had during our Caramoan trip. The well intact and flourishing reefs is a good sign that Caramoan is not over exploited by unsustainable and excessive forms of tourism and fishing as their main livelihood on the island. I wonder how great it will be if the reefs in Boracay is as good as this.

SABITANG LAYA

The Sabitang Laya came from two words which means in English "to where fishing nets are hung." Local fishermen use this area as their staging ground in fixing their nets before they go on fishing along other parts of the seas of the Caramoan peninsula. This island is also in Survivor's top list and will be closed if they are filming.This piece of paradise is a must visit and the shallow emerald-green waters are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

These are the list of islands closed during filming of the reality series: Sabitang Laya, Lahos, Matukad, Catanhawan, Pitogo Bay, Tupan Lagoon, Inayun-ayunan, Tayak and Mantapas

Picturesque Sabitang Laya

Sabitang Laya have the longest shore line in Caramoan

Back to our inn, I was really glad and personally thank our boatman and guide for the amazing experienced. The journey is long, quite hard and worth it all. Caramoan is a complete package- jaw dropping limestone cliffs, delicious food, kind people, amazing reefs, beautiful islands and not that touristy. Seeing the box jellyfish in Cotivas prompts us to call out the local government to be proactive on this matter. Teaching basic first aid to tour operators is the first step and hopefully resonates to other prime destinations like El Nido and Coron.
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How to get to Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 09:05:00 +0000

How to get to Caramoan Islands in Camarines Sur

Nestled in the eastern part of Camarines Sur are the islands of Caramoan which slowly become one of the prime destinations in the country because of its pristine white powdery sand beaches, jaw- dropping islands, unspoiled underwater ecosystem, crystal clear water and amazing people. Caramoan gain a global fame when the Survivor franchise debut its presence on April 2012( Survivor Philippines and 2013 ( Survivor Caramoan). The third season of the Serbian version of Survivor was also in Caramoan and another Survivor franchise were also filming when we got there.There are two ways to get to Caramoan Islands from Naga City.

From Manila via Night bus via Fuentabella Highway

Take an 8 hour bus ride from Araneta / Cubao bus station or Pasay Bus Terminal to Naga City. Fare is around Php 700 - 1000 depending on the bus company and class. First bus is at 8:30 am and the last bus is at 9:00 pm. You will arrive at Bicol Central Station between 4:00 am to 6:00 am then you have to catch the 6:30am bus ( Florencia, MRR or Raymond) bound for Caramoan. Fare is around Php 200-300 and the travel time is 4 hours. Once you arrive in Caramoan, take a trike going to your hotel or guesthouse.

From Naga City

From downtown Naga, hail a trike and tell the driver that you need to go to the Van Terminal or East Bound Terminal near St. Joseph School at the back of "SM City Naga". Take an aircon van to Sabang Port. Fare is around Php 150.00 and travel time is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once you are in Sabang Port, take the boat that goes to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. Boat fare is around Php 120.00 and the travel time is 1 hour and 45 minutes. Once you arrive in Caramoan, take a trike going to your hotel or guesthouse.

Please do take note that the last ferry boat going in and out of Caramoan is 11:00 am. Leave Naga City before 9:00 am to catch the last ferry.

During our trip we take the boat option going to Caramoan and took a Florencio bus going back to Naga City. Last bus from Caramoan to Naga City is around 5:30 pm.

Wayback, the passengers have to be carry out on a persons back to avoid getting wet. Worry no more, the locals build a make-shift bridge with floaters to stay you dry for a minimal fee.

If you're a little bit early and haven't taken your breakfast yet, there is a Carenderia ( Food stall) nearby where you can eat.

Inside the crowded boat

Beautiful landscape at San Miguel Bay

Guijalo Port ,Caramoan

Most locals prefer taking the boat because they feel more comfortable and relax rather than taking the bus. We took a Florencia bus from Caramoan to Naga and doze off by drinking Bonamine because I can't bear the winding roads and sharp turns. Sometimes we have to trust the locals because they know the best, but taking the bus was the only option at that time and we have to take it.
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Religious Landmarks, Food and Monuments You Can't Miss in Naga

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 02:04:00 +0000

While others nicknamed it as the "Heart of Bicol," or "Queen City of Bicol," we nicknamed it as the "Spicy Capital of Bicol." Yes, because it is here we first taste the exotic " Sili Ice Cream" dessert and the popular "Bicol Express" Not just that, a few minutes drive or walk from the city center will take you to the cradle of Christianity in Bicol and the largest church in Southern Luzon " Naga Cathedral / Porta Mariae."

RELIGIOUS LANDMARKS AND MONUMENTS IN NAGA CITY

NAGA CATHEDRAL

At the heart of the city's historic core is the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral, a massive squat structure first erected in 1595 and was destroyed by fire in 1768. In October 1856, it was damaged by typhoon was restored in 1862. The construction of present cathedral in Spanish-Romanesque style was finished in 1843 and damage by an earthquake in 1887. Restoration begun and on February 6, 1988, the cathedral was inaugurated. Battered by calamities from the past, it was renovated and boasts some pretty impressive design like the high arch and dome. A must-see when you visit Naga. You can reach Naga Cathedral by foot from San Francisco Church or ride a trike from downtown Naga for a minimal fare of Php 8.00.

SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH

Another church located in the heart of the city is the San Francisco Church built in 17th century. It serves as interrogation and torture halls of Filipinos who were arrested in 1896 during the Filipino- Spanish war. The church history is grimed but it is here where the Civil Governor of Camarines drafted his letter of surrender consequently offering the province of Ambos Camarines to the Filipinos. The church is located in Penafrancia St., just in front of Quince Martires plaza.

QUINCE MARTIRES

The plaza serves as a symbol of Philippine revolution against Spain and the memory of the 15 martyrs of Bicolandia who were executed by firing squad on January 4, 1897 in Bagumbayan field ( Luneta). The monument was built in 1926, was designed by Crispolo Zamora and sculpted by Jose Barcena.

FAMOUS EATS IN NAGA

SILI ICE CREAM

Spice up your palate and give your senses a rare treat with Bicol's Sili Ice Cream. I'm a fond of eating ice cream such as Haagen daz but I never encountered a taste so confusing like the Sili Ice Cream. There are 3 levels to choose from, level 1 is less spicy and 3 is the most spicy. We just try level 1 and it was sweet, creamy and the spiciness is just an aftertaste. Sili ice cream cost around Php 89.00 per order. By the way, we ordered some delicious Quesadillas beforehand as appetizers for Php 79.00. You can taste this rare treat at 1st Colonial Grill located at Elias Angeles St., Naga.

BIGG'S DINER

Not far from Colonial Grill is the biggest food chain in the region that has branches in Camarines, Goa, Pili and Naga. We tried their best selling molten lava cake and it did not disappoint. It was one of the best lava cake I had ever tasted. The sweetness is just right and has a gooey chocolate center and will keep you coming back for more.

There you have it. These are just few of the historic places and landmarks you can visit while in Naga. We just visit the places near our hotel which is located in Elias Angeles St., Naga. Nagaland hotel is quite good and the rate is not that expensive.

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Enjoy Visa Free to Taiwan for Philippine Passport Holders till 2021

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 01:31:00 +0000

Enjoy Visa Free to Taiwan for Philippine Passport Holders

UPDATE FROM TECO AUGUST 1, 2020

To further promote the New Southbound Policy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a meeting with other related government agencies on May 29 concerning visa measures for nationals from New Southbound Policy partner countries and Russia. Topics of discussion were whether to extend trial visa-free entry for nationals from Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, and Russia and whether to adjust the Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries and the Online Application for R.O.C. (Taiwan) Travel Authorization Certificate for nationals from Southeast Asian countries (the latter also referred to as conditional visa-free entry).

The agencies participating in the meeting, having evaluated the status and outcomes of the measures so far, jointly made the following decisions:

1.From August 1, 2020, trial visa-free entry for nationals from Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, and Russia will be extended for one year until July 31, 2021.

2.The Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries will continue for another year, lasting until December 31, 2021.

3.From August 1, 2020, those applying for conditional visa-free entry who hold visas for Japan or South Korea must present a record of entry into one of these countries.
https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-220-5749-dfab1-2.html

UPDATE
Official Statement from Teco

Starting from November 1, 2017 Philippine nationals who intend to visit the ROC (Taiwan) for the purpose of tourism, business, visiting relatives, attending functions or events can enjoy visa-free entry to Taiwan, ROC, for a duration of stay up to 14 days. This visa-free initiative shall undergo a 9-month trial period until July 31, 2018 as part of Taiwan’s goodwill and efforts of the “New Southbound Policy” to build closer people-to-people exchange of visits and an economic community between Taiwan and the Philippines.

Before the implementation of above visa-free policy, qualified Philippine passport holders who wish to visit Taiwan for tourism or a short visit, are advised to apply for free Travel Authorization Certification (TAC), and are kindly requested to carefully read the following information before preceding the process. ** Please be informed that passengers who enter Taiwan before Nov. 1 with valid TACs may continue to stay for up to 30 days. But for passengers who do not enter Taiwan before Nov. 1, their TACs will be no longer valid even within its validity.
Basic requirements: to be eligible for an ROC Travel Authorization Certificate, the following three conditions must be met:

1. The applicant’s passport must have remaining validity of at least six months starting from the date of arrival in Taiwan.
2. The applicant must possess an onward/return air or ferry ticket.
3. The applicant has never been employed as a blue-collar worker in Taiwan.

Visiting Taiwan is fast gaining popularity as a tourist destination due to its incredible scenery, numerous national parks and food. Well of course before you can enjoy Taiwan , Filipinos still need to apply for a visa or a travel certificate which you can apply either online or TECO in Manila. Last October 2016, Taiwan relaxed visa requirements for Filipinos, offering visa-free entry to Filipinos who have been issued visas to enter Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, any of the Schengen countries, the United Kingdom, or the United States. If you've been to one of the countries stated above then you are eligible for a Travel Authorization Certificate which I'll explain later in the post. To draw more tourist and travelers from Southeast Asia, MOFA has granted an exemption for Philippine travelers to be implemented starting June this year on trial basis but later rescheduled in September. Despite the postponement, Taiwan finally open its doors to Filipinos who wish to travel to Taiwan. The visa free program will be rolling out early October or November 2017 according to Taipei Times. You can read the full article by Taipei times here or Inquirer here. The visa free program is not yet implemented for now but .you can still enjoy free to Taiwan using a Japan visa like what we did. Below is a sample of our Travel Authorization Certificate to Taiwan.

What is a ROC Travel Authorization Certificate?
For Taiwan, this is an entry permit that allows you to enter the country without requesting for a tourist visa at the Consulate. It is basically just a printout with your personal details such as Name, birth date, passport number, authorization number, expiry date and entry type to Taiwan, duration of your stay, and other important remarks vital to the traveler and to the Immigration officers.
You are authorized to use the certificate for 90 days and permitted to stay in Taiwan for as long as 30 days. Multiple entries is also allowed within the validity period of 90 days. You can apply using this link https://niaspeedy.immigration.gov.tw/nia_southeast/.

Travel Authorization Requirements
To be approved and also be acknowledged by Immigration, you need to meet all of these requirements:
1. Your passport must be valid at least six months from the date of your arrival
2. You must show roundtrip plane/ferry tickets
3. You must not be employed in Taiwan as a blue-collar employee
4. You must also possess a valid permanent resident card, valid entry visa (printed or electronic), and PR card or visa that has already expired 10 years prior to your arrival from these countries:
Australia
Canada
Japan
Korea
New Zealand
any of the Schengen countries
The United Kingdom
The United States

If you have travel plans to Taiwan and before October , Requirements and steps can be downloaded in doc format by clicking this link.

Steps and Tips for a Successful Japan Tourist Visa for Filipinos

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 06:29:00 +0000

Steps and Tips for a Successful Japan Tourist Visa for Filipinos

While other countries welcome us with open arms, Filipinos still have to go through visa application

nightmares before we can travel to most countries and Japan is one of them. It's a daunting task and quite stressful if you already purchased your airline ticket in advance before applying a visa. The standard practice is to apply a visa first before purchasing your airline ticket that's why it's a least requirement when applying for a visa for most countries. We're not travel consultants nor a visa expert to give you some expert advices but below are steps and tips from my personal experience on how to increase your chances of getting your Japan approved.

STEP 1
Go to Japan Visa Section Information for the type of visa you wish to apply.

STEP 2
Gather your requirements.Click Japan Visa Requirements for the list in pdf format to have a quick view of the requirements needed. Then you need to download Japan Visa Application Form in PDF format and Schedule of stay in DOC format.

NSO Authenticated Birth Certificate issued not more than a year.
Vaild Passport with signature; must have at least two blank pages.
Visa Application Photo. Click here for the Visa Application Photo Requirement. 4.5cm x 4.5cm with white background and must be taken within 6 months. Please write your name and birthday on back side of the photo and paste this in the photo-box of the application form. Do not staple. Glue or paste it.
NSO Authenticated Marriage Certificate not issued more than a year if the applicant is married. The accredited travel agency will only require one copy if you're applying as a couple.
Original copy of Bank Certificate ( Original copy issued within the last three months). Some banks will provide it to you on the spot while other banks will ask you to come back when the certificate becomes available. For major banks like Banco de Oro and Philippine National Bank, you have to pay a nominal fee of Php 100.00 for the certificate. You have to comeback 2 days after to get your bank certificate. On the other hand Bank of Philippine Islands can issue machine validate bank certificate on the spot. BDO and PNB bank certificate will only show your total deposit for that particular account. Bpi and Metrobank bank certificate will show ADB or Average Daily Balance- the total amount of daily balances in your account divided by the number of days in the month. Let's say you have only Php 20,000 deposit in your BPI or Metrobank account which is quite low for a 7 day trip to Japan, then you have this wise idea to borrow additional Php 100,000 from your friend or family. ADB will show your daily balance which is Php 20,000 and the total balance Php 100.000 which is an indicator that you deposited large amount on a single transaction which can get you denied. They have to make sure that you can financially fund your trip and not going broke after your trip. Everything is expensive in Japan, a small bottled water cost around 150 yen to ( Php 75.00) and a small bottle of soda ( 500ml) cost around 250 yen ( Php 125.00)
If employed, Income Tax Return (ITR) Form 231. For corporate or business, Certificate of Registration and Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) - photocopy
Proof of assets and ownership such as land titles, DTI, Business Permits and car registration documents - photocopy
Daily Schedule in Japan (TAIZAI NITTEIHYO). You can download the form here. Just keep your itinerary simple. If you're unsure yet about your accommodation and you need to submit you application, you can use Agoda and choose a hotel that can be refunded, Book now and Pay before xxxx,xx, 2017 or Pay at the hotel option.

Additional / Optional Documents

Certificate of Employment
Airline Ticket
Payslips
Hotel Reservation Confirmation
Old passport with stamps if you have one. You can attach your old passport with stamps together with your new passport with a rubber band.

FOR MULTIPLE ENTRY APPLICANTS

If you wish to apply for a multiple-entry visa, you need to submit a form of reason for requesting a multiple-entry visa with documents to prove that you are qualified for a multiple-entry visa. A single (or double)-entry visa may be issued, depending on the result of the examination, even if you have applied for a multiple-entry visa.

If Guarantor who lives in the Philippines will shoulder part or all of the applicant’s travel
expenses, he/she needs to have the requirements stated below.

Guarantee Letter
Proof of relationship between applicant and guarantor (e.g. Birth Certificates etc.)
Bank Certificate (original) and Income Tax Return (ITR Form 2316) (clear Photocopy) of Guarantor

STEP 3
Choose from the five (5) accredited travel agencies listed below. Visa is gratis, however, you have to pay the travel agency facilitating your travel documents. Some travel agencies have satellite offices in Cebu or Davao. Just check their website if they do have one. In our case, we sent our documents to Friendship tours in Manila thru LBC. We deposited our payment of Php 1,200 and additional Php 300.00 for shipping and back thru the agencies bank account. Provincial applicants have to check and triple check if their documents is complete to avoid delays. After all is well, they will submit your application the following day. They will notify you if they ran into problems or need additional documents during the application process. We sealed our documents in a brown envelope and 5 days later I got a notification from the agency that our application has been approved. Agency fees may range from Php 900- 1,200.

5 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL JAPAN VISA

1.) DITCH THE PEN PRINT IT
Filling out the form incorrectly or wrong information may deny your application. Filling the application form using photoshop or similar software is way better than writing. Download the form, fill it and print it. If the item is not applicable, please fill in [N/A] and don't leave blank. The embassy may not accept application with blank item, no signature or no date in the form. The application form should be printed in black and on A4 size paper.

2.) GET THE RIGHT APPLICATION PHOTO TAKEN

Most photo studios are aware of the embassy photo requirements. Just tell the photo studio staff that you need a Japan Visa photo taken and they will surely assist you. We had our picture taken in a photo studio and wore a red shirt attire and my hubby wore a checkered polo but we got the shock of our lives when we received our pictures an hour after wearing a formal top and a business suit. Nice photoshopping! :-)

3.) SUBMIT THE RIGHT DOCUMENTS ( PROOF OF TIES )

Japan embassy encourages the submission of any supporting documents not listed on the main requirements listed above (i.e. applicant’s economic or social ties with the Philippines, urgent reasons for visit: medical certificate, wedding invitation) Any supporting documents will do like Stock investments, Credit card statements, Land titles, vehicle registration or DTI. Don't submit fake as the embassy will know the fake from the real ones. You will be banned from entering Japan.

4.) NO INCOME TAX RETURN? WRITE A LETTER OF EXPLANATION

Some freelancers don't have ITR but it doesn't mean that lacking that said document will hold you back from applying a visa. You can write a letter of explanation addressed to the Consulate-General of Japan explaining why you can't provide one.

4.) TRAVEL HISTORY

Old stamp visas in your passport will give good emphasis that you've been always going back home and not stay illegally thus increasing your chances of obtaining a visa. But don't fret, I heard some applicants who never had travel history abroad but were granted a visa!

5.) SYNCHRONIZE YOUR ITINERARY WITH YOUR BANK CERTIFICATE

Keep your Daily Schedule (TAIZAI NITTEIHYO) simple. A budget of Php 70,000 to Php 100,000 is enough for a 7 day stay in Japan. An increment of Php 15,000 every 3 days if you stay more than a week. Expect a budget of Php 140,000 to Php 150,000 if you plan to stay in Japan for 15 days. Don't apply for a 15 day stay in Japan if you only have Php 50,000 in your bank account. It will only raise suspicion that you're gonna look for work and not coming back. By the way, having a fat bank account is not necessary. I heard of stories of applicants who applied and had six figures in their bank account but got denied. It's all about synchronizing your itinerary with your bank certificate.

That's about it. Just follow the steps and pray. The agency will notify the applicant if she/he can already claim the passport. Think positively and be confident. If you get denied, the embassy will never disclose the reason of refusal. Don't worry it's not yet over, you can reapply after 6 months and try to recheck what went wrong with your application.

The Man Behind the Canvas

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 04:03:00 +0000

Fine art includes many broad categories, such as painting, print, drawing, photography, craft, design, performance art, mixed-media, sculpture, installation, and new media. Each category includes various styles and classifications. For instance, some of the different styles within the painting genre are realism, photo-realism, painterly, impressionism, expressionism, abstraction and abstract. They can be in many forms and styles and we had the pleasure of meeting Cordillera based visual artist and surrealist Mr. Roger "Rishab" Tibon.

Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for its visual artworks and writings. The aim was to "resolve the previously contradictory conditions of dream and reality".

Rishab is a self-taught artist who expresses “profound admiration” for the works of Salvador Dali, Frida Kahlo and Max Ernst. Rishab already had ten solo exhibitions and numerous group shows locally and abroad. You can view his full profile and works by clicking this link http://www.anbinhgallery.com/roger-ldquorishabrdquo-tibon.html

HOW HE STARTED
Rishab was born in Aklan in 1960. He is a self - taught artist who considers art as a hobby. During his high school years, he is into T-shirt printing and doing airbrush work for jeepneys and signboards, He later move to Cebu and worked as a freelance artist - designer and became an art director for a company. In the mid-1990s, he settled in Baguio, where he started teaching at a private art school. Then he met National Artist Benedicto Cabrera, more popularly known as BenCab.

Excerpt from ABS-CBN INTERVIEW

"Nalaman ni (BenCab) nagtuturo ako ng arnis, martial arts. Tinanong niya, ano ba trabaho mo dito? Sabi ko, nagtuturo ako ng art, at nagpapaint ako... Siya ang nag-encourage sa akin maging full-time sa painting," Tibon said. "Siguro kung di niya ako in-encourage nasa advertising pa rin ako."
Asked if BenCab offered him any advice as an artist, Tibon said, "Wala naman, kasi sabi niya, maski punuin mo lang ng pintura yun canvas, may magkakagusto at bibilhin yan (laughs)."

BEN CAB MUSEUM

We love the depth and approach of surreality in his paintings and his works will surely tickle everyone's mind. We are set to meet him around 1:00 pm at BENCABS Museum in Baguio. As you know, Bencab Museum is one of Baguio City's most popular tourist attraction that houses permanent collection of Philippine National Artist Benedicto Cabrera (BenCab) in several galleries, as well as venues for art shows and exhibitions. The Philippine Contemporary Art Galleries highlight the artist’s collection of paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture. The smaller exhibition rooms contain other collections accumulated by BenCab through the years.

From downtown Baguio, we took a metered taxi to BenCab Museum in Tuba. Alternatively, you can take a jeepney bound for Asin road which passes in front of the museum. We agreed to meet inside, so we decided to enter the museum and paid Php 120.00 for the entrance fee. We generally didn't have to wait that long because Rishab's place is just few blocks away from the museum . Once he arrived, he toured us around and had a coffee with him at Café Isabel.

Entrance Fee:
Normal rate: Php 120.00
Students: Php 100.00 (w/ Student ID)
Senior Citizens / PWD: Php80 (w/ Senior/PWD ID)

A MYTHICAL PIECE OF IFUGAO SCULPTURE
The bulol, or "Ifugao rice god," is a carved human figurine into which a certain class of anito is said to incorporate itself when worshipped. Bulols are kept in the house or granary, and are usually made in pairs. They are carved of narra wood, which represents wealth, happiness, and well-being. Every step in their production requires a ceremony, from tree selection to arrival at the owner's house; a consecrated bulol has been bathed in pig's blood, had myths recited to it, and received offerings of wine, ritual boxes, and rice cake

Bulols are usually carved in pairs which are frequently male and female and carved figures are often caricatures of actual people in the village.

Bulong-bulungan by Joy Mallari

RISHAB'S WORK

One of Rishab's work in the gallery. His paintings are distinct and you can easily tell that it's Rishab's. I love the the mystery behind it, the touch of vagueness and fantasy. Great artwork!

CAFE ISABEL
We headed down to Café Isabel to have some snacks and coffee. It was named after BenCab's famous muse in his paintings. In the café, one can enjoy home-cooked dishes by the chef and original recipes by BenCab.

Rishab's painting inside Cafe Isabel

BenCab's Fishpond

MUSEUM SHOP

The MUSEUM SHOP sells art books, paper products such as postcards, and notepads, highland art & crafts such as wood carvings and textiles as well as other souvenir items from t-shirts, and caps.

RISHAB'S HOME

We exited the museum and he invited us to his home which is a minute away from the museum entrance. We got in and saw a huge painting in progress. He gave us some tips and advices on how to paint and the materials he used. Before we bid goodbyes, he handed us a souvenir he draw wayback ( bottom left corner photo).

I would like to express my thanks to Sir Roger Rishab Tibon for the time and for the souvenir as well. It's was such an honor to meet you. You can browse his work by clicking this link or you can reach him through his facebook account https://www.facebook.com/rishabtibon

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Bohol the Jewel of the Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Tue, 23 May 2017 16:03:00 +0000

"Bohol, the Jewel of the Philippines"

It's been almost 9 years when we first visited the province of Bohol. The place is somewhat special nothing grimly but sweet memories and funny experiences. It is here we founded the idea of having a written travel journal for all our upcoming trips. Experiences like a vehicle breakdown in the middle of nowhere while on tour, we helped and scooped some water in the nearby stream but with no avail. The tour operator ended up bringing a new car in to continue our tour. Another was stopping in a Tarsier Sanctuary along the road where you could view the endemic Tarsier up-close like a foot r less with no barriers. Those are just the few of the best experiences we have during our first visit and luckily last January 2017 we set foot again after spending Sinulog Festival in Cebu.

There are two options to get to Bohol, you can either catch a flight from major hubs like Manila or Cebu to Tagbilaran or you catch one of the two high speed ferries in Cebu's Pier 1 that caters Cebu- Tagbilaran route. Supercat which is operated by Aboitiz cost around Php 500.00 per way, less expensive and less bumpy than Oceanjet's Php 800.00 fare.

Tuklasera Tips:

If you hate long lines and crowded spaces at Piers, avoid going to Bohol before and after Sinulog Festival.
For day tour visits, It's imperative to catch the first ferry to Bohol if you want to include Panglao in your itinerary. Getting to Chocolate hills alone in Carmen will take an hour or more per way.

SPANISH INFLUENCE

The Spanish invaded and took control in the late 1500s until the late 19th century. Spanish influence is written all over Bohol, as evidenced in city names such as Alburquerque and Buena Vista. The Americans took over Bohol after the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. Then the Japanese came in and took control until the Americans liberated Bohol during World War II.

That Bohol comes from the word "Bo'ol," which refers to the name of a place (the place thought of as the site of the Sikatuna-Legazpi blood compact)

WHAT HAPPEN DURING THE 1500's?

On March 16, 1565, Legazpi accompanied by Fray Andres de Urdaneta and so crew members landed on the shores of Bohol, but they were given a hostile welcome by the Boholanos, who mistook them as Portuguese who had come to plunder and kill. With the help of his Malay pilot, Legazpi was able to explain to Datu Sikatuna of Bohol and Datu Sigala of Loboc that they were not Portuguese and that they had come to offer peace. Thus, a blood compact was done in order to seal their friendship and establish amicable bonds between the two parties. At present, the compact made between Sikatuna and Legazpi is celebrated and commemorated annually and called the Sandugo Festival in Bohol. It involves a reenactment of the blood compact, a religious mass and parade on the streets and the search for the Miss Bohol beauty pageant.

DO YOU KNOW THAT SANDUGO FESTIVAL IS A MONTH LONG CELEBRATION. BOHOLANOS FIESTA CULTURE IS INDEED SERIOUS.

GETTING AROUND THE ISLAND

According to our friend who operates inland tours in Bohol, there are over 15 tour operators and still counting with 3-5 van units each. Tour packages starts at Php 5,000 per van with driver including Panglao Island. Hassle-free packages can be arrange by a trusted Travel Agency by clicking the link http://www.philippinestravelpackage.com/bohol/ . They offer a wide range of destinations and packages to choose from.

A THOUSAND HUMPS TO COUNT

From Tagbilaran port, our tour van picked us around 8:00 am and make our way to see the Chocolate Hills, a famous tourist attraction in Bohol. The scenic ride will take you to the coastal road down to the breathtaking view of Bilar's man-made forest. It's a reforestation project to replace trees lost from widespread kaingin (slash-and-burn farming) in Bohol. Nowadays, the man-made forest is considered a side attraction in Carmen, Bohol.

An hour later, we arrived in the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen. A staircase of few hundred steps leads to the viewing platform. Before, there's a staircase that loops in the back of the hill and converges with the main staircase in the viewing platform. According to our tour driver, the staircase was badly damage by the strong earthquake last 2013. Quite funny because it took us 30 min of stair-climbing to the viewing platform. Well worth the effort, tiring but rewarding experience. The Chocolate Hills earn their name when the grass on the hills turns from green to brown during dry season. They also often dubbed as "Giant Kisses" that resembles that of a Chocolate kisses made by Hershey. Entrance fee is pegged at Php 50.00. There are several restaurants and shops where you could eat or buy some souvenirs at a reasonable price.

BRING ON THE MUD!

If you want some wheel-spinning fun, mud-splashing fun, you can rent Quads and ATV's in Buenos Aires. The rates are quite expensive but for the experience we give it a try. We rented 6 QUADS and signed a waiver stating that the company is not liable for any accidents during the experience. The briefing only lasted for like 10 minutes on how to use the vehicles, safety etc. It was a great experience but not that interesting. I think the Php 450.00 (30 min) is enough because for me the hills are all the same.

GRAHAM ATV & BUG RENTAL

Different Packages and Rates:

Three Sisters Hill - 30 min
Eight Sisteres Hill - 1 Hour

ATV – Php 450 – 30 minutes; Php 850 – 1 hour
Buggy- Php 850 – 30 minutes; Php 1500 -1 hour
Php 250/per head –Back ride of ATV

Tuklasera Tips:

Bring some extra clothes
Sunscreen is a must
Wear sunglasses to avoid squinting in the sun while driving

EAT WHILE YOU CRUISE IN PINOY MADE CATAMARAN

No Bohol trip is not complete without experiencing Loboc River Cruise. We were the one of the last few groups to board the floating restaurant because we spent a lot of time in Chocolate Hills. Cruising along the river, you get to see how locals lived and sometimes you will get to see kids doing cannonball jumps. A wide selection of Filipino dishes- Skewered Barbecues, Kinilaw, Buttered Chicken, Grilled Tuna, Steamed Crabs, fruits and Filipino delicacies. In certain part of the river, the floating restaurant stopped by a floating platform just off the riverbank where a group of kids dance and perform a series of songs for the visitors.

Prices
P350.00 – River Cruise and Lunch
P100.00 – Maintenance, Safety and Security Charges
P450/pax

Children:
0-3 years old – free without drinks
4-8 years old – 50% with drinks
9-11 years old – P250.00
12 years old and above – P350.00

THEY CALL IT " THE LITTLE BORACAY OF BOHOL"

Bohol is not only about Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers and heritage sights, they are also known for its white sand beaches and caves. Panglao's Alona beach is dubbed as Little Boracay of Bohol and started to gain traction as a top travel beach destination in the Philippines.

Alona's sand is as fine as Boracay but when it comes to serenity, Panglao's Alona beach is widely applauded. The island is also one of the 17 areas featured in Travel + Leisure's "Best Secret Beaches on Earth" feature, which is part of the magazine's March 2012 issue
alongside with Palawan and Boracay.

OFF THE BEATEN PATH:

Bohol has over 1,400 caves and there are still some that are not discovered yet. The latest cave attraction in Bohol is Cabagnow Cave Pool in Anda - a natural deep blue cave pool that is gaining popularity for adventure seekers.
Another must do in Anda is to experience the white sand of Quinale Beach. A long stretch of white sand with clear waters and a sandy bed.

DO A GAZING GAME WITH THE TARSIER

There are two Tarsier Sanctuaries where you can view them in the wild. This nocturnal primates have large eyes than their brain and the largest of all the mammals. Talking about flexibility, Tarsiers can rotate their head 360 degrees without moving their body. Nine years ago, we visited a souvenir shop in Corella and they had a viewing area with six Tarsiers where you could view them up-close. This is the most depressing part, for a certain fee you can take a picture with the tarsier where the handler will gently grab the Tarsier and put it in your arm. They are nocturnal primates and grabbing them during the day or just by grabbing them will physically stress them out.

Today, the Philippine Tarsier Foundation is doubling their effort to save the remaining Tarsiers in the wild. We visited the Tarsier sanctuary in Corella, it's a free environment and enclosed to keep the predators like cats away. The entrance fee is P60 pesos per person. With that you get a guided tour inside the Tarsier sleeping site where the tarsiers rest during the day.

BACLAYON CHURCH: A CULTURAL TREASURE

Our final stop ends at Baclayon church - one of the oldest churches in Bohol that dates back in 1724. It is made of coral stones but had been partially damage from the most recent earthquake last 2013. Aside from the centuries old Baclayon Church, the Baclayon Museum boast some artifacts that dates back hundreds of years ago. A small entrance fee of Php 25.00 for rehabilitation and maintenance costs. Sadly we were not allowed to take pictures inside because camera flashes which emit intense light, are believed to hurt delicate objects. Thirty minutes later, we left Baclayon and head to Tagbilaran port to catch the last ferry to Cebu.

What makes Bohol special?

Back in our hotel room in Cebu, I was asking myself with that question and I realized that Bohol has everything, pack in one place: from white beaches to cave pools, landscape, food, heritage sites and endemic species. But what makes it more special are the Boholanos welcoming attitude and hospitality. Do you know that during fiesta, 95 percent of Boholanos will be bringing a friend. Coming home without a friend is a taboo as it will make one appear to be an unfriendly person who knows no other person in this world. For instance, Mang Jhonny - a personal friend of mine and the owner of the commuter van we rented during our tour who always find time to check our whereabouts and if we are doing ok. That's what makes Bohol special and different from other Philippine destinations.

SOUTH KOREA TRAVEL TIPS | WINTER PACKING TRAVEL TIPS

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 10:15:00 +0000

Nami Island, South Korea

South Korea

South Korea boast abundant tourist attractions and activities for all types of types of travelers. Korea is known for KPOP short for Korean Popular Music which is mainstream music that originated in South Korea. It draws influence from a range of genres like pop, experimental, rock, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and dance. I'm a huge fan of Korean Dramas or K-Dramas which is known worldwide because of its unique plots and story lines.

From Manila, We took a 4 hour direct flight to Seoul during winter season. The seasons in Korea are much like what you would find in Japan or Europe. Spring months is between April & June, Summer is July to August, Autumn is between September & November and Winter is from December to March. Winter months are considered to be the cheapest time to go because the accommodations are more affordable and less tourist.

Winter Packing Tips

Packing a bulky winter jacket into a luggage can be very challenging either carry- on or check-in. You need big resealable zip bags 13" in size or vacuum seal bags which can be bought online. You just have to fold it, shove it inside the bag and vacuum to get the air out. If you don't have vacuum sealed bags, You can use big resealable zip bags by folding the jacket, shove it inside and sitting on it to get the air out then seal. You also need a Bonnet, Fleece, Shirts for layering, winter shoes or boots and lotion to avoid winter rash.

Visa

Filipinos passport holders must obtain a visa to visit South korea. Single-entry tourist visas are granted for stays of up to 90 days.Multiple entry can also be requested. You can check Visa Guide here on how to get one. As of June 1, 2022 Filipinos can visit South Korea's Gang-won province and Jeju Island visa free for direct flights only. You can check additional information here.

How To Get To Seoul From Incheon International Airport

Express train Incheon to Seoul

There are plenty of transportation options you can choose from. You can take the nonstop Airport Railroad express (AREX) from terminals 1 & 2 to Seoul Station for around 9,500 KRW around (Php 401.78) and travel time is 43 minutes that runs every 30-45 minutes from 5:15 am to 10:48 Pm. Aside from the nonstop train, you can also board the All Stop Train which is much cheaper around 4,150 KRW( Php 175.51) and runs every 5-15 minutes from 5:19 am to 11:32 Pm. Tickets on both express and All Stop can be bought at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 at B1 Transportation Center. If you're arriving late, there's a late night bus you can take in Terminal 1 around 1:20 am, for about 70 minutes. Tickets can be bought at

Terminal 1: First level, A-F gates. Tickets can be bought near Exits 4 and 9 of the Arrivals Hall, first levels 4,6,7,8, 11, 13, and 9C.
Terminal 2: First level, 1-6 gates. Buy tickets at Traffic Center B1.

You can also take a limousine bus which has fewer stops, short travel times, and comfortable seats. It’s your fastest option too. The fare is 14,000 KRW (Php 592.16) for a ride.

Where to Stay?

There are a plethora of accommodation options you can choose from, You can check Agoda and booking.com for the best rates. Low season rate starts at Php 2,500 to 4,000 per night while the high season can get up to Php 5,000 to Php 7,000 per night. We booked our stay at Stay7 Myeongdong hostel because of its proximity to Myeongdong. Extremely convenient and just a short walk to Myeongdong's street food crawl and shopping.

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Baguio Food Guide: Baguio's Famous Eats

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 00:18:00 +0000

Baguio has a plenitude of restaurants and diners to delight your palate and slowly gaining traction as a food destination. To help, we visited a few and were not disappointed. I have always been a little obsessed with food, but I’d never consider myself a ‘foodie’. Every place that we visited, food is an integral part of your journey. I'm not saying that travel and food are somewhat concomitant but for me, travel and food have to go hand in hand to have a complete experience.

GRUMPY JOE
We were walking around Leonard wood and happened to pass by this place and decided to stop. There were about 10 people lining up and ten minutes later we were able to secure a seat. There must be something going on here because few minutes later there were about 15-20 customers in line. We were handed a menu and ordered a small pepperoni pizza, grumpy juice and strawberry smoothie to go with it. The verdict? Delicious! and I love the strawberry smoothie served in mason jar. They also serve mouthwatering burgers, rice meals, mixed juices, desserts and salads.

Grumpy Joe
Leonard Wood Rd, Baguio City
Price range - under Php 1,000

Lomo Ribs at Canto, Ketchup Food Community
It’s easy to see why Canto, a restaurant at the Ketchup Food Community, is always full with diners (with more lining up outside): the lomo ribs, one of the few offerings on its menu, are just mouthwatering. It tastes really good, very tender and delicious. The serving is large and good for three. The verdict? Good food and affordable. Canto is a place not to be missed.

Ketchup Food Community
Romulo Drive, across Wright Park
Budget - under Php 1,000

Happy Tummy

I was so happy we found this place. I'm no Thai cuisine expert but I like Thai food - flavorful, spicy and sweet. There are two branches of Happy Tummy, one is in located inside Ketchup Food Community and the other is in upper session road near SM Baguio. We had Tom Yam ( Shrimp) , Pad Thai and some Black Gulaman to go with it. The verdict? Delicious and I love the spicy kick of Tom Yam.

Ketchup Food Community | Upper Session Drive
Near Wright Park | Near Sm Baguio
Budget - under Php 1,000

Street Food Tripping!

Dynamite
I added one of my favorite street food snack in Baguio. The locals call it Dynamite and it's spicy hot.

Strawberry Taho
Another must try local Baguio delicacy is the Strawberry Taho. No Baguio food trip and vacation is complete without eating Strawberry Taho. The strawberry taho recipe is a dream: mix silken tofu, strawberry sauce, and sago together for a delicious treat!

Footlong
Footlong hotdogs with lettuce, corn on the cob and lots lots more.

Burnham Park
Budget - under Php 100.00

There you have it, my top pick restaurants and food in Baguio City. Even though I felt short on the list, at least it will help and narrow your list of a must try food in Baguio.

Sunrise Chasing in Mt. Pulag | DIY COMPLETE GUIDE - PART 2

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 02:57:00 +0000

The next morning our guide woke us up for the summit hike and eased ourselves with warm cup of hot choco drink. Ten minutes later, we started our hike and donned our head lights to see in the darkness. Frigid winds easily penetrated my hands making my knitted gloves useless and my lips were quite numb as we make our way to the summit. As we go nearer, the trail gets steeper and was about to quit but through positive encouragement from my hubby, I continue and remove the context of quitting or derailing the summit climb.

THE SUMMIT
We finally reach the summit of Mt. Pulag just before sunrise. I was almost out of breath and simply exhausted but I'm glad because we made it to the top. The sun was not yet up, but the sky was slowly growing brighter. It was very cold, so we tuck ourselves into a group of endemic dwarf bamboo plants to cover us from the wind. Few minutes later, the sun peeked through the horizon and gradually lit the summit with yellow and orange rays. Immensely breathtaking!

SEA OF CLOUDS
It's our first time to witness the sea of clouds and the view didn't disappoint us. With a sea of clouds below us, you really feel like you're on top of the world. The "sea of clouds" phenomenon is not a permanent feature and you need luck to be in your side when you visit Mt. Pulag.

STUNNING LANDSCAPE

Such an awe to see Mt. Pulag's breathtaking views . The gentle yellow glow of the sun painted the hills like a highway.

FROST PATCHES
I picked up a stick to help my way through the steep portions of the summit during our descent. We encounter some frost patches and some ice crystals that is formed in humid air in cold conditions, usually overnight. I think the temperature drops near zero the night before we summit. We trekked back to our camp, uninstall our tents and had a quick breakfast before we trek back to the Ranger Station which is 3 to 4 hours away. By the way bring your trash with you and don't leave anything behind that can disrupt the growth of vegetation.

We arrived in DENR office in Kabayan for check out around 1:00 pm and walked for 10 minutes from DENR office to the van terminal bound for Baguio City. It's a small terminal and I'm pretty sure the habal-habal drivers, locals and DENR staff can point you to the right direction of the terminal.

Trekking Mt. Pulag is one of the best experience I had for the year 2016. It's a utopia for adventure seekers, outdoor lovers and landscape fanatics.We have been dreaming to climb this mountain and finally we did. I'm not use to hiking because my feet sore easily but I'm glad I was able to survive Mt. Pulag and I'm sure everybody can. You can click here if you missed our first part of the post.

Sunrise Chasing in Mt. Pulag Part 1
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Sunrise Chasing in Mt. Pulag | DIY COMPLETE GUIDE - PART 1

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Sun, 06 Nov 2016 01:01:00 +0000

Mt. Pulag is probably Philippine's most visited mountain and the 3rd highest mountain. It sits between the borders of Benget, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya in the northern part of Luzon. The mountain is famous for its "sea of clouds" and the Milky Way Galaxy at dawn, which has attracted hundreds of tourist monthly. Because of my eagerness and desire to witness Pulag's raw natural beauty, we decided to pay it a visit last February at its coldest. As you know, I'm one of the many people who suffers from Migraine and I rather hike in a cold environment than hiking under the heat of the sun that could trigger an attack and will surely ruin our trip. It's our first climbing trip so we have few rounds of sit-ups and exercises for a week before climbing Mt. Pulag.

Mount Pulag, also known as Mount Pulog, takes its name from the Ibaloi word “pulag,” which means “to roll” or “moving down,”

Mt. Pulag Tips

• Be sure to make reservation/s for your hike because climbing without prior notice with DENR is discouraged. Text her or him the requested schedule and the number of people coming with you. There is now a limit to the number of climbers, or a maximum of 150, who can go to the summit to watch the spectacular sunrise. Contact: Ms. Emerita Albas (+639196315402) or Mr. Roy Tello ( +639291668864)

• Jeepney from Baguio- Badabak - Baguio. Contact Gina Epe (+639198169234)
• Park no longer grant permits to groups exceeding 20.
• Camping (if trekking via the Ambangeg Trail) is not allowed from Friday to Sunday.
• Mt. Pulag will be closed to tourists on Saturdays starting 2017.
• The coldest month of Mt. Pulag are from December to February.

DO IF YOURSELF:

For Non-Budget Conscious ( Hassle-free)

A plenitude of tour operators to Mt. Pulag can be found online. Rate is around Php 3,000 to Php 4,500 / person and may vary if you're coming from Manila or Baguio City. The package includes just about everything Bus fares (Manila-Baguio-Manila), Jeepney (Baguio-Bokod-Ranger-Bokod-Baguio), DENR fees, GUIDE fees, Tents, Food ( they do the cooking), Travel Insurance and a souvenir shirt. Hassle-free but expensive.

For Semi- Budget Conscious ( DIY 1-20 PERSONS)

One can take a Victory Liner bus in Cubao and Pasay to Baguio City. First trip is at 1:00 am and last trip us at 11:55 pm for regular aircon buses. Fare is pegged at Php 445. Victory First Class buses leave as early as 12:15 am and as late as 11:00 pm via SCTEX. Fare is Php 715.00. From Baguio, you can rent a monster jeepney to and from Mt. Pulag. It cost around Php 12,000 that can accommodate for 19 people ( Php 631 / pax) . However, rental rates are generally based on the full seating capacity of the vehicle which may range from 20 to 30 passengers.

Jeepney from Baguio- Badabak - Baguio. Contact Gina Epe (+639198169234)

The Visitor Center is open from 8:00 am. All climbers are required to attend the briefing conducted by the park superintendent. Climbers are required to pay P225 each for registration and green fees. Guide fee is P500 for a maximum of five persons plus P100 for each additional climber. Porter fee is P300 one way for a maximum weight of 15 kilos, plus P20 per additional kilo. The guides and porters belong to the Kankaney and Kalanguya tribes and they also help find suitable camping sites, fetch water and pitch tents. A P30 cultural fee is collected in Babadak.

CLIMB FEES

• Registration Fee - Php 225.00
• Camping Fee - Php 80.00
• Cultural and Heritage fee - Php 80.00 ( Collected in Bababak Ranger Station)
• Guide Fee - Php 500.00 ( Good for five persons plus Php 100.00 for each additional climber)
• Porter Fee - Php 300.00 (One way for a maximum weight of 15 kilos, plus P20 per additional kilo)

For Budget Conscious ( 1-5 persons)

One can take a Victory Liner bus in Cubao and Pasay to Baguio City. First trip is at 1:00 am and last trip us at 11:55 pm for regular aircon buses. Fare is Php 445. Victory First Class buses leave as early as 12:15 am and as late as 11:00 pm via SCTEX. Fare is Php 715.00. From Baguio, take a metered taxi to the Old Slaughterhouse and take a regular passenger van from Baguio to Kabayan, Benguet. It passes by Ambangeg. First trip usually leaves at 7:00AM or until the van to gets full of passengers. Succeeding trips depend on the number of commuters/passengers. Tell the driver to drop you off at the junction in Ambangeg (Bokod, Benguet) near the DENR Station. Travel time is 3-4 hours. Once in Ambangeg (Bokod, Benguet), walk in the direction of the DENR Office for registration and orientation.

ARE YOU PHYSICALLY FIT?

The management of the Mt. Pulag National Park in Cordillera is now requiring health clearances from authorized physicians before climbing Mt. Pulag. The advisory was issued after a 51- year old tourist died of cardiac arrest at Camp 2. We went there with no health clearances but we got a tip from habal-habal drivers that there's a hospital nearby that issues health clearances prior to climb. Dennis Molintas Memorial Hospital in Bokod is just 5 min away from DENR Office.

Once we arrived we fill out a form that they provided and paid Php 20.00 to have our heart rate and blood pressure checked. Both test came out normal and waited 10 min before our names we're called by the doctor on duty. You should fully declare pre-existing medical conditions such as allergies, asthma, heart ailments or a recent injury if you do have one. You will received your medical certificate after paying a nominal fee for check-up.

WILD RIDE

Mt. Pulag has four major trails – the Ambangeg or easy trail, the challenging Akiki trail, Tawangan trails from Benguet and the Ambaguio trail from Nueva Vizcaya. We took the easy trail Ambangeg and decided to pitch our tent at Camp 2. We were advise that the temperature up there drops down to 2-3 degrees Celsius at night or even lower. Because of that advisory I bought a pair of extra gloves for Php 100.00 sold at DENR Office. We then took a 30 minute motorcycle ride to Babadak Ranger Station. The road was mostly unpaved dusty and scary - hairpin turns, steep cliffs, dizzying heights. Fare is Php 250.00 - one way / person.

BABADAK RANGER STATION

Cultural and Heritage fee is collected here as well as Guide and Porter fees. The place is a one stop shop for camping supplies - tents, sleeping bags, butane, portable stove, food. We hired one guide and one porter to carry our bags to Camp 2 and back. I requested a male lad to be our porter but a woman in her 50's showed up and volunteered. I was quite hesitant at first but our guide - Ate Wella told us that she can carry more than 15 kilos and been doing it for over a year now. She put our things in a sack-like bag consisting of a broad strap that passes across the forehead and lashed around the heavy bag.

THE LONG HIKE UP

We were hiking at a normal pace but our porter easily overtake us with 15 kilos on her back. The trail was mostly flat for first hour but the trail gets more difficult as we gradually ascend towards Camp 2. The best part was walking into the mossy forest full of ferns, lichens and moss and had a few bites of wild blue berries abundantly growing in Mt. Pulag.

Distance from Badabak Ranger Station to Camp 2 is 10 kilometers

MT. PULAG CAMPSITES

It was around 3:00 pm when we arrived at Camp 1. The campsite is still in the Mossy forest and can only accommodate to 4- 7 tents only. Camp 2 can accommodate more and Camp 3 is fore hikers who will be taking the Akiki trail. After a brief rest and hydration, we continued our way to Camp 2 which is an hour away according to Ate Wella.

Ate Wella was always making sure that we're fine and ok. Our porter have to go back down to the Badabak after delivering our things at Camp 2 and comeback the following morning to haul our things again back to Badabak. They belong to the Kankaney and Kalanguya tribes of the Cordillera Region in Northern Philippines.

CAMP 2 GRASSLANDS

Yes, we made it! We pitch our tent and have a quick snack before drinking my pain pill. Got a mild headache maybe because of the sudden increase in altitude but not worse. We hike a few meters up and saw thick fog rolling in from the valley. It almost blanketed the whole camp site.

A NIGHT OF COLD AND DARKNESS

We layered some clothes on because the temperature starts to drop and losing daylight fast. We set up our rented portable stove and had rice, a can of beans, some tuna, corned beef and hot choco to go with it. I was quite amazed how my hot choco turn into a cold one in just a matter of minutes.

After having our dinner we went to bed early as we were exhausted from our hike. Few hours have past and suddenly woke up from a howling noise. I check my watch and it was already dawn.Went outside to investigate but only to find out that the noise was from a snore by fellow hikers near out tent. It was really loud and I think even the tiniest bug can hear it lolz. Before stepping back into the tent, I looked up in the sky and saw the Milky Way Galaxy. Amazing sight to behold!

SOME TRAVEL TIPS TO PONDER

• Bring enough food and water
• Flashlight, Torch and headlamp is a must
• Bring your own sleeping bag for hygiene reason.
• Thermal wear ( Jacket, gloves and bonnet)
• Good Hiking shoes
• Bring your trash with you

The post is quite long so I have to split it into two parts. Click here for the second part.
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Inside Baguio's Famous Haunted House: The Laperal White House

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 03:39:00 +0000

This Victorian inspired quaint house was originally owned by Laperal family along Leonard Wood in Baguio City. The Laperal Guesthouse or popularly known as Laperal White House was built in 1920's and during the World War II, it was used as a temporary garrison by the Japanese. Beheading and torture of men accused of being spies to the Americans are killed inside the house. Though Don Roberto, the Laperal family’s patriarch, survived the war, Doña Victorina died. One unfortunate day, Don Roberto slipped at the front yard and bumped his head that caused his death. A granddaughter of Don Roberto and Doña Victorina is also said to have died after being hit by a car upon crossing Leonard Wood road in front of the Laperal White House. The house’s longtime caretakers have reported seeing apparitions coming to and from the house — specifically, of a woman in white and a little girl. It gained notoriety for being one of the most haunted places in the Philippines and earn a descent amount of visitors during Halloween.

THE GARAGE

After a quick snack at Grumpy Joe - a cozy restaurant that serves delectable food along Leonard wood. We decided to visit the White House before going back to our hotel. It took merely just 15 min to reach it by foot. Hubby was about to pay the Php 50.00 entrance fee for the both of us but I drop the idea of getting inside. I had a queer mixture of feelings when I first look at it. I told him that I'll just wait for him outside near the main gate of the house. The garage was used as interrogation and torture chamber during World War II. Today, It was converted into a gallery showcasing bamboo art by Philippine Bamboo Association and Tan Yee Kee foundation headed by business tycoon Lucio Tan.

INSIDE

According to my hubby: The house caretaker was doing some landscaping as I walk towards the entrance of the house. The interior is blessed with beguiling combination of gloom, ornamentation, and extreme rustic. In the fireplace , I hold the camera firmly, jabbed the shutter slowly and bump the iso to 1000+ and the shutter speed is at 1/80 but still blurry. Finally after 5 retakes, I finally got one. A little bit strange and move on to the upper level of the house.

LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDOW

According to my hubby: The squeaky wooden stair gives you more of a spooky feel while ascending to the second floor. As I was taking shots of the stairs my cellphone vibrates, my wife texted me that a shadowy figure of a woman is looking through the window on the 2nd floor. I texted her back that I haven't reach the 2nd floor yet and there's no one inside except me because the caretaker is outside doing some landscaping and the other woman is at the ticket entrance. She encourage me to end the tour and as I walked to the exit, I ask the caretaker if " Is there a guest, visitor or caretaker inside? She said no and answered that she and the woman manning the tickets are the only ones here during that time.

I'm not a paranormal fan but I think something eerie going on inside the house. I heard a story of a visitor who happened to have a third eye opened and she saw a woman and a child staring at her. Jay Taruc of IWitness documented his stay at the white house last 2012 and captured a short paranormal experience at the end of the video. A photo went viral when a ghost is seen looking out of the window in the house http://www.viral4real.com/caught-on-cam-ghost-seen-looking-out-the-window-in-baguios-laperal-white-house/. You can click the video link here.

GETTING TO THE WHITE HOUSE

The Laperal White House is just short taxi away from Sm City Baguio and Victory Liner Bus. You can also take one of the jeepneys that plys Mines View Park and Good Sheperd Convent at Bakakeng Terminal at Mabini Street. Just tell the driver that you're heading to the Laperal White House in Leonard Wood.

DISCOVER OSLOB AND SOUTH

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 04:32:00 +0000

Old churches, Island Paradise, Ocean's gentle giant and pristine waterfalls are all found in Cebu's South. We had been invited by Bluewater Sumilon located southeast of Cebu so we finally decided to hit the road and go south. Travel time from Cebu to Oslob is 3.5 hours. It's a pretty long ride so we used this opportunity to catch some sleep.

GENTLE GIANTS OF OSLOB

Oslob is gaining a foot hold as an adventure tourism destination in Cebu. Whaleshark watching is one of them and attracts thousands of tourist every year. Feeding sessions for the whale sharks start at 6 a.m., and last until noon. After a quick briefing about do's and dont's, we were ushered to a small outrigger and headed to the feeding grounds of the Whale Sharks. We were 9 in the boat including 3 boat paddlers. The boatman opens a pale of chum of krills and throws into the water luring the Whale Sharks. I jump into the water as instructed by our boat guide and put my snorkeling mask on. After few seconds, I noticed a fish like shadow finning towards me. I veered to my left and saw a 20 foot mammoth beast opening its big mouth. These docile creatures are called filter feeders that feed by straining food particles from water and expels it through its gills.

The whale shark is the biggest of all shark species

Sadly, I noticed a big gash on its body. Unfortunately, I can't recommend Whale Shark watching in Oslob. The interaction prioritizes tourist experience over Whale Sharks health. According to some bloggers, they recommend Donsol Whale Shark watching as they are more concern about the Whale Sharks health than the lucrative profit they can generate from tourist.

COST OF WHALE SHARK WATCHING

• Php 500.00 Local Tourist
• Php 1,000.00 Foreign Tourist
• Php 300.00 for those who stay only on the boats
• Snorkel Rent - Php 100.00

WHALE SHARK WATCHING TIPS

• Be sure to arrive before 9:00 am to avoid the crowd and heat. Preferably weekdays.
• Bring your own Snorkeling gear
• Don't touch the Whale Shark and stay 5 meters away
• Don't use sunblock to keep the water pollutant-free
• Non-flash underwater camera is essential

TUMALOG FALLS

A short 15 minute uphill ride will bring you to one of Cebu's newest attraction. It's huge and probably one of the best waterfalls that I had ever seen. Be sure not to miss when in Oslob. Entrance fee is Php 25.00.

BOLJOON TOWN AND CHURCH

The centuries-old Patrocinio de Maria Church, the town’s parish church, is a central structure in the parish complex. Records reveal that the present structure was started a year after slave traders destroyed the original structure, in 1782. It took more than 30 years to complete, in 1814, during the time of parish priest Fray Julian Bermejo, whom the townspeople in those days hailed as “El Padre Capitan” because of his good community leadership. One of Cebu's oldest towns and declared as National Historical Landmark in 1999. In 2001, the National Museum identified it as a National Cultural Treasure.

Escuela Catolica

Not far from Boljoon church is Escuela Catolica, which now serves as meeting place for the various religious groups of the parish, is not a typical Spanish colonial building, bearing instead American construction influences.

OSLOB CUARTEL AND RUINS

The Cuartel and Baluarte in Oslob shouldn’t be missed as well. A visit to these two structures in the town are a must because this is a part of the town’s history dating back to the Spanish era. The Cuartel, a Spanish word for “barracks” or “headquarters” was intended for the Spanish guards. It was built in 1860 but the building was unfinished even at the end of the Spanish colonization in the Philippines. The Baluarte, Spanish word for watchtower, was built in 1788 to help dispel Moro raiders. Both structures are just a few meters away from the Municipal Hall which makes them very accessible as tourist destinations.

GETTING TO OSLOB FROM CEBU

Go to the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City, then hop on an Oslob-bound bus (~P150, 3 hours) and Alight at Brgy. Tan-awan. Take the earliest trip which is around 4:00 am to avoid traffic. You can also reach OSLOB by renting a private car or van for Php 4000 - 7000.

Our Whake Shark experience was a one time experience. Even though there are safety and briefing guidelines before the interaction, it's not enough to preserve this gentle docile creatures. They must improve the situation or might end up losing the sharks forever.

PHILIPPINE HOT AIR BALLOON FIESTA TIPS AND GUIDE 2016

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 05:21:00 +0000

The Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival was held last February 11-14, 2016 at Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga. It is held annually and attracts tourist of all ages and slowly becoming a famous attraction since its launch in 2004. I emailed the organizers that I will be covering the event and got a positive feedback a day before we left for Pampanga. Photographers pass are only issued to accredited publications and their media partners. I was given and instructed to call a certain mobile number once I reach the ticket booth because that person is gonna usher us in to the launch area. However, that didn't happen because the person's mobile number is out of coverage. We decided to settle in for normal entrance fee that cost Php 350.00.

TICKETS AND TIPS
Standard ticket price is Php 350.00. Children below the height of 3 feet can enter for free but standard ticket price applies for children above the height of 3 feet. Ticket booth opens at 5:00 am and gets busy an hour before it opens and the lines can be quite long. Be sure to be there before 5:00 am to have a good spot in public spectator area provided by the organizers.

GET A GOOD VANTAGE POINT
A sea of heads and crowds vying for a position to take good shots. Good thing I was standing in an elevated section of the ground. Hot air balloons take off every morning at around 6:30 AM, depending on wind conditions. The next opportunity to see the balloons is in the afternoon at around 5:30 PM as they fly in, if wind conditions are conducive. Skydiving Philippine Flag jump and PAF S211 high speed opener before the balloon flight.

GIANT FACES AND FIGURES DOMINATE THE SKY
At a slow pace, the balloons took off one after another. They slowly brighten up the skies with their colorful shapes and figures. The balloons will also be tethered on Saturday and Sunday night for the Night Glow.

EVERYTHING THAT FLIES

Not just balloons but everything from planes including decommission ones, helicopters, propeller driven planes like Cessna, gliders and kites. The balloon fiesta offers a ramp tour that allows you to walk around the active flight line with guide explaining basic principles of flight. Ramp tours charged a minimal fee of Php 5.00 per person.

FOOD
Bringing of food is allowed. Please keep the Fiesta grounds clean by not littering! Glass containers, crockery and breakables are not allowed inside the Fiesta grounds. Food and non-alcoholic drinks may be brought into the fiesta venue, except for bottled drinks. Food and refreshments are also sold around the fiesta venue in the concessionaire tents and food booths.
GETTING THERE
The venue of the 20th Philippine International Hot Air Ballon Fiesta is the Air Force City complex, along A. Bonifacio Highway, Clark Field, Pampanga. The complex have huge unpaved grounds for parking space. Be sure to bring something to cover your face against the dust.

Getting in and out of Mactan International Airport on public transport

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 13:16:00 +0000

There are several ways to get out of Mactan International Airport by public transport. For neophyte travelers, taxi is the most common choice of transportation when getting out of Mactan. Metered taxi's are convenient to ride and stress free. Quite expensive but if you have bulky luggage's I advised you take the metered taxi's instead. There are two ways to get out of the airport for under Php 100.00.

Yellow Multi-Cab Jeepneys

The Opon bound jeepneys are station near the International Departure gate. The ride will take you to Opon and Mercado. Just tell the driver to drop you off at Virgen de la Regla Church. From there, Muelle Osmena wharf is just few meters away. Ferries serve the routes Muelle Osmena to Pier 3. From Pier 3 you can walk to the gate to reach the highway and ride jeepneys to your destination. You can find SM, Sto Nino Basilica and Cathedral bound jeepneys there. Fare cost around Php 14.00 and the ride is approximately 20 min. First trip is at 6am and last trip is 10:00 pm. Cheap and stress free alternative to downtown Cebu.

MY BUS

Launch last December 2015, The Cebu myBus is PWD-friendly, GPS and CCTV-enabled making it a safe, secure and friendly transport service around Cebu. It can can accommodate 42 to 90 passengers, including standing passengers. The bus leaves every 30 min and uses tap-to-pay cards called e-PLUS. Cash will not be accepted and the minimum load is Php 100.00. The e-PLUS card can be bought near the airports arrival area.

MyBus Routes

Info provided By Sugbo.ph

BUS TRIPS / SCHEDULE

TALISAY to SM Seaside / SM City / Parkmall:

PARKMALL / SM CITY to Talisay:

SM CITY to Mandaue/JCentre:

MANDAUE / JCENTRE to SM City:

SM CITY to Mactan Airport:

MACTAN AIRPORT to SM City:

BUS STATIONS

SM Seaside City (Mountain Wing)
SM City Cebu (Wide parking lot at the back of Radisson Blu Hotel)
Talisay City (beside PTT Gas Station and near Fooda Talisay)
Mambaling City (across Phoenix Gas Stations)
Mactan Airport (near Arrival exit doors)
Mandaue City Hall (Rizal Bonifacio Stage)

Alluring Wonders of Sohoton Cove Natural Park

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 04:11:00 +0000

Surigao del Norte consist of four islands namely Bucas Grande, Guyam, Hibuson, Kabo and the world famous Siargao. Siargao is well-known for its surfing waves with a reputation for thick, hollow tubes called "Cloud 9". Bucas Grande on the other hand is slowly gaining traction as a tourist destination and draws hundreds of tourist with its crystal clear lagoons and natural wonders. A visit to Bucas Grande won't be complete without visiting Sohoton Cove Natural Park and Jellyfish Sanctuary.

Getting to Sohoton Cove Natural Park

From Surigao City to Hayanggabon Port ( Recommended Route)

○ Getting to Surigao City from Manila or Cebu is very easy with Cebu Pacific Air and, Philippine Airlines flying daily to Surigao Airport. After you landed, take a trike to Surigao Integrated bus terminal and take a bus bound for Tandag or take a van to Hayanggabon Port. Travel time is about 1 hour. From Hayanggabon port, charter a boat to Sohoton.

From Butuan City to Hayanggabon Port

○ From Butuan bus terminal, take a bus bound for Surigao City. Take a trike to Surigao Integrated bus terminal and take a bus bound for Tandag or take a van to Hayanggabon Port. Travel time is about 1 hour. From Hayanggabon port, charter a boat to Sohoton.

From Davao City to Hayanggabon Port

○ From Davao City Overland Terminal, take a bus bound for Surigao City. Bus frequency is every 2 hours. First trip is at 7:30 am.

From Davao City to Hayanggabon Port

○ From Davao City Overland Terminal, take a bus bound for Surigao City. Bus frequency is every 2 hours. First trip is at 7:30 am.

Private boat to Sohoton National Park cost around Php 3,500 - Php 4,000 good for 10-12 people.

TONDAN CAVE

Our first stop of the tour is Tondan Cave. Quite excited from the start but it felt short in the end.
I was not amazed and got bored after the tour. The cave is not that huge and you can spelunk it in 5 minutes or less. You might reconsider visiting Bolitas and Crystal cave instead of Tondan. Entrance fee is Php 30.00 inclusive of flashlight, helmet and tour guide.

SOHOTON TOURIST CENTER

The original plan was to have our lunch at Cinnamon island but due to lack of time we head straight to Sohoton Tourist Center which is just few minutes away from Tondan. Once we docked we then transferred to a smaller boat to the tourist center. The LGU based tourist center collects fees such as Entrance fee, Environmental, Helmet and life vest usage, Guide Fee, Paddler, Pump boat and docking fee. Check the breakdown of fees below.

Entrance Fee - Php 50.00
Environmental Fee - Php 50.00 ( Local) Php 150.00 ( Foreigner)
Helmet and life vest usage - Php 80.00
Guide fee - Php 333 (165 per guide, 2 guides per boat)
Pump boat - Php 500.00 ( Shared)
Jellyfish paddler - Php 100.00
Docking fee - Php 100.00

PADDLING OUR WAY TO THE JELLY LAGOON

Once our names was called we then hop into a smaller boat that can accommodate for two people. You have to paddle your way to the Jelly Lagoon along Tojoman Lake which is 20 min away from the tourist center. According to the paddler, Tojoman comes from the word Tojom that means " Toyom" or sea urchin because the lake is littered with sea urchins way back.

DIMINISHING NUMBERS

After 30 minutes of paddle at an intensive pace we finally arrived in Toyoman Lagoon where the spotted jellies are found. They are called Spotted Lagoon Jellies which can leave up to 14 months and one of the prettiest and most recognizable species of jellyfish. They're not invasive nor harmful to humans because they have no tentacles but have oral arms and often keep as pets because of their cute appearance and constant energy. However, we spotted only few because of their diminishing numbers. I'm not sure if it's pollution related but the boatman insist that it is because of the pollution, season and sunscreen lotion. They now prohibits swimming with the jellies. Have few interactions with them including moon jellies.

SOHOTON COVE NATIONAL PARK

Sohoton Cove can only be accessible during low tide. The narrow opening will lead you to a paradise filled with trees along its cliffs and house different species of birds, underwater species, turquoise waters and caverns. The water is quite high so we have to bend down to avoid the rock ceiling from hitting your head. As soon as we got to the cove, our guide showed us the only landmark in the cove to help them navigate. They call it Horeshoe, an oversized stalactite that resembles a foot of a horse.

HAGUKAN CAVE

There are 2 small caverns inside with the first being dubbed as the “hagukan” due to the snoring sound it emits as the water slams into the cavern. You can enter it by swimming carefully so your head will not touch the upper portion of the minute entrance. There is a big rock in the central portion inside the cavern where you can step on and take a rest. As light comes in through the entrance, you can witness a luminous green color of the water thereby offering the only chance for dark-skinned visitors to have a fair complexion.

Magkukuob / Diving Cave

Surely, your adrenalin would rise up at the Magkukuob Cave, so named with the bending position you must have to undergo in entering the cave, as you maneuver up rocky steps utilizing stalactites and stalagmites as handrails towards a skylight leading to a wooden platform right on a cliff located 15 feet above sea level. Reminiscing my Siquijor jump.

We don’t have any choice but to jump. As the saying does “Ladies First” I was first to jump and as I step forward, I can feel my knees shake a bit. I regain my composure, summon my courage and some encouraging chant, I finally leap off the platform and landed safely. A self-motivating and rewarding experience I’ve ever done. We head back to Hayanggabon port and catch a bus bound for Tandag City. If you have more time to spare you can visit Tiktikan lake and Cinnamon Island which is slowly gaining prominence among travelers.

Sohoton Cove Natural Park is an enchanting paradise filled with gorgeous islets , lagoons and caves . I’m quite optimistic and hopeful that the LGU will continue to preserve the park. Destructions is real, the Mining town is just at Sohoton’s doorstep.

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CHEHOBO CHEAP HOTEL BOOKING EXCLUSIVE INVITATION FOR BLOG READERS AND HOTEL AGENTS

noreply@blogger.com (tuklaserangmatipid) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 17:56:00 +0000

WHAT IS CHEHOBO

Chehobo.com is a sale and trade system based in the UAE, designed specifically for travel and tour agencies as well as corporate organizations in order for them to purchase cheap hotel, tour and flight tickets, transfers and events. Our objective is to help travelers find their ultimate option that fits in their budget. With our user friendly system , we assure you full enjoyment and satisfaction during your vacation.

We created Chehobo for travel agents who treats their customer as king and for the companies that want the most marvelous travel experiences.

Yes Tuklaserang Matipid site owner runs a travel and ticketing agency Clicks and Prints Ticketing. It's registered in Department of Trade and Industry,

WHY CHEHOBO?

○ Get connected to over 200 countries, 30,000 cities and 360,000 hotels; Chehobo is the only network that will connect you with the most hotels in the world.

○ Receive fast service and data due to the capacity of System Hosts and Network Infrastructure being in the same location.

○ You can use this travel platform in every step of your vacation You can purchase all of your requirements for the perfect vacation. Everything from Transfer to the airport, accommodation, daily tours, ticket for events is available in Chehobo.

○ Provides safe payment for Credit Card holders. You will be able to finalize the payment via Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

○ Always offers you the best prices available. Chehobo promises you the best available rates.

○ User Friendly The booking platform is created in such a way that even amateurs can use this system without any technical difficulty. we avoid any unnecessary images or buttons so you can experience the easiest booking experience.

○ We offer infinite Customer satisfaction. We work for the travel agents who treats their customer as king and for the companies that want the most marvelous travel experiences.

○ Can be used in mobile devices. Take your business with you everywhere and anywhere, Now available to view in your browser with the responsive design, soon applications will be ready for all platforms.

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Finding a hotel with good rates is a tedious task. Chehobo hotel booking does it all. I myself had a hard time looking for cheaper rates when I'm traveling and I find Chehobo booking portal have the most competitive and cheaper rates than other portals.

How?

It's fairly simple, just send a mail to vipershot2001@yahoo.com or use the contact us widget in our blog and leave your email address. Your email address will serve as your log in name and I will be the one to create your temporary password which later you can change by your own password and personalize it. I will send your log in details to your email address you provide. I will only allow 20 invites for now. Hurry, Book and Save.

3 EASY STEPS

STEP 1

Send me mail to vipershot2001@yahoo.com or use the contact widget on the left side of the website and leave your valid EMAIL ADDRESS, NAME AND LAST NAME.

STEP 2

After receiving your email, I will register and make the account and password for you which
later you you can change into your own once you log in and personalize it.

STEP 3

DONE, ENJOY AND KEEP SAVING

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