Gfootsteps

K-Drama and more, The Family's Korean Adventure Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (G) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 00:59:00 +0000

Hello again mga ka Gfootsteps!

This is the second part of our Korean Group Tour narrative.

To be honest, I supposed to make ^South Korea: Group Tour or not^ as the title of this blog; however, weighing all pros and cons on joining group tour, I must admit the fun and the people deserve to have so much weight to my liking, than my aching hips and feet. Still, I must give some precautions.

DO NOT JOIN GROUP TOUR IF:

> Your body is weak to walk an approximate 12,000 steps a day.

>You want to enjoy each attractions thoroughly. YES, a full-packed attraction package is enticing; but, since you are in a group tour, you will be given just few hours to enjoy great attraction. You have a list of other places to go to in so little time.

> You do not want strangers to turn into friends. Or you prefer to be sorrounded with people you know. (I love the group we joined with. They are great!)

> Last but not the least, do not join group tour if you have plans of escaping and staying in other countries illegally! My Gosh! You put the entire group in jeopardy!

If those reasons are on your mind(except the last on the list); I suggest, asking the agency for a lay-back itinerary. They can customize the tours for you. You just have to ask!

Our day 2 was filled with great attractions. And to name a few, let's start with Korean Folk Village.

Expect a jump packed visitors during weekends when visiting this place; as the schools usually bring toddlers and elementary students here, as part of their cultural and heritage awareness.

There are Kid's attractions in Korean Folk Village. One of those is the river ride. I saw that there is also horror attractions! We did not go there

The Korean Folk Village showcases the different houses based on classes (rich and the poor) during dynasties. You can also see different furnitures and tools used then. You can see displays of how offenders were tortured based on their offenses. Experience inside the Jail during Joseon Dynasty is also one of the highlights of out tour.

Dance parade was also featured.

Plenty of side trips on K-Drama locations were included in our tour package. However, I will feature only those I have plenty of memories with.. hahaha forgetful Lola mode.

A part of our second day tour was a 3-hour Everland Experiece. The Everland is so huge that it will require at least a day to explore and experience all of what they can offer. We only experience the Safari Adventure as the qeue was long.

We enjoyed Neverland and next time we will enjoy it for a day :)

Until next time mga ka Gfootsteps!

K-Drama and more, The Family's Korean Adventure Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (G) — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 10:20:00 +0000

K-Drama! Skincare all-you-want! Say... Kimchiiii!

Yes mga ka -Gfootsteps, Korea, sarang-hamnida! That was the lastest international flight we had when the border opens for tourists like us just recently. We went there last September 29, 2022 and stayed for five days. We went on a group tour as our Korean Tour Partner offered a no-visa entry when you fly "Fly Gangwon".

Don't get me wrong, a no-visa entry requirements are the same as that when you apply for a visa going to South Korea; however; those required documents need to be carried with as the immigration officers may or may not be asking for those.

Sadly, out of 26 group tour participants; only 11 of us were granted to fly to Korea. The rest were offloaded. I suggest, APPLY FOR KOREAN VISA instead. Please remember, when you get offloaded, your payment cannot be refunded. It is better to play safe than sorry in the end. It is indeed enticing to fly to south korea with no visa needed; only, if you are sure you will not get offloaded; otherwise, play safe my fellowmen :)

Upon arrival at Yangyang International Airport, we were greeted by our "uber-reliable", Korean Tourguide, James. We headed to an area for COVID-19 RTPCR testing. and went on our Day-1 itinerary. Yes, not a minute wasted.

Our First stop, Mt. Seorak and Naksansa Temple. This tour requires long walk on a scourching heat. The weather when we arrive South Korea was on opposites: very cold at night and very dry and hot on daytime.

The Cable car ride was exciting and the mountains are great! Did you know that Mountains cover 70% of Korea? Thanks to James for this info. This means really long and uphill walk for our many tours :)

Sumptuous lunch was served after the Mt. Seorak National Park adventure. The tour we availed covers all meals. It is usally variety of samgyupsal and hotpot. My husband and my sons loved the food!

Next stop was BTS Bustop at Jumunjin Beach.

Our Tourguide, James

Inspired by this picture: #ctto

We also went to Yangyang Lighthouses with weird mushroom shape, or our imaginations are just playing on us ;)

We were exhausted when we arrived our hotel. We stayed overnight in one of the good hotels in Gangwon.

To be continued:

For Korean All-In Tours; check this out:

Camaya Coast ~ the possibilities entail..

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 04:29:00 +0000

Hey There!

I missed you, and I know you do me :)

What else to say; but, motherhood eats a chunk of my whole self and left my hand full of duties and responsibilities that only a mother like me would understand.

So, this motherhood requires the mom to do some her hobbies still, as my son love swimming and as a loving, doting mom, as I am, I readily booked us in Bataan.

WARNING: mostly my honest review of the place

At that time, I never thought we would end up in a very long land travel as I thought we could just ride a ferry from MOA going to Camaya Coast. Guess what? they just started operating the sea transfers at the same day we went to Camaya Coast.. So, for 5 long hours my husband drove all the way to the end of Bataan from Laguna. And, no, we don't plan of doing the same the next time.

Let's cut the travel short and proceed to the entrance. A marvelous signage of Camaya Coast greeted us as if saying' "Hey, this is private and high class!" :) To envade it's privacy note, we jumped out of the car, and took some poses. Typical wanderer we are!

The long road never stops at the gate, we had to go and got lost to find the hotel :).. there's still an on-going constructions to the site, even on the hotel we stayed at. They had 2 hotels in Camaya Coast, one is The Camaya Sands and the other is the Aqua Fun. We were booked in Aqua Fun Hotel as my son loves the slides and all water activities; so we opted to be near by where the Fun is.

The reception is very small; otherwise I may say, not yet full done? Perhaps? But the receptionist was nice. We were even allowed to enter the room even it was not yet our check-in time.

The room we got is cozy, and the architecture is impressive; however, the execution of the architectures plan may have been too cheap for this kind of hotel/resort. There was no bidet in the restroom; plus, the material used for the restroom was cheap and rusted already for a new hotel. They should invest more on materials that would last longer than the one they put in.

The Aqua Fun is FUN, I should say. My son loved it and this is their BEST selling point.
They have Giant Slides, ropes, Big Tumbler Coconut Splash and a quite straight-forward pool. No kiddie pool though, as they may think the little ones will stay on slides.

To go to the Beach side, we had to ride the shuttle (FOC) for a 5-10 min drive from Aqua Fun. The downside was that we have to wait twice for more that 30 minutes for the shuttle to arrive and bring us to our destination; with kinda crap reasons on why..

Another downside was the food, it is pricey for a still developing resort.They did provide us to get a cash card that enetitled us foe 10% discount on food and beverages. Unfortunately, the connection was poor at thee time we went there so on the first day, we were unable to use the cash card hahhahahaha..

The Beach was quite nice but the water was deep. I love their Beach :)

I also liked the Infinity Pool; it was clean and not crowded. However, the pool in Camaya Sands Hotel was not that well-maintained and not clean.

I am hopeful that this place will be better; by then, we would come back and see the big difference.

The management need interventions on materials that are being used on their on-going constructions; otherwise, people will always rank Camaya Coast as just three star resort (3*)

I am hoping for the Best to come for Camaya Coast, as their location is way better than other resorts in Bataan.

Till then, see you on our next adventure

Maribago Bluewater: A taste of Class and Convenience

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 06:30:00 +0000

A stay in Maribago Bluewater is one of the luxury travels I recommend you try as it offers full package of almost everything wrapped into one beautiful paradise- that is, Maribago Bluwater.

Twice i succumbed not to count the pennies I need to pull out from my wallet, just to visit this place; and, twice I got enchanted. I wished to stay for not just a couple of days but more; yet, the bustle of city life that I escaped from clamor for some attentions; cutting the solitude I got from this place.

I traveled with co-bloggers and few friends to visit this place. It took us less than 30-minutes to reach this place from the airport.

Fond of Pampering yourself?

Then you can stay in the Amuma Spa Suite; located in a secluded place known as Amuma Spa Wing. The Amuma spa offers Signature therapies and aromatic massages that soothes your body needs.

The resort also offers Marine Wildlife Lagoon. Oh yeah! SHARK THERE IS!

The scenic views are like images from postcards. They emerge like a temptress; asking you to be in awe every minute you glance at them.

In this beautiful place.. every penny is well-spent :) I will surely come back until the nth time.

Bantayan Island, Cebu ~ Rustically Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Mon, 19 May 2014 12:48:00 +0000

Blame it on this picture on the net!

taken at philnews.ph

Who could ever resist such beauty? From that point in time, Bantayan had become my most wanted place to explore. Accomplishing such dream took me over a month to conceptualize: should I go alone? Should I ask others to join? Whatever it will be, may i be alone in this place or not, I will be there. That's what I had in mind.

Okay, my idea of solo-traveling in Bantayan didn't last for so long when some of my friends showed interest in joining. I told myself, why not share whatever experience I could have in this place.

And so, the journey begun.

Early morning of November, D and I plus two of my friends headed to the airport to catch a flight going to Cebu. After an hour in the sky, we landed in Mactan Airport. We took a van going to Hagnaya Port where we had to ride a Roro. It took roughly 4 hours to reach the port. My butt ached, but my excitement ached more than my butt. My anticipation rose high upon reaching the port; seeing a body of water was enough for me to forget my aching butt.

Traveling via a Roro became tedious with the humidity at that time. I was sweating all over and D too felt uncomfortable with so many people inside the Roro.

The journey continued, until we reached Sta. Fe. Getting a hotel wasn't hard in Bantayan. Tricycle drivers do not just offer a ride but hotel options too. Too bad, we were booked in a hotel already.The accommodation we had was very basic; needless to say, we were not impressed with the services we got from the resort managers. If you wanted to know which resort was it, drop me a note as I never intend of bad-mouthing anyone. However bad the services were, the scenery was still at its grandeur :)

Our accommodation in Bantayan

View at our resort

Good thing, the neighboring resort offered what we need. Anika is way way better and my next choice of resort when I come back to Bantayan. Almost all the time; when there was no tour, we were there eating, playing and just roaming around!

The place was a haven to nature-lovers like me. D and I said we can grow old there if fate allowed :) The sand was crystalline white; the water was clear; the morning walks a delight; the sun shining at dawn was a bliss and the native of the land were fascinating as they prepare their "danggit".

Did I ever get a closer look on the place where the Bantayan picture on the net was taken? Oh yeah! and yes, it was lovely :)

The tours we had was breath taking! See what Bantayan tour can offer you on my next post :)

Virgin Beach Resort ~ A harmony of Sun, Sea & Sand

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 11:54:00 +0000

Crowded thoughts..
Mixed emotions..
Challenges faced..
and..
Hope delivered..

The many reasons why you never heard from me ; 'though I traveled a lot in 2013. I wasn't given the chance to even catch up with my backlogs. But, I promised to be back.

And here I am again, writing!

This is the best way to start my 2014, I believe :) And with so many inspirations, my backlogs will be gone long enough before this year ends.

I'm treating this day as an ultimate reunion day with my passion..

Speaking of reunions, the trip that i was about to write was conceptualized as one of the monthly reunions of our Grade School batch. And yes, I was the organizer at that time. We usually held our get-together in our houses; but not when I said, we should travel. :)

I booked everything and scouted for a nearby beach in Manila. Where else to go but in Batangas. I remembered one of the popular resorts in Laiya that was used as a location in few of the movies I have watched; like, "Here comes the bride". Yes, we went to Virgin Beach resort in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas. It was just a two- hour ride from Manila. Add an hour more if you are traveling via public bus.

I booked a Dining Parasol. It can accommodate a max of 15 heads; with a price of a thousand and three hundred and fifty pesos; however, I got to pay a 150-peso more per head if we exceeded a count of 12. Nope we didn't exceed the allotted head counts; but, one of my classmates had to rent a Bed Parasol for her kids.

Looking at the parasols we stayed-in, disappointed me. I was actually aiming to get same ambiance and looks of the resort as that of how it was projected in the movie. But, at that time the Parasols wore a retiring look already.The shabby look of the parasols we rented is a cutthroat for a price of more than a thousand per day per parasol. Oh well, I hope the management will do something to bring back the glow of the place.

The good news is that, the sun, the sea and the sand still work wonders in harmony. True to their description, Virgin Beach Resort stood up as a haven for purity of nature. That, compensated the travel. The harmony of nature brought as a laid-back experience away from our troubled bodies and minds. We enjoyed the place!

The water was not as salty as that of other beaches in Batangas. Maybe because it was adjacent to Sigayan Bay, one of the cleanest bays in the Philippines. However, not much sea creatures ca be found. At least, not near the shore. I cannot vouch for snorkeling experience there; though, I believe it's just a matter of the-right-spot to see the underwater living things.

If you want a union with nature; without asking for too much galore of a high-end resort; then I recommend Virgin Beach Resort.

Will I go back there? Hell, yeah why not? :)

Residencia de Riego; Where the Lights Glow at Night

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:18:00 +0000

I read about frustrating news about people getting scammed on travel deals. These led me to have a second thought of grabbing one of the leisure trip deals offered in Groupons. But the price looked tempting.. hmmm.. I said, okay, what the heck! If I'll get cheated at least it's cheap :)

We grabbed the deal of 2 days-1 night accommodation in Residencia de Riego in Alitatag, Batangas. It took us almost 2 hours to reach the place. Finding the resort was a little bit tricky as the place was not strategically located near the main road. In short, we got lost. :) Thanks to few people who helped us finding the right way and showing us the directions.

ALAS! There it is! Residencia de Riego is a huge resort. We initially roamed the place to check the amenities.It has big parking space for customers; thank God :)

Move inward the parking space and you will see their camping site. Yes, you can camp here! I was dismayed that we didn't have this option in the deal we got.

Just at the entrance you will see a mini-store where you can buy goods that you forgot to bring for the outing.

As you enter the place, cottages serve as waiting area; opposite them was the bar and restaurant. They serve good food. And they offer variety of food choices too. I got attracted with their restaurant because of its' design. It somehow gave us an ambiance of a high-end resto and it separates the resto from the pool as if they are of different place.

Native designs are the main theme of Residencia de Riego. Just across the bar are the pools.

The rooms and cottages somehow did not meet my standard as they were not so big and well-maintained. They do have a videoke that they offer an hour use for free and a billiard tables too.

At night, Residencia de Riego tells a different story. I must agree that it has its own night life. The magical colors of the pool changes and they entice anyone who swim. The color dances with the music. Their DJ is good too. Party at the pool becomes its theme when the dark creeps in :)

We enjoyed our night time here.

We experienced one of the best night swimming we had in this place. And yes, I recommend that you pay a visit to Residencia de Riego. Not really much on day time; but the night has a life in this place. :)

D&G in ISDAAN, Gerona, Tarlac

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:57:00 +0000

"Behind every successful man, is a surprised woman" ~ Maryon Pearson

When old places are roamed; yet new feeling is felt; then you had a memorable travel that would be treasured for a lifetime. That's what I felt when we went to Baguio. Such a heavy heart I felt leaving the place; but, who could ever stop the time?

We drove down the winding road; and after reaching a not-so-far place; I caught him looking at something as he lowered the gear to slow down. To my surprise, I saw a beautiful place that in my thoughts could have been an art exhibit. D said, let's eat here. So, again, he knew the place and didn't tell me to catch the smile that he always like. Beyond the beauty that lies within my eyes was his affection that counted most.

He led me inside Isdaan. It was about to close; but we managed to sneak and dine in. A floating restaurant it is! With displays of replicas that kids and those young at hearts would definitely love; I felt like a child once more. Then I smiled.

Isdaan Restaurant is under the same management of Barrio Fiesta. So expect the same food offerings as that of Barrio Fiesta. As we moved towards the table that gave an impression of eating in a "balsa" (raft); I was expecting to see some singing cooks and waiters; but there was none. Maybe because they were about to close. We had a sumptuous late dinner together; yet, the food servings caught me by surprise. It was huge that could feed 2-3 people.

The wonder of the place as I said were the giant sculptures that depict a themed park. I so loved the giant Buddha and dinosaurs. D loved Mickey Mouse, of course :)

So, if you happened to go to Baguio, feed your hunger in Isdaan Restaurant at Gerona, Tarlac. We loved it there! And we just recently found out that they too have the same themed park in Laguna. This, we have to check out really soon! :)

D&G in Baguio

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:57:00 +0000

Southwind and 88hotsprings were not the gifts. They're surprises to augment a postponed trip. The real birthday gift D gave me was our trip in Baguio.

Preceeding this trip was a solemn wedding that D and I witnessed. The bride and groom were to head in Baguio too; but, we have to be there ahead of them.

The long land travel was fun but it was exhausting on his part; and late at night we reached the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio.

We were greeted by a chilling wind that penetrated to a not-so thick warmer that I worn. He covered me with his jacket that gave me comfort. I was never bothered with cold environment; but Baguio as always brings me to another world. Even at night Baguio is mesmerizing. The pine trees; the winding roads; and the cold atmosphere alienated anyone who lives in a busy district of Manila.

Looking in Baguio and reminiscing the disaster it battled not so long ago gave me the impression of a strong city that rose from whatever nature brings.

There was nothing to do yet at that moment but to enjoy each other's company. The next day would be different as we planned of visiting famous landmarks and tourists spots of Baguio.

Our first stop was Camp John Hay, a former rest and recreation facility for American Soldier in Asia. We roamed around the place and managed to scout things on nearby stalls inside Camp John Hay. The place is nostalgic. Each time I turned my head to other directions; i found scenic view that I have to capture on cam.

We went inside Camp John Hay Clubhouse where only members can enter; but fate was with us so we managed to sneak in and had some snack over.

Camp John Hay Golf Course

Just outside the Clubhouse were beautiful houses that we were told owned by famous Philippine politicians.

The following day was different as we had companions to appreciate the beauty of Baguio. The honeymooners arrived earlier that day. And we, as their ninang and ninong (Godparents) became their tour guides.

We initially went to Wright Park and The Mansion. Wright Park offers the Pool of Pines while The Mansion as an official summer residence of The President of the Philippines is of course off-limits for public view. We managed to get some good shots of The Mansion though.

We visited the mining point of Baguio during the early 20th century that is now commonly knows as Mine's View. There you can see almost a 180 degree of Baguio's vastness. But this place is popular for cheap souvenirs and Baguio's handicrafts.

We went to Tam-awan Village afterwards. There we spent most of the remaining hours of the day. Tam- awan Village is located at the outskirts of the city and would require a 30-minute to an hour drive from the city. Good thing D is so adapted in using his google map :) hahhahaha... Tam- awan village showcases native huts of Kalinga; it has art gallery too where you can buy paintings and handicrafts at a lower price. Some of the artists stay there. It was one of the highlights of our Baguio trip. We loved it there; as D&G are both art and nature lovers :)

The next destination came late the following morning. We went to Burnham Park; sat at the foot of a shady tree; and strolled the Burnham Lake via paddled-boat. Unfortunately, D and Sam sucked in boat rowing; so the girls didn't get the all-fun-thing and rowed the boat in unison.

The last itinerary was a disappointment. We were trapped in a heavy traffic to reach the Strawberry Farm. It ate almost all our time for what? To see a single red strawberry in a huge field. Well, I was to be blamed.. I should have read if it's strawberry seasons already.

We also went to SM Baguio. Nothing fancy really but the view outside on top of the Mall. :)

I had been in Baguio a countless time; but this trip is treasured as this was his Birthday Gift to me :) Baguio was even more romantic then than ever :)

D&G in Southwind and 88hotspring Resorts in Laguna

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 11:57:00 +0000

October 5, 2012 ~ I received a bad news from Cebu Pacific that my flight going to Naga was cancelled and re-booking at the same date was impossible. It was a shocking news to think that my bags were packed and a few hours from then should have been my flight. The night before was agonizing; knowing that D wouldn't be able to join my trip to Calaguas as it was a previously arranged tour.

I guess, the news made him happy :) But, on my part; such a disappointment! Then he came up with a plan; so rushed just to compensate what i have lost on that day and to make me happy. D said we just have to go somewhere nice and stay there for a little while. I asked where to go; but he kept it a secret; but he asked me to just bring my things to go on swimming.

October 7, 2012 ~ 2 days before my birthday it was. D picked me up and we headed to Pansol, Laguna. So, he knew the place and been there already. Before checking-in we grabbed some food and bought some groceries at the nearby store.

SOUTHWIND RESORT ~ Since our trip was rushed; we didn't have a choice but to reserve a family room since all couple's rooms were fully booked at that time. But, we didn't encounter problem in reserving a room. The resort is huge with 2 tall buildings facing each other. I was told by D that the building near the mountain was the newest and where the couple's rooms were located. Southwind Resort got 4 pools and 1 kiddie pool of varying depths. Each pool offers warm water that would probably coming from a hot spring in which Pansol is very famous of. We opted to plunge in a not-so-crowded pool. We had a great time joking around conversing too much that I believed among the other guests; we were the nosiest. :)

Their family room is big with two queen-sized beds; its own toilet and bath and with middle-sized table. We enjoyed the privacy it offers at night and the sleep quality it provided us. The resort has its own restaurant and a convenient store. That became useful for us as we were both coffee-lovers and we needed some hot water for the coffee we brought. The hot water had minimal charge; but that's ok. Overall, this resort is recommended for family and couples or even huge group. The kids will enjoy this resort too. It will definitely get 8 out of 10 good ratings from me. :)

Southwind resort brought us a wonderful time together where our private jokes were shared. This place will always be remembered by D&G.

88hotspring Resort ~ We checked-out in Southwind Resort before lunch and headed towards 88hotspring Resort. We got to visit this one as I heard good things about this hot spring resort from many of my Korean and Chinese friends. Well, what do you know.. we were never disappointed. We basked in its beauty with awe. It offers healing and tranquility in luxurious style. The vastness it covers provides their guests with recreations befitting their needs. Their pools offers eastern traditional healing. They have a so-called Feng Shui Energy Pool where you will be assigned to a certain pool location based on your birthdate to get the best chi or energy. They have spa, gold course, kiddie pool, jacuzzi and hot-mini pool. You can see the hotspring coming from the mountain as it is filtered before reaching their pools. The scenic view offers healing itself. We loved the place and we will surely come back for more :)

This trip brought not only happiness to me; but, gratefulness. I am so thankful to D for this wonderful experience. I was not able to enjoy Calaguas; but this trip was definitely way better as I have D with me to enjoy it with :)

Digyo Island, Inopacan, Leyte: My first travel with co-bloggers

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:23:00 +0000

It was on early May last year when I came across a tour invitation going to Digyo Island. Initially my first thought was "Digyo Island? never heard..." But I was so into traveling that the invites took me searching for the place. I said, joining one of the tours of some co-bloggers that I haven't met would be exciting. Having a first is always exciting anyways.

So, I booked a flight and sent my interest of joining to the event organizer, Owen: the DIY Master. He was very informative on what to expect in the trip; so, i prepared for almost 4 months for the trip.

Awaiting this journey gave me the opportunity of finding more participants. I even advertised it in my blog; hoping for more joiner to emerge.

In a long run; I managed to convince some few friends to join. :)

September 7 came and we started flying to Tacloban where our accommodation was reserved. We stayed in Welcome Home Pensione.We also managed to see Sto. Niño Shrine during our stay in Tacloban. It was just a tricycle away.

Two of my friends arrived 4 hour earlier than me. And I too was expecting to see one of my co-bloggers, Weng (see her post on this trip) whom I never met but was actually in-touch with me through chat. Late in the afternoon I saw her bubbly face and we chatted like we've known each other that long. She's very nice and friendly :) We talked on how to go about the trip and where to start. We decided to go altogether in one van (DUPTOURS) going to Inopacan on it's first trip at 5AM.

A 4-hour ride going to Inopacan ate most of our trip travel. Fortunately, few more joiners were in the van too! So we chat as we traversed a winding road. We reached the Maasin Port and bought few drinks and food for the tour. Owen and his wife were already there and waiting for us to board the boat. It took few more minutes to reach Digyo Island.

What to Expect in Digyo Island: There were few huts in the island where the tripper can rent to house their things. It is equipped with long table for a picnic style lunch. There was a small comfort room; but no fresh water.

The sand is creamy white to off-white in colour; a fine texture less the limestones of shells and some small rocks. It was an awesome sight!

Intensed heat from the sun didn't stop me and my friends to swim and enjoy a crystal bluish-green water of Digyo Island. We played and laughed. Nature really has its way of perking one's soul! It perked us. The long drive was all worth it.

Going back to Tacloban was another story. Let's just say; we had a rough time going back; still, this Digyo Island Trip will and always will be one of my favorites :)

I hope to join Owen, Ime, Anj, Weng, Yeye, Mhon and Anjo again in my future trips..

As for Dennis, who after this trip became my partner.. you will see more of him :)

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Tacloban: A Review on Welcome Home Pensione

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 07:53:00 +0000

Travel Date: September, 2012
Purpose of Visit: Tacloban Tour and explore Digyo Island in Inopacan, Leyte
Travel Companions: Friends and co-blogger
Type of room accommodation: Standard room with 3 single beds and private toilet and bath

Upon arrival at the airport, I had to take a jeepney going downtown to reach Welcome Home Pensione. The jeepneys lined up a few walks from the airport; however, as impatient as I am; i took the van that cost me a 100 peso to reach the place. That was actually a cheap bargain considering that the fare should have been 150 per passenger. It took me about 20 to 30 minutes to reach the place. The hotel was not hard to find as it is located at the center of the city. We chose Welcome Home Pensione as it is just a few steps away from Duptours Terminal where we have to be on a wee a hour of the morning to ride a van going to Inopacan Leyte.

I was greeted by their receptionist in a small lobby. It's a building-type hotel where all spaces are maximize; meaning, all spaces are in use. Judging at it's look, the building in front of the street could have been the older building. Just a few steps on the lobby desk; I was headed to go to the second floor where our room is and my friends were waiting.

The Room: Nothing fancy. I saw 3 small single bed; with a huge closet attached to the private toilet and bath. There was a hanging small television and a small dresser. There was a small table as you enter the room. The toilet and bath is fair enough with working hot and cold shower. However, the linens as I smelled were not fresh or maybe they were but did not pass my standard. My co-blogger who stayed on the other building opposite ours said otherwise. Maybe, we were just not that lucky to have a better accommodation in Welcome Home Pensione.

What to expect: At the center of the hotel; dividing the two buildings lies a mini garden with a nipa hut. There you can enjoy a relaxing view and a free wi-fi. Hot and cold water is provided but not served. At the same area; you can find a couple of cup and glasses as well as the hot and cold water. You have to get it yourself. You should also tell the receptionist if you need room cleaning. I didn't complain much as we were just there to sleep; but the quality of my sleep wasn't that good due to the smell of the pillows and linens. However, when I asked them to change the linens on the socond day; i was able to get a better sleep.

For a budget hotel like Welcome Home Pensione; expect nothing special; however, if you were just there to sleep; then this hotel befits your need.

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The BEST GIFT 2012 Gave Me: Faith, Hope, Love

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 03:57:00 +0000

I usually do not write anything about the past year as I always believe that moving forward is way better than looking back. However, 2012 had been so kind to me; that writing what it had given me would be the right thing to do to show how thankful I am that God had been so good to me, my family and my friends in 2012.

Tracing the gifts of 2012 is never difficult; as most of them are instill in my mind and my heart:

The early gift of 2012 was the gift of faith ~ 2011 gave us a tragic moment when the family almost lost our light; my mom. But, no matter how difficult the family went through; our family survived this tragic event with prayers; helpful friends and the faith that she will survive :) She did! She survived 2011 and 2012 healed her.. Like a miracle; my mom not only survived death but she was healed. From a stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease brought about by her fatal cardiac arrest; she bid dialysis good-bye :) The doctors were shocked! She was supposed to be forever dependent on the dialysis machine or a kidney transplant. Her recovery is a miracle and WE THANK GOD for this gift as we shared with our hearts the gift of FAITH and HEALING in 2012.

2012 also made me be a part of it's gift of HOPE ~ On it's earlier stage 2012 brought a baby to my best of friends; Tengay; who would die to have one. This gift of Hope was shared to all the BESTIES as Mikmik; my God-child showered us love and joy. But the best gift for my friend arrived later in 2012! She did not just have Mikmik but she was gifted with a life in her womb; that for almost more than 2 decades was unable to sustain life. Yes, a Gift of Hope is indeed in a form of another Miracle :) As for me; I never lost the HOPE in my heart; and almost all the things I hoped for came like showers of blessings in 2012; mostly monetary :) Yet, 2012 had been so graciously kind to me and my family.

And one of the best gifts 2012 gave me was the GIFT OF LOVE ~ For 18 years; I never imagined nor even wished to have this gift again. On mid-quarter of 2012; he came into my life. Shockingly, I was taken aback of this feeling; yet, I felt that this is a special gift that I must be thankful for. Two hearts re-united again; from being a mere grade-school classmates to being special partners hopefully for life. He became not only my love but also my partner in almost all of my travels. As a traveler, having your beloved as your partner in traveling is a bliss and I'd never been that happy to see the beauty of nature with him :) And, it is rightful to thank 2012 for blessing me with a new life to start and love to share :)

Here are the highlights of my travels in 2012 with my beloved hunny :)

Nobody knows what's in store for 2013; but, I believe it will even be better than 2012. Yet, again, I thank 2012 for these wonderful gifts that I will forever treasure in my heart :)

Happy New Year everyone! :)

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Puerto Princesa: The Concluding Part

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 09:23:00 +0000

We marveled at the rock formations in Puerto Princesa Underground River; a renowned 7 Wonders of Nature. I have to say that nature really has its own wonder as proven by the journey inside the cave.

We hated the fact that we have to leave the place that soon. But we must; as the queue of tourists awaits our return. We headed back to Sabang Port. With too short a time at hand; having the Honda Bay tour would be impossible. But, Hey! We were on Sabang Beach; so, why waste time??

I talked to our tour guide and see if we can plunge in the water as we awaits for the other van passengers. Having such a charm; we managed to get his YES and Go! Go! Go!

The Beach area is just a few minutes away from the Sabang Port. We walked under an scorching heat of the sun; but we cared less. By hook or by crook; we will get our skin soaked and salty :)

We stopped at Sheridan Beach Resort; one of the high-end resorts in Puerto Princesa. There you can find the South Sea Restaurant where you can get some refreshments after a tiring walk. That's what we did. We had few drinks before we started the plunge. I am a Margarita drinker.. Sad to say that their Margaritas did not meet my taste; although their Mojito did :)

We had fun with our tour guide as he became our photographer. One of his remarks was; "Sarsa na lang ang kulang" (We just need sauce!); pertaining to us who were wearing our 2-pc swimwear. Such an unacceptable remarks! hahahhahaha..wait 'til he sees us again with our revenge! hahhahahaa..

Over-all our Sabang Beach experience was worthy enough to satisfy our needs for a beach experience in Puerto Princesa.

We went back to our hotel, and decided to check the night-life in there. Plenty of bar and restos can be chosen in Puerto Princesa. And based on ratings and talks from friends who had been there; we opted to have our dinner in Kinabuch's. The food has an excellent taste! Although; you have to wait a little longer for your food to be served as there were plenty of customers in this bar and restaurant. The Ambiance of the place is cozier than the other restos we've been to in Puerto Princesa. It has billiard tables too :)

After the dinner we walked around the city and scouted for a place to drink. There we found the TIKI bar. We were engrossed with the way it looks. So native; so artistically presented :) But the mixes? Nope, did not pass our taste. Well, you can always play safe though.. order beers! hahhahahaha

We had a sleepless night as we went back to our hotel. We had a full recap of our adventures and talked about the next place to visit :)

Early morning; we had to leave with heavy heart with a dragging feet. It's time to bid Puerto Princesa a good-bye.. Until we meet again :) Definitely! We will be in Puerto Princesa again.. and again.. and again :)

If you haven't read the entire posts of our Puerto Princesa adventure; follow below links :)

Puerto Princesa: Plaza Cuartel
Puerto Princesa: City Baywalk
Puerto Princesa: Binuatan Creations
Puerto Princesa: Baker's Hill
Puerto Princesa: Mitra's Ranch
Puerto Princesa: Crocodile Farm
Ysabelle Mansion in Puerto Princesa

And for the other journeys of the wandering Gfootsteps, click this link :)

G-Travel!

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Puerto Princesa: Underground River

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:49:00 +0000

It is known as the longest navigable underground river in the world. The stunning natural formations of stalactite and stalagmite mixed with some residues coming from the bats made it as one of the recently added 7 Wonders of Nature.

This tour was the highlight of our Palawan Escapade and Besties wouldn't leave PP without checking this one out.

As mentioned; everything was arranged prior to our coming to Puerto Princesa including the tour to underground river. The tour organizer booked us a month before our arrival to visit the underground river; also known as Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. Lucky if you just arrived and had you listed on the list of visitors as many are flocking the place to see this 7 Wonders of Nature.

We had a wake-up call to ensure that we will arrive at Sabang Port early. The tour guide was a jolly guy who made the 2-hour travel from the city to Sabang a memorable and joyful one. One of his notable jokes was:

"Wag po kayong mag-alala, wala na pong Abbu Sayyaf ngayon.. nag-iba na po sila ng trabaho.. Tour guide na po sila ngayon" (Don't worry about being kidnapped by Abbu Sayyaf, they already changed their careers.. they are now tour guides) :D

As we traversed a seemingly endless road; we marveled at the sight of mountains and greeneries. We even stopped at Karst Mountain Elephant Cave. The entire mountain looked like a mother elephant; and the hind-leg seemed to have a carved mother and baby elephants. We took a lot of pictures at this site.

At last, after an almost 2-hour ride; we reached the Sabang Port. That was one of the busiest port I'd seen. A lot of tourists both local and foreigners flocked the area with their ready cam-on-hand. We had to wait for our turn as our tour guide arranged to get our tickets. I didn't waste this ample time. I took some shots of the area.

We boarded at a 10-seater motor boat; with life vest on. It took less than 30 minutes to reach the spot, The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. We awed on the vastness of the Park. It seems an entire Island covers this National Park. Our tour guide told us things to avoid during the tour; like never leave your things unattended as the monkeys (naughty) roaming the area might get them and in which part should you not take a deep breath as the bats left their excretes with foul odor. True enough, we had to cover our noses not to smell an intoxicating odor; but this didn't last that long.

A long queue awaited us to get in to the small boat for the underground tour. It took about 30-minutes before we were boarded and at that time gap the Besties played like children. We climbed trees; swing like Tarzan and jumped at the beach (since the place is a protected marine sanctuary; no one is allowed to plunge into a crystal clear water).

At last we were called and were introduced to our new tour guide; who also was the boatman at the same time.

We saw great numbers of natural stone formations molded into shapes like a great artist could have done. There were various distinct sculptures made by nature itself. And by then; we knew why it was renowned 7 Wonders of Nature.

The trip was short as we were not allowed to get into Cave 2. A special permission is needed for such and it takes a more experienced boatman to handle the course. What I read was that; in that cave, fossils of manateee (dugong) and some crystal caves can be found. If you were persistent in getting into that special cave get the permit a month before you go there.

We were happy not to miss the chance of being fascinated with Puerto Princesa Underground River. This actually made me proud as a Filipino.

We are about to end this Puerto Princesa journey with one last post. In the meantime; check out our trips in Puerto Princesa by clicking on the links below. Thank you for dropping by :)

Puerto Princesa: Plaza Cuartel
Puerto Princesa: City Baywalk
Puerto Princesa: Binuatan Creations
Puerto Princesa: Baker's Hill
Puerto Princesa: Mitra's Ranch
Puerto Princesa: Crocodile Farm
Ysabelle Mansion in Puerto Princesa

And for the other journeys of the wandering Gfootsteps, click this link :)

G-Travel!

Puerto Princesa: Plaza Cuartel

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:02:00 +0000

We had too little time to eat at least a fishball in Puerto Princesa City Baywalk; unless we would wish to skip the Plaza Cuartel. So, we hurriedly jumped off the van and head towards the once Japanese Garrison that is just across Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral.

Just a bit note of history: During the World War II, more than a hundred and forty American prisoners were burned to death in this place. The Garrison was turned into a park to somehow eliminate the griminess of the place.

Visit the place when the sun is still hot. We went there when the sun was about to set; and the gloominess of the place struck us. Or was it just because we have read the past of the place and it brought chill to our spines?

Just at the entrance; you will see the prison cell where the burning happened.

There was a very lucky man who managed to escape the excruciating pain of fire and lived a much longer life. He's Don Schloat whose monument can be found standing in Plaza Cuartel. It was a monument of a man on fire.

Anyways, Plaza Cuartel was the last on the list of our itineraries for Palawan City Tour. We opted not to stay long as the place was getting dark and we wanted to pay a visit to the nearby church.

This place reminds us that war is nothing but stupid act a man could ever think and deliver to mankind. 'twas such a very informative tour we had in Plaza Cuartel.

Next stop: The Underground River

Puerto Princesa City Baywalk

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:39:00 +0000

Alright, alright.. I owe you more updates as I stopped feeding you information on my whereabouts lately.. But hey guys, please be patient.. try to understand that love stops the time..

Anyways, where were we? Aha! from Binuatan Creation; we headed towards the Manila Baywalk counterpart ~ Puerto Princesa City Baywalk. It is located within the city proper.

The Puerto Princesa City Baywalk carries the city's emblem; the PEACOCK-Cock-cock (singing while writing :) ) and the port offers a grand view as you lazily walk around the Baywalk. Wait for the sun to set to awe in magnificent display of lights.

Just around every corner, you can find street food carts. You can never get hungry on this place. The huge park offers a fun-filled aura. This place is good for family-bonding as well as friends-bonding; as what the BESTIES did. For lovers; wait 'til the sun sets and sit down facing the seafront. You can speak your love to one another as the place is filled with romantic hues of the sun :) You'll definitely get the cheapest date ever yet a romantic one.

Next stop: Plaza Cuartel

Puerto Princesa: Binuatan Creations

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Sat, 06 Oct 2012 07:15:00 +0000

The Baker's Hill adventure mesmerized us and brought the child in everyone of us. The next destination was more of a trip towards arts.

We went to Pajara, Sta. Monica and visit the Binuatan Creations.

Binuatan is a Cuyonin dialect that means creations; so in other words; Binuatan Creations means "Creations" creations.. talking about redundancy. But this is how we usually named names.

Binuatan Creations showcase hand woven handicrafts created by talented and skillful people of Palawan. The crafts are manually woven creating distinctive products that are purely Palawan's.

The interesting part was when we were taught how to manually weave table mat. It was Risa who got all the instructions well; and represented the BESTIES hahhaha.

Then, we went inside their shop and saw the finished creations. All products are made up of indigenous materials. And looking at them made me feel I am looking at Arts and not just merchandise. We bought some as souvenirs. Buying would mean helping the industry to prosper after all.

So make sure that when you come to Puerto Prncesa; drop by at Binuatan Creations. :)

Puerto Princesa: Baker's Hill

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:58:00 +0000

As we departed from Mitra's Ranch; our tour guide told us that we will be having our snack really soon. I thought, why not just have the snack in Mitra's Ranch on a picnic style.. Good thing; it wasn't that way or I will miss the adventure of being young again.

A very short ride took us to Baker's Hill. The tour guide said it is the home of famous baked goodies and it started as a very small bakery that has been transformed into a Theme Park.

Baker's Hill Palawan showcased goodies that are awesomely delicious and a Disneyland inspired-park to play around. This place is really good for the kids and and those who would wish to be kids once more; just like the Besties :p

I think the most harassed fiber glass sculpture is this man...

Dunno about the belly; but it sure does get all the attentions..

The story behind finding the Baker's Hill:

Once upon a time; there were 6 lovely princesses who went to find a mystical place called Baker's Hill. They walked and walked to see the hill; but no matter how far they go; they couldn't see it. A magical creature named Monroe cast-ed a spell for people to lose their tracks. The iphone gprs ain't helping.. the SUN signal was very poor. They should have brought the sun-dial instead.

Alas! They saw an enchanted horse nearby; but it was guarded by a dwarf; who wouldn't want to let the princesses borrow the horse. The dwarf was with a yaya; este a chambermaid with him. Princess Teng asked the chambermaid to put the dwarf down or he will be forced down violently. The chambermaid smirked and Princess G told her to just let them borrow the horse and the dwarf can have it back right after a few shots; este rides.

The dwarf being taunted by adults; este princesses got no choice but went down. With strong determination; the princesses happily rode the enchanted horse to lead them to the Hill where fantasy is alive.

The princesses saw some enchanted friends along the way and they asked them for direction. The creatures told them that in order to see the hill; they need to defeat the mighty Monroe.

The creatures didn't say that they have to pass through a fierce pirate; who cannot go down the rope as a punishment from the Gods; upon stealing a precious hopia. Princess G took courage and used her best weapon to defeat the pirate. He tickled the pirate until it died laughing.

Then, a few meters away from the Pirate's Land; they saw a smoke.. so dark that they couldn't see.

Alas! the wicked Monroe appeared. Her image brought agony to the princesses; that they almost died out of jealousy.. Ohh! TOO BIG! too big a woman (kala nyo ha!).. Princess Jeh took charge and pushed Monroe as hard as she could. Monroe almost fell (Gosh! I thought we will be paying for this sh@t!).. Good thing, Princess G steadily held Monroe back on her feet again. They talked things out and settle scores like fair ladies.

Monroe said that she was not the one who cast the spell on the Hill; and she too was just a victim. She said that the best way to see the Hill is not to find it but its treasure.

Princess Risa asked where to find it.. Monroe pointed out a tiny box and said; there it is! It was just lying in a furnace-like table.

Princess Edna and Sarah; hurriedly went to the table and said: "Look, Behold the treasure!" "Come and let us share the bountiful blessing we got out of this adventure"

So they share the treasure that only can be found in Baker's Hill. I soo love the Hopia.. hehehhehehe :)

Didn't i tell you we had a great adventure in Baker's Hill and it brought the child in us? :)

Puerto Princesa: Mitra's Ranch

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:28:00 +0000

Besties' City Tour continued..

After seeing the silent fangs in the Crocodile Farm; our tour guide headed us to relax at Rancho Sta. Monica or better known as the Mitra's Ranch. The ranch was owned by the late house speaker; Ramon Mitra and currently by his son; Baham Mitra.

It is surprising that a privately-owned ranch is open to the public for free from 6am-6pm.

For a private land; Mitra's Ranch has one of the most envious view deck I had seen. It offers grand views of Palawan Island. It entices anyone who would wish to seek peace and solitude. I loved the greens that surround it. I love staying in this place for a little longer than what our tour guides had given us :p (It went back to the tour guide again..hahhahahaha).

We were not alone when we stepped in Mitra's Ranch; however, the place immense tranquility that people knew that silence is expected. We just awed at the scene. Now that I am at my senses; I realized that those people who took some jump shots without being noisy; exerted real effort to do so.. hahhahahaa..

Nope we didn't do some jump shots; instead; we did what was befitting the place; a yoga shot ;)

Just recently, Mitra's Ranch offers the Palawan Rancho Zipline. Our tour guide said; PHP500 will let us enjoy not just one but three Zips. I looked at the Zipline; but couldn't see the rope; though the height is frightening. The first zip is 300 meters; while the next two zips are 150 meters each. Hmmm.. not bad for a PHP500-cost Zip ride. I asked the Besties if they were willing enough to try it. Nobody even bothered to reply.. Okay, so we chickened out! :p hahhahahahaha.

It could have been just 30-minute relaxation in the Mitra's Ranch; when our tour guide said we still have some few places to visit and we need to head out of the place before the darkness creep in.

But, before I let go of the place; I asked the tour guide to step foot at the brakes as I have to take some shots of the Ranch; after all it is Mitra's RANCH!

I wonder where the roosters are hidden.. hahhahahaha.. The Mitra's house is off-limits of course. Although I wished it wasn't hahahhaha.. I just need to get a glimpse of the winning roosters of the Mitras. :p

I bid goodbye at the place without seeing the roosters. But I had the chickens as companions anyways! hahahhahaha

Puerto Princesa: Crocodile Farm, keeping endangered species alive

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:49:00 +0000

It was almost noon when we arrived at Ysabelle Mansion in Puerto Princesa town proper. The tour was expected to start the following day and since we still have lots of time to start it earlier; I talked to the staff of Ysabelle Mansion if we can have the City Tour on that very day.

The staff made the necessary calls to the tour provider and made it happen. "Kudos" to that staff at Ysabelle Mansion :)

Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center (aka Crocodile Farm)

First stop: The Crocodile Farm

It was a long travel.. or i was just having a migraine and my patience may have been too short at that time. The road going to the Crocodile Farm was under construction and we had to walk about 2 km to finally see the lazy fangs.

Our tour guide bought us our tickets and we headed towards an entrance that showcase the biggest caught crocodile in the Philippines. It was caught in the 90s and his remains were preserved in this conservation center. Had i been writing this blog after the trip; i could have shared the name of this huge crocodile. It is quite a disappointment when other bloggers while browsing the net; just like me; just named him as the biggest caught crocodile.. hahhahaa

After a short presentation of the in-house guide; we were asked to enter the crocodile cages.. We had seen stages of how the crocodile are cultivated. Cultivated? hmmm... better than cultured hahahha..

I may say; I am not really fond of reptiles; but, knowing that a preservation center actively gives shelter to the crocodiles gave me peace. Well, that's our duty as care-taker of nature.

We headed towards the nature park.. we saw some endangered animals there; but most of them hid away from us.. hmmm.. 'dunno why, oh why :D

What i loved about the Crocodile Farm also known as Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre are the huge trees I had seen inside a confined center like this. I am really into greens and wildlife may come third among the things i love seeing while traveling.

It was already way past 4pm when we were asked to move along to visit other places. I had the feeling that our tour guides then were rushing us for something.. hmmm.. okay, I will just blame the feelings to my migraine :)

BESTIES Review: Ysabelle Mansion in Puerto Princesa

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 19:07:00 +0000

Palawan, one of the prides of the Philippine Islands. Surely, the BESTIES would never miss experiencing Palawan's treasures and beauty. The BESTIES is a group formed by six lovely ladies (AHEM!) who had been friends for more than a decade; bonded with their passion to keep the friendship alive. That's us, and that's what we will always be :)

We planned this tour for 6 months and had everything ready 3 months before the actual trip. I, as the "pasimuno" (initiator) of the trip read a lot of reviews of places where we can stay in Puerto Princesa; and among them was Ysabelle Mansion. We simply would like a good place that is budget-friendly and this inn ranked 5 among the 74 inns currently reviewed in tripadvisor. As a contributor in hotel reviews; I decided to make my unbiased personal review of my stay in Ysabelle Mansion; taking some notable notes from the rest of the members of the BESTIES.

Details of the trip:

Date of stay: August 11-13, 2012 (3d2n accommodation)

Purpose of stay: Leisure Trip

We arrived at Puerto Princesa Airport way past 12 PM; and we we were fetched by the driver of Ysabelle Mansion with their own van. The good thing about Ysabelle Mansion is that they offer transfers to their guests for free. At first; I thought we were too many a passenger for a van; since, the names listed on a long piece of paper were more than 20 pax, only to find out that it was only the 6 of us scheduled to be fetched and the other listed names are of different schedules. I was hoping for a more personalize approach though :) Yet, we were satisfied with the transfer service.

It took us less than 10 minutes to reach the hotel. It is near the airport and the city proper; yet, the place where this inn is situated offers a peaceful ambiance.

Ysabelle Mansion's front facade is pleasing and we can see how well-maintained the place is by just looking at the surroundings. It is just a small hotel; but it is artistically designed that gives it a homey image. Upon entering the gate; you cannot control yourself from taking a pictures of its front view up to the receiving area. That's what we did; after all :)

We were warmly greeted by the person-in-charge at the front desk; then, she told us some basic information for our stay and gave us the key to our room. One of them helped us carry our luggage. I had a good impression of the staff in this inn. They're warm; friendly and accommodating.

A beautiful landscape greeted us as we enter the lobby to our room. It is adorable and if I am not mistaken; so many photos were taken on this spot :)

We moved in our room and saw a medium-sized room with basic amenities inside. 3 double beds good for 6 people; a long dresser; a TV; a place where we can hang our clothes; an air condition and a small-sized restroom. For a short stay; this room is enough for us. However, if you are used in big rooms; this may not be good for you. One thing caught my attention; the room is very clean and doesn't smell like it was occupied by someone else ahead of us.

Ysabelle Mansion can offer accommodation even to large group of guests. They can accommodate 6-12 pax in a room. The price may not be as cheap as other hotels in Puerto Princesa; but it is reasonable. We were charged PHP2,400 a night for a family room. That includes the transfers as well as daily breakfast.

Well, the downside was the breakfast. The servings were smaller than what we expected and the taste was okay but not impressive. I suggest; they run a review of the meals they offer and get a better cook. :) Aww, bad-dy me :p

Ysabelle Mansion also took care of our tours as we availed package tours from them and we were pleased by the tour guides they got for us.

Brownouts are expected; and Ysabelle Mansion is ready with a generator when the power is off. Although, they switch the generator on; after 10-15 mins, so be ready with a flashlight at night.

The Wi-fi is good that even inside the room, you can get a good signal.

Over-all, our stay had been comfortable in this hotel. And it gets 7/10 ratings from me. Should I recommend it to others? Of course! especially for those who are seeking a-not-so-expensive quality accommodation in Puerto Princesa :)

Next post: The tours :)

Bohol: When saying "I DO" is paradise IN PARADISE

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:46:00 +0000

"I DO".. two words, one commitment..

A parchment unfolded in my hands. It was not an ordinary parchment. It was designed signifying a great occasion. A wedding indeed! I don't know; but, weddings always give me a leap of joy; and; with two lovely people close to my heart bonded with this holy matrimony, it brought me more than happiness but hope.

I scrolled down the invites and there it was! Location: Peacock Garden in Bohol. Attire: Grecian! Grecian? hmm.. this brought me into panic mode. I sure do hell love to dress up like goddess; but, 'lo can I just wear my pair of jeans and still look like Greek Goddess? LOL!

Alright, I decided to just look sexy and did not mind scouting for a grecian dress.

I booked my flights and accommodation with Sunny dear as my companion. We decided to stay in Alona Tropical; a beach front accommodation in Alona. It was far from the Peacock Garden; but we had coasters to pick us up during the wedding.

Alona Beach offers a fine white sand and crystal blue water that keeps you closer to nature. I already knew what to expect in Bohol as this was my second visit. My first visit was with my mom.

Aerial shot of Bohol Island

Upon arriving in our hotel; I marveled on how it offers serenity to its guests. The huge trees with hanging branches cover the entire land with greens. At the center lies twin pools with Jacuzzi. The rooms are native in design. This place is good for honeymooners. We headed towards the beach front and there we sat in Alona Tropical's restaurant and grabbed some bites. Lots of foreigners all over the place. As I looked at the nearby restos; I saw fifty percent Boracay in it. Not much crowded; but, it has everything you look for in a nightlife. Still, you can enjoy peacefully reminiscing at day time.

A view of Alona Tropical

Beach front view in Alona Tropical Hotel

Sunny and I grabbing a bite or bigger bite?

Beach front view in Alona Tropical Hotel

Alona Beach in Bohol

Beach front view in Alona Tropical Hotel

Alona Beach in Bohol

Beach front view in Alona Tropical Hotel

We didn't waste much of our time and started using the Jacuzzi. It cost us PHP 150 for an hour of Jacuzzi use. Not bad ei? The Jacuzzi can fit in 6 people; surrounded by the pool, you will feel a relaxing atmosphere like indulging in an oasis of serenity. We asked for a bottle of champagne to celebrate life as we soaked ourselves in warm water splashing our bodies. I recalled saying to Sunny; "This is life! and I want lots of it! :)"

After that, we took a plunge in the sea. The current was a little heavy and since we were not really good swimmers; we just enjoyed a few minute-swim. The sun set earlier than expected. This signaled the fun at the beach. Little by little, the lights were switched on.Okay, it's time to party! We walked with our swimwear and nobody cared! Haha :) We hopped from one bar to another and met the other wedding guests. The restos offer variety of food. I enjoyed the fresh seafood not only 'cause they're fresh but also 'cause they're cheap. The worst thing I did was to eat ice cream. I was enjoying the night to do whatever I want and to eat whatever I wish. That included, eating a pint of ice cream; ignoring the fact that my body couldn't take the effect of lactose. I didn't mind; but I knew :) I told myself; I wanted to be free from anything at all!

We partied like we never party before. Oh, is it a song?? Then the lyrics tell what happened that night. I even danced Hawaiian! Good gracious, the video let me not escape what i just did. haha :) We drunk beers; rum; and tequila. And what do you know; the effect of ice cream took over me as soon as I finished my last shot.

Guess what; I ended up spending the rest of the night in the bathroom. Needless to say; I killed the fun. Good thing; I recovered after sleeping and before the Big Day! :)

Alas, the Big Day finally arrived! We dressed-up for the occasion. I wore nothing fancy; but a sexy dress. We were fetched by a driver and were brought to marvel at the grandeur of Peacock Garden.

Peacock Garden is a hotel for the upper side. But, if you're willing to spend much more than the usual; this hotel will not disappoint you. The hotel offers a luxury stay. The garden is fabulous! The infinity pool offers seclusion. The disco bar displays sophistication. The pool tables are free! Great!

The wedding was held at the pool side. It was designed in such a way that we felt the Greek invasion. It should have; because the groom is Greek and half of the visitors are too!

Peacock Garden Hotel in Bohol

Okay, call me full of dramas; but, I cried at the wedding. I was touched by the exchange of vows and the sincerity of the words of the bride and groom. It was perfect. I thank the couple for having me in that special occasion. It was a long wedding; the ceremony, the reception and the party took the whole day; and I enjoyed all the time I was there. A lovely wedding to remember. :)

The next day was the day for tours! We didn't get the city tour as we already experienced that; the first time we were in Bohol. Instead, we took the island hopping. We also went dolphin watching. I enjoyed this much! School of dolphins jumping around! I'll post the video once i got it from my friend. We also went to virgin island and had our lunch there. Virgin island offers pristine bluish green water with an outline of white sand covering the entire island. A picturesque view can be seen there.

Over-all, Bohol amazed me as ever. It is my number one destination amongst the places I'd been to. I think I'll never get tired of this place. And if you happened not to experience Bohol yet; I recommend you book your next flight to Bohol for a wonderful trip to experience :)

Bohol: Tracing a not-so-distant past

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:07:00 +0000

I gathered the bits and pieces of a not-so-distant past trips I had in Bohol. Men, that wasn't easy! These I believe are the common denominator of all travel bloggers; backlogs! Backlogs of stories meant to be shared at a point in time; preferably just right after the trip; but kept in memories until some were half-forgotten.

'twas an agonizing memory check on my part. But, my Bohol experience keeps hunting me up to this day.

My first trip in Bohol was a year ago; and one of the most treasured trip I had. My mom was with me! With her heart condition at that time; travelling far wasn't a good idea; but, she was overwhelming with enthusiasm that she would be able to to enjoy the trip as much as we would. And,she did. :)

My mom and I; both excited with our Bohol Trip

We took an hour and a half flight from Manila going to Tagbilaran. Since I was with my mom, flying would be a little expensive as she would only fly if it's Philippine Airlines. I dunno; but, she has this stigma that other airlines will never be as good as PAL. I hate to argue with her; thus, I abode like an obedient child. Well, she didn't know that we grabbed our tickets from a promo that PAL offered that time. I even mistakenly booked us going to Tacloban and not Tagbilaran that cost me more fortune than what I should have been spending. She didn't know all of these. She was too excited to be with me on this trip; for me to utter a single problem at all. By all means, this vacation should be perfect. That was all in my mind.

We were with my friends in the office and so everything was arranged. From the transportation to the hotel bookings up to the tours; everything was planned.

We booked our accommodation in one of the resorts in Panglao, the Whites and Greens.

Upon arrival at the resort; I readily saw where the greens of the hotel name came from. The trees and the landscape comprise the greens. I wondered; where the white was. Passing through the greens; moving forward revealed the sand that covers the shore. Fine white sands; comparably or even more beautiful than what Boracay can offer. Okay; so, this is where the whites came from. :)

Since we arrived a little late; we opted to enjoy the beach and its surrounding place. My mom's smile never ceased. She was having a time of her life then. And just seeing her that happy was the best a child like me can treasure.

The following day, we were fetched by our tour guide as early as 6am. We need to make the best out of the 3 days we had in this island; and rising early, as un-preferred as it seems was a necessity. I still couldn't recall which tour comes first until now. But, the pictures revealed the places we'd been to.

We went to Sandugo Blood compact, a landmark revealing that we had mutual agreement with Spaniards to conquer us for 400 years. JOKE! hahaha.. Okay, blood compact was (I don't know if it still is) a tribal tradition to bond friendship. It was done by Datu Sikatuna and a Spanish Conquestador, Miguel lopez de Legaspi that formed a treaty between Spaniards and Filipinos. Tourists like us never forget to take a picture of landmarks like this. It would have been more memorable if we were to re-enact the scene ei? LOL

We also went to Baclayon church. One of the oldest churches in the Philippines that has great old relics. I recall that I was apprehended to enter the church due to my revealing clothing.. Haha! They wrapped a garment around me before they let me in. The relics gave me an interesting history of our religion. The place gave me a goosebumps too! Dunno why? But, it did.

We also went to Corella; and visited the smallest primates, the tarsiers. They look cute and adorable in size; just don't look at the eyes. Their eyes could deceive you that they are fierce. Hmm...

We also went to Mahogany man-made forest. I supposed to show you our jump shots; but, we looked hilarious; so I chose a more decent pics we had there. I remember the fun we had in taking those jump shots. Each time a rushing vehicle approached; we ran like children on loose! Then gathered back again and gave our wackiest smile ever.

The best tour ever was visiting the Chocolate Hills. This was also the tedious tour ever as we had to climb hundreds and hundreds of steps to reach the top and to see the entire hills. My mom, with her heart condition stayed in the van. We just shared with her the pictures. Nyay!

At lunch time; we headed to Loboc river to experience dining while cruising around the river. We rode the floating restaurant and it glided in one of the cleanest river I'd seen. We made a stop to listen to a beautiful serenade from the Loboc Children Choir. My mom took the opportunity of buying honey in there. She loved it; as we loved the experience. The food though was bland. nyek!

At noon, we went to Sevilla and crossed in its famous bamboo hanging bridge. On the other side of the bridge; we bought our "pasalubong" at a very cheap price. I bought lots of handicrafts there, too. My mom and I shared fresh coconut before going back.

As we were moving back; my mom felt a chest pain. I was nervous as she left the medicine in her bag inside the van. We hurriedly get the med and made a long stop. I was about to ask the driver to bring us back to the resort; but, my mom stopped me and said she will be fine and she just needed some rest. We were nervous. I knew that the nearest hospital was in Tagbilaran and it was a long drive. I prayed that she would be okay.

We were supposed to go to 4 more places; but, we opted to just visit "Prony", a very large python. My mon and I didn't join the gang in seeing the python. For mom, she needed the rest;while, for me, I didn't want to. I was and still now am suffering from ophidiophobia.

Late noon marked the end of our tour and so we headed back to the resort. My mom quickly recovered and enjoyed a walk in the beach. Maybe, just maybe she preferred to be near the sea.

I knew she enjoyed this trip more than I did. I hope to bring her more often with me in my tours. But, since last year; she had a multiple angioplasty; having her with me, travelling the world, would take some time :)

I visited Bohol early this year; but it was an exact opposite on what I had with my mom and friends. It was more glamorous and expensive. I tell you more about this on my next post. :)

Thanks for dropping by!

From "single" to "in a relationship"

noreply@blogger.com (G at gfootsteps.com) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:49:00 +0000

Ever since I started using FB; from the time of account creation until just 3 hours ago, my FB status had always been "single". Then all of a sudden a twist of event took place and I changed it to "in a relationship". So many people hit the "like" button and some made few congratulatory comments. In fact it's currently trending now. Wow! I don't know whether I'll be happy about it or I'll feel sad as it seems the change hit them more likely as a shock than just a mere information.

Usually, the change in status grabbed everyone's attention when it leads to "single" from being "in a relationship";but, mine was an exact opposite.

Hmm, okay so you need to know how it happened.

For about a week or so; I've been hearing good friends changing their statuses from being "into a relationship" to single. It seems that everyone is joining the same boat as mine! I've got to tell them some inspiring words to lift their spirits up. Although, at the end of the day; it seems it wasn't helping them at all.

I scouted for some nice quotes that would befit their current situation to ease up their loads; until, one inspirational quote caught my attention: "Dare to be different!". For a few minutes; my mind was filled with naughtiness. Okay, since you guys are all jumping in my boat; I've got to maintain the balance or my boat will sink!

Out of nothing, I changed my status on exact opposite as theirs! It was intended only for them; just a simple prank from someone like me.. HAHAHA! I thought people wouldn't mind at all! Yet, the status reached its viral-ity. Nyay! OMG! The status is trending!

It reached my friends in HK and even USA! Oh gosh! Big trouble!

Oh well, I have intentions of letting you know that truth; but I couldn't do it one by one; thus, this blog :)

One word! It's not April fools day; but, " I GOT YOU!"

Love you all guys,thanks for showing your inevitable support in everything I do. At least I know now that I have all your blessings once I decided to switch to "being in a relationship" for real.

In the meantime, "I STILL GOT YOU!" :p