FlipFloppingAroundTown

Dumaguete in less than 24 hours

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:20:00 +0000

This blog is overdue, I know, but it's never too late!

After the long hours on the road from Bacolod, we finally arrived in Dumaguete. We were really starving and not to mention "stinky!" All I want then was to take a good bath and eat, eat, eat. However, Mia's boyfriend Ken is starting to be feeling sick so we decided to drop by in a nearby drugstore and proceeded to Hotel Palwa.

Our hotel was in the heart of the city so it wasn't difficult for us to look for a good restaurant to satisfy our hunger. As we walked to the hotel's lobby, the receptionist greeted us politely and directed us to our rooms. We booked a triple room and added a matress for Morris. The room was around Php1,200, fully air-conditioned, with bathroom and free wifi access. A little disappointment, though since the internet connection was a bit slow even if the router was just at our door's ceiling. The room was not so huge for four people but the bathroom was relatively clean.

Mia asked for buttered chicken with rice for Ken since he cannot not be able to go with us to look for a good place to eat. He was really in a bad condition but to make it worst, the chicken was a little bit odd, too. Instead, Mia ordered for instant noodles. We went out of the hotel and decided to trace the restaurants we spotted earlier while we were in the bus. Unfortunately, we underestimated the distance. We really thought those line of restaurants were "walkable," so we ended walking far with our empty stomachs and bruised hearts. LOL

We even passed by the Boulevard but it's beauty and sparkling lights did not win over the hunger. Alas, we reached Pahayahay, a restaurant and a bar in one. There were a lot of motorcycles lining up in the road so we are expecting a lot of people. And yes, we cannot find a vacant table. What the?! After some time, we went upstairs and felt lucky to find one vacant table at the veranda. We placed or orders, took photos and solve!

It was a relief but we have to head back to the hotel not only because of Ken but because we have to sleep early for our Apo Island and Siquijor trip. We just planned to spend more time in Dumaguete before going back to Bacolod and Iloilo City.

Oooops, we were very itching to take some photos of the Boulevard, so the tricycle driver dropped us off and there you go, pictorial galore.

I'm back for so much more! :)

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:54:00 +0000

Hello, I'm back! I have been so busy lately since I decided to put up a business in my City. It's a small business to add up to my savings and travel more, hopefully. Anyway, I have realized a lot in my absence of writing here in my blog. Perhaps, there are a lot of things that I should consider to make this blog worth reading. So, I will start-slash-continue with our trip from Dumaguete to Apo Island. Please share your thoughts and don't be shy to ask questions--this blog is intended to inform other travelers and I would like you to share yours,too. :)

Hope you enjoy reading as much as we enjoy boarding to another journey!

Day 3 Bacolod to Dumaguete

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Sun, 01 May 2011 09:57:00 +0000

After the smooth ride from Iloilo City, we arrived at Bacolod after an hour. We decided to take a jeepney to Ceres Road, Brgy. Mansilingan, B.C. terminal for another trip bound to Dumaguete. Ok, since we weren't able to follow the itinerary I've prepared, there were adjustments made.

The air-conditioned bus already left. I was really sad because I want to sleep and getting on the non-aircon bus with several stops can be a hell ride. The 6-hour ride we are expecting turned out to be 9 hours. I seated next to Morris. We've had small conversations in the whole duration of the trip since we really need to sleep. But the constant stops made it impossible for us to get even a nap. At last, when I saw the road sign telling that we already entering Dumaguete, it was a big relief. Yes, we can take a rest and eat a decent a meal.

Mia by the way, booked the hotel beforehand. We rode the local tricycle to get to Hotel Palwa (another blog for Hotel Palwa).

So, it was really a long ride. Ken was already not feeling well, as in he had fever already! So, Mia ordered something for him so as to take his medicine after meal. Morris, Mia and I decided to have our decent meal outside Hotel Palwa. The tricycle driver dropped us off near the boulevard. We were so excited for pictorials but the urge to eat is more getting up to our heads so, we walked for 15 minutes to reach hayahay. When we arrived, the place was so crowded. We thought actually that it was the best place for dinner but it was like a place for night outs. We placed our order and after 20 minutes or so, we started eating our heart out. haha! We stayed there for a while then decided to go back to the hotel but the boulevard was so tempting! Ok, we took photos there and past midnight we went back to the hotel for a goodnight rest. We still have APO island and Siquijor trip to think about.

By the way, here's the bus schedule from Bacolod to Dumaguete

DAILY SCHEDULE OF TRIPS

Bacolod to Dumaguete Via Mabinay
(South Terminal)

Departure	Bus
3:10 a.m.	Deluxe
3:55 a.m.	Deluxe
4:40 a.m.	Deluxe
5:25 a.m.	Aircon
6:10 a.m.	Deluxe
6:25 a.m.	Aircon
6:55 a.m.	Deluxe
7:40 a.m.	Deluxe
8:25 a.m.	Deluxe
9:00 a.m.	Deluxe
9:55 a.m.	Deluxe
10:40 a.m.	Deluxe
11:25 a.m.	Deluxe
12:10 p.m.	Deluxe
12:25 p.m.	Aircon
1:25 p.m.	Aircon
2:25 p.m.	Deluxe
3:10 p.m.	Deluxe
3:55 p.m.	Deluxe
4:40 p.m.	Deluxe
5:30 p.m.	Deluxe
7:00 p.m.	Deluxe

Please be guided so that that you will not waste a lot of time just like us. Please do take the aircon bus.

DAY 3 Bacolod via Oceanjet

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 05:08:00 +0000

Okay, we missed the Oceanjet's first trip to Bacolod as what have been planned. I can say now that itinerary doesn't really work well when you are with friends, especially drunk and trying to cope with hangover.

Well, after the treasure hunting, we partied the night at Aura until 3:30am and we've had breakfast at Chowking at around 4:00am. So, how the drunkards can actually wake up at 5:00am to catch the 6:00am trip to Bacolod without headache?

We left the apartment at 9:00am to possibly catch the third trip. I was with Morris, Mia and Ken for this trip, by the way. This is my second time with Morris and nth time with Mia to go on a trip.

We arrived at Muelle Loney St. at around 9:15 where fast crafts bound to Bacolod are located. Oceanjet's two-way ticket was Php480 tourist class. After the long queue and paid the terminal fee, we sat silently at the passenger waiting area. I cursed my headache, then.

After some time, it was already boarding call. We successfully board the fourth morning trip. It wasn't so crowded so we were able to choose our seat number. Slept. After an hour, we arrived at Bacolod City.

Another journey will begin. Bacolod to Dumaguete City.

(pls. continue reading my next blog)

Ocean Jet Iloilo Terminal Area: Muelle Loney St., Iloilo City
Iloilo Contact Number: (033) 335-8887, 509-9018

Ocean Jet Iloilo to Bacolod Ferry Schedule

Morning Trip
6:15 am | 7:45 am | 9:15 am | 10:45 am
Afternoon Trip Schedule
12:45 PM | 2:15 PM | 3:45 PM | 5:15 PM

RockBox, Smalville, Iloilo City

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:25:00 +0000

March 24- Part of Iloilo City blog (DAY 2)
RockBox (Guitar Hero)

Before, we used to go to MO2 Annex to sing our hearts out in its 3-hour consumable videoke room. However, we settled our minds to try RockBox this time. From Plazuela, we took a jeepney to Smallville. It was a lot of fun. Actually, all of us will have our first experience in RockBox. Mia arranged the reservation beforehand but we were able to transfer to a bigger room that can accommodate our large number. We aren't rockstars but that night, we were in the mood to rock the night. It's a little bit technical to operate compared to the videoke in MO2, which we have mastered by heart. My friends Jeah and Paula, in fact, have already memorized the song numbers of their favorites. But in Rockbox, we need "professional" help. Good thing, the staff helped us for a while.

We were really excited as we entered the room. It wasn't that big, in fact, there was only one black sofa which can be seated by 4 people only. We were like 10 or 13 that time since it was a big celebration. So, the staff provided some additional stainless chairs. To tell you the truth, it was just really okay to stand for how many hours since RockBox is like a mini band studio. Who is sitting in a rock band concert? Boohoo! Okay, here's the catch, a group of people will coordinate through the respective instruments. It's the popular guitar hero! Players match notes that scroll on-screen to colored fret buttons on the controller, strumming the controller in time to the music in order to score points. The games attempt to mimic many features of playing a real guitar, drums and bass to alter the pitch of notes.There was a flatscreen that will give hints to all the band members when to hit the set pattern of colors to create sound to the beat of the song or to the rythm. It is important to hit the pattern just in time it reaches the same color to coordinate the sound and play like a real rockstar.

The band is composed of drums, bass, lead guitar and vocalist. Band members can select what song they would like to play or what your friends would like to hear. LOL.

Some of our friends got a serious rocking while some are having pictorial with different wigs and other cute stuff. There were green afro wig, pink bowler/derby Madonna hat, and multi-colored mohawk. The room is soundproof and it has the simple shredded-paper confetti attached in the ceiling. It reminds me of 70's rock glam which singers and musicians performed with outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter. Glam rock visuals peaked during the mid 1970's with artists including T. Rex, David Bowie, Roxy Music and Gary Glitter in the UK and New York Dolls, Lou Reed and Jobriath in the US.

The room is only Php1, 200, consumable for 2 hours. We paid Php1,300+ for beers, pizza, and onion rings. Meaning, if you exceed Php1, 200, just pay for the excess. I think it's worth it. Likewise, there is a playstation area outside of the rooms where hardcore gamers can enjoy. It was like a recreational hub for the techno junkies.

At about midnight, we started to throw the surprise "treasure hunting" for our birthday girls Mia and Ruthy. Thank God, the rain had stopped. The treasures were actually our gifts and so, we went around Smallville to look for those treasures. There were about 4 or 5 stops before we reached Aura where the birthday girls received their grandest gifts- boyfriends. LOL. After the party popper popped, we decided to drink more and party at Aura. Well, we went home almost 4:00am after bridging our hunger at Chowking, Atrium. Too bad! We still have an early trip to Bacolod that day for our Visayas leg trip.

Again, thanks to the photographers... Ken Avelino, Ika Jegonia, Mia Florence and others who borrowed the cam. LOL

Plazuela and Birthday Dinner at Panyapon by Breakthrough

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:47:00 +0000

March 24- Cont. Iloilo City

From Jaro, I headed to Chillpoint, Aurora to see my brother and we enjoyed a bottle of beer or so. Because of that, I wasn't able to attend a kiddie party at 2:00pm since I was really sleepy. I slept for 5 hours. I woke up nearly 5:00PM just in time that my Japanese student called to fetch him at the Iloilo International Airport. I hurriedly bought balloons and party popper for the surprise party we prepared for our friends Mia and Ruth in the downtown area. Good thing, when I arrived at the airport, my student informed me that he was already in the departure area. We took a taxi back to Iloilo and dropped him off to One Lourdes Dormitel. He liked the dormitel since it's clean and very cheap. I bid goodbye to take a shower and told him that we are going to fetch him again for the birthday dinner at Plazuela. At exactly 8:30pm, I was surprised to see almost all of my friends waiting for us in the looong table. I really missed them! I introduced my student to the rest of them and it's almost dinner time. Of course, it would not have been happier if not for the picture taking before and after dinner.

Well, it was my first time to set foot in Plazuela. It has a spanish facade which is It is strategically located at FLI’s property along B. Aquino Ave. (Iloilo-Jaro West Diversion Road) and adjacent to the defunct Iloilo Corporate Center development, the future Megaworld Business Park and the SM City-Iloilo, would have Spanish and Italian-inspired structures designed by Palafox and Associates. The two-level structures will have retail stores, coffee shops and restaurants at the first level and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies at the second level.

The dinner was first planned to be in Peppy Thai, a Thai restaurant which is also a good choice for extra-ordinary dining experience. Ruth, the hostess, changed the venue due to some reasons. So, we finally ended up at Panyapon by Breakthrough. Breakthrough has been a famous seafood restaurants in Iloilo since 1987. It has become a byword among Ilonggos, a must-go for "balikbayans" and a must-try for tourists. Panyapon by Breakthrough is one of the new restaurants in Plazuela. The place has good illuminations that give a cozy atmosphere inside the restaurant. It is quite large since it lies horizontally and each table occupies enough space.

Here are some photos of us:

By the way, let's give compliments and criticisms to the food. This is just my opinion and it solely relies in my own preferences for food. We'll, there are a lot of choices in the menu. Seafoods are still their best-selling. Baked oyster is just so-so if you already have tasted baked oysters of Allan's Talabahan in Oton. They could have improved the taste or let's say innovate a little bit more. Crispy Pata was among the dishes that I will gladly order again even though, they did not provide any special sauce for it, it tasted good. Liempo wasn't juicy at all in contrast with its yummy looking and serving was not so attractive. I think also that the quantity didn't relatively justify the price. Likewise, my Japanese student loved the chicken adobo. I thought actually that it wasn't adobo or it was a different dish due to its different look from the usual adobo. Most of us liked the sizzling Bangus because of its thick belly and its juicy meat. Mango shakes tasted better than other restos but Calamansi juice failed to impress some of my friends. Again, this is just my own opinion. It is still better to prove it yourself.

Here are some photos of the food:

Liempo and Baked Oysters

Crispy Pata and Sizzling Bangus

Anyway, dining is not really "always" about the food. It is with the blithe spirits you are sharing the special moment with. Thanks to Ruth Contreras for bringing all of us together. Likewise, these photos were taken by Ken Avelino and Ika Jegonia. Thanks, photo junkies!

After Dinner at Plazuela Spanish-style staircase

Afterwhich, we headed to Smallville for some rockin' night.

Iloilo International Airport

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:14:00 +0000

March 24- Cont. Iloilo City

The plane arrived 30 minutes ahead of schedule from Davao City to Iloilo. Aside actually from NAIA, my favorite airport is the one in Iloilo. It's actually an international airport because there are some flights from other countries like Hongkong and the Korean Airlines will also mount its South Korea-Iloilo flights. Well, I've heard before that it has really been declared as "international destination." Straddling Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan towns 19 kilometers northwest of Iloilo City, the Iloilo Airport opened its doors to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007 after a decade of planning and construction, replacing Mandurriao airport in the city which had been in service for over 70 years.

The airport is officially designated as a Class 1 principal (major domestic) airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the body responsible for the operations of all airports in the country.

The airport sits on a 188-hectare site. It consists of a single runway, various administrative and maintenance buildings, waste sorting and water treatment facilities, a power generating station, a cargo terminal and a main passenger terminal.

Inside the airport, there are several stores if you want to buy "pasalubong" for friends and loved ones. these stores are located just before the final security check or near terminal fee booth. Of course, the prices of those goods are sky-high so better buy "pasalubong" in the city area. Coffee shops are readily available, too.

From Iloilo City, you can take a taxi going to the Airport with a fixed fare of Php300.00 or Php350.00 and the travel time can take 20-30 minutes at most. However, if you are on a tight budget and not in the hurry, you can opt to take a van with a capacity of 10-13 people for Php75.00 and it will take you to the airport same as with that of the taxi but you still have to wait for the van to be fully occupied. The good thing is that when you are from the airport, van fare is only Php50.00. For taxi, before it was only Php350.00 and with much haggling Php300.00 will do. However, this time I was really surprised when they charged me Php500.00 as what the tariff is indicating. So, I decided to take the van. There are several van operators but I chose the one which was nearly occupied.

I was still sleepy that time so I tried to take a nap after the long road going out of the Airport. The van has three drop off points, first in SM Jaro, then SM City and finally in Molo terminal. I decided to be dropped off in SM Jaro since I will proceed directly to Chillpoint, Aurora.

Before taking the taxi, I tried to look for some new developments in Jaro area, I found none but I was happy to see that Jaro Plaza was so clean early in the morning.

Second Stop: Iloilo City

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 03:15:00 +0000

March 24- bound to Iloilo City

I woke up 4:30am, took a quick bath and checked my email for a while. It was 15 minutes past 5am when I checked out of the hotel and rushed to the Davao International airport. The taxi driver was very quiet so was I. I was also texting my mom and boyfriend that I'm on my way to the Airport. Taxi fares drastically increased with Php40.00 flag down but I was surprised that I paid only Php150.00 just like before when the flag down was still Php30.00. The taxi driver dropped me off at the arrival area after 30 minutes of silence/trip, so just I walked to the departure entrance.

Gate 5

Airport's runway is a sight to behold

This is not our plane, demmit!

Airport security was so swift that I was able to queue for check-in. I paid for terminal fee and had coffee for a while, took photos and waited for boarding call. At 6:15am, we were able to board the aircraft. I'm always requesting for window seat when I'm traveling, so I was seated at 28F next to a kind woman who offered me snacks during the flight but I refused. I wanted to take a nap but due to frequent turbulence I decided not to, instead I took aerial photos. Here are some of the photos:

View of Davao

View of Mt. APO

View of Iloilo City

Here's the cue! I'm so excited for touchdown. We arrived 30 minutes earlier than the schedule, great Cebu Pacific.

It was easy for me to deplane since I'm seated in the last row. Just like other passengers, I was also excited to breathe the air of Iloilo. It was a lovely feeling. It was really like I've been away for a long time.

First stop: Davao City

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 02:08:00 +0000

VISAYAS LEG (PART I)

Since I left my "ideal" life in Iloilo City, I've been here in Mindanao for almost 3 months now. I'm doing good here but I really missed going out with friends on a typical Fridays, Saturday dinners and even spending lazy Sundays on the apartment. Well, on weekdays must be a sudden itch to hang out since everyone is preoccupied with everyday "roles".

I failed to come back during the Dinagyang as what I've promised to my friends but I finally got a chance to visit Iloilo City last March 24.

I filed a vacation leave for 5 days since we are pursuing our plan to go to Dumaguete, Apo Island and Siquijor with Mia, Morris and Ken. I'll make a separate blog for each, by the way. So, I booked an early flight from Davao to Iloilo City. On the morning of 23rd, I already went to Davao City from Koronadal because the travel time could take as much as 5 hours or so. I wanted to arrive as early as I can in Davao so that I can check-in in the hotel. I reached Davao City almost 3:00pm already so I decided to stop by SM City to buy things I might need during the next day's trip. After an hour or so, I went directly to First Pacific Inn to rest. Well, this inn is like a boutique hotel with great amenities. This newly built inn is one block away from the infamous Sampaguita inn and both are located at Quirino St, 3-minutes walk away from People's Park. I chose to sleep here because it's clean and it smells crisp freshness. Plus, speedy wifi!

I slept for nearly 2 hours and after that I prepared for my online job. I didn't mind dinner at all since I already ate at SM City. I still have to catch my 6:30am flight the next day.

Cock and Bull, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 13:32:00 +0000

Cock & Bull is a popular bar located in Waterfront in Kota Kinabalu. My boyfriend and I got the chance to visit this bar last year after World Cup finals. Surprisingly, Cock & Bull is a sports bar! Since the FIFA fever was still on, we were really glad to be in a crowd of different nationalities as well as sports enthusiasts. It is just the perfect place to be for fine beers and cocktails, too! The night came alive when three beautiful Malaysian singers performed. We were entertained.

By the way, you will be blown away by the refreshing sea breezes and enchanting beauty of the seaside and sunset. Cock & Bull a popular spot amongst overworked young city folks seeking a truly relaxing time to soothe their tired body and mind. Likewise, there are two big TV screens geared to watch live sports action and that, the place had become a favorite place for football lovers. Pool is one of the facilities people are enjoying about.

Cock and Bull won the 2005 and 2007 Best Entertainment Spot Award organized by the Sabah Tourism Board. The bar also attracts couples who enjoy the panorama of the sea and picturesque view. Besides beers, Cock & Bull also serves about 40 types of homemade cocktails like the Russian Ten, Long Island Iced Teas and Frozen Margarita. I was also surprised that San Miguel Beer, a Filipino-owned beer, was among the list in their menu and it's expensive compared to Heineken. We had Heineken then for 12RM and free popcorn!! LOL

We went back to the hotel around 1am. I recommend this bar to all the people who love night life.

Contact Information

Address :	Lot 15, 1st Floor, Anjung Samudra, The Waterfront Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Phone :	+6088 215128
Fax :	+6088 217128

Eden Nature Park and Resort

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:43:00 +0000

At the entrance

As part of our Valentine/Birthday celebration with my boyfriend, we tried pure nature trip this time. When I was young, I always hear Eden Nature Park as a perfect nature getaway. Well, I was thinking that I'm already 25, I need to pay a visit and we didn't miss the chance even if we were reeeeaaaally lacking time! My boyfriend's flight to Manila was just 7 hours away when we decided to go there. We left the hotel at exactly 1:00pm and since Eden Nature Park is located in Toril, 45-minute ride from the city proper, we decided to take jeepney instead of taxi. From Quirino St. we walked for 4 minutes to get to People's Park where we can catch jeepneys bound to Toril. It was a smooth ride and we paid only 28 pesos each.The hotel staff actually told us that if we take the taxi, it can cost Php1,500-1800 (two-way) but it can lead us directly to the front gate of Eden Nature Park. As we arrived in Toril, the driver dropped us off near Mercury Drugstore in the main highway and a lot of tricycle drivers approached us just like they were bidding on the rate going to Eden. We chose the Php400.00 (two-way) and the driver also told us that he will be waiting for us until we're done with the tour. Great! so that was the start of our journey going to Eden. From there it is a 12 km uphill climb (don’t attempt this without topping off your radiator) consisting of asphalted, cemented and short stretches of dirt road. Having an off road vehicle is not required for this trip up to Eden.

Perhaps, after 20-30 minutes, we felt the cold winds because we were at more than 1500 ft above sea level and wowed upon seeing beautiful pine trees near the entrance. It was like a feeling of Baguio and Tagaytay.

Plated snack

We decided to take the tour that will last for an hour and we were lucky enough because during weekdays, the place are not so crowded so we didn't have to wait for our turn. We paid Php180 for plated snacks and an entrance fee of Php100. We went directly to the restaurant to eat snacks before proceeding to the guided tour.Although, we were not really happy with the snacks, we just enjoyed the scenery from the resto.

The view of Indiana Jones Ride from the Resto

The park is 95% man made, with the pine trees being cultivated and methodically planted. Only the main road which leads to the entrance, fishing village, swimming pool and bird park are passable by private vehicles the rest must be traversed by foot or via the park shuttle’s.

Prayer Garden

Amenities & Sites Include: A Fishing Village, Campsite, Swimming Pool, Basketball Court, Rest Huts, Seminar Village, Amphitheater, Flower Garden, Deer Park, Aviary, Prayer Garden, Mountain Trail, Lola’s Garden, Hydroponics Greenhouse, Fruit Tree Orchard, Vista Kiosk, Garden Hall, Cafeteria, Playground, and a Seminar Hall. However it must be noted
that the greatest attraction are the cool air and the view of the City.

Indiana Jone Ride

Kids at heart

At Lola's Garden: Mayumi's wishing well

Balai-Kalimudan. (Datu’s House) A traditional house of the indigenous people of ethnic Mindanao. This particular house (balai) is where the datu (tribal chief or monarch) lives and holds office.

Tana-Tanaman (Welcome Garden; Tana signifies land and Tanaman signifies garden, Tinubdan’s Welcome Garden presents the diversity of cultures in the Davao Region and shows the spatial location of the various indigenous cultural communities, with Apo Sandawa or Mount Apo serving as the point of reference)

Stairs to Tinubdan

Playground

Bluejaz Escape

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:53:00 +0000

February is the month of love and Valentine's day is my boyfriend's birthday. Since he visited me all the way from Manila, I decided to take him to Bluejaz Resort in Samal Island because I've heard that this resort is offering more sports activities than other resorts. I also wanted to take him at DECA for another thrilling wakeboard experience but when I called Bluejaz Resort, they confirmed that they do have wakeboarding, too. So, what else could I ask for?

Gateway

The Island Garden City of Samal is a group of island in the heart of Davao Gulf. Physically unattached to mainland Mindanao, the island is 900 meters east of Davao City and 10 kilometers west of Compostela Valley Province. It has a stretch of over 116 kilometers of continuous coastline and with a total land area of 30,130 hectares.

Infinity Pool

Good thing that Bluejaz resort has it own wharf at Maryknoll Beach Resort in Lanang. The entrance rate for day tour is Php120.00 including the boat ride (back and forth). By the way, when we say day tour, it relatively means anytime in the morning until 5pm. We didn't ask about day tour details because we are actually expecting them to inform us but I don't know if we were lucky or unlucky that time but we ended up until 7pm. There were no boat rides going back to Davao City except for 10pm schedule. Thanks for the manager because he accommodated us a boat ride with him going back to the city earlier than 10pm. We didn't intend to stay overnight in the resort because we also booked our hotel in the city. If were not for the manager, we will be charged an overnight stay. Oh, day tour also entitles you to an open cottage near the beach or near the restaurant and unlimited swimming, of course! :)

White Sand Beach

Fiji Cottage

Anyway, some of the facilities in the resort includes an infinity pool, white sand beach, fiji cottages, open cottages, white house for family accommodation, Jazule coffee shop, restaurant, giant slides, kiddie slides and wifi access. A separate entrance fee is applicable for the use of giant slide and kiddie slide, though.

Giant Slide

Kayaking

We love the sports activities they offered such as wakeboarding which was really cheap at the rate of Php 50/pull, body boarding at Php 50.00/pull, kayaking for Php 200/hr, snorkeling, Jetski scuba diving which at the time they are offering intro diving for only Php 999.00 with meals. We were actually surprised because in the resort's website, it says there that wakeboarding and bodyboarding cost Php 90.00/pull.

Water Ski

Others are as follows:
Speedboat Rental- Php 5,000
Jet Ski Rental Php 3,500 for 1 Hour & Php 2,500 for 30 mins
Watersports with Jet ski
Wakeboard with Jet Php 3,000/ 30mins.
Waterskii with Jet Php 2,500/ 30mins.

Food was great but a little too expensive for the quantity. Yeba, it's not allowed to bring outside food.

Overall, we were amazed by the resort's service and ambiance. They do have accommodating staff, too.

For inquiries and reservations, you may reach them at 63-82-3028411 or 63-82-3031117.

Marciano's

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:22:00 +0000

After our jaunt down in Malaysia last year, I was really looking for a great restaurant in Manila.We ate Malaysian food for a week and I can say, I missed eating Pinoy food. Malaysian cuisines of course are superb especially their chicken curry and laksa but that time we started to crave for Pinoy food already.

Marciano's at Greenblelt was a great find. The place was cozy and and uttermost chic with its dark-colored theme. The furniture and the crystal chandelier added elegance to the place. We'll the place is really fancy that I could say, I've had a great fine dining experience.

The restaurant is co-owned by the celebrity restaurateur Marvin Agustin. This Italian-inspired restaurant can be spotted at Greenbelt 3, 2nd floor. Teheee!!!So, it wasn't Pinoy food after all. LOL. There are a lot of food you can choose from since they are catering pasta, pizza, steaks and sinful desserts! My boyfriend ordered his Astoria Pork Medallions and I had my Bradshow Pork Saltimbocca. Pretty Italian, but we did enjoy the meal without breaking our pockets. We paid only Php 620.00 but oh, a cup of rice was sort of sky high at the price of Php80.00, by the way. Yet, who will regret if you will have the best of everything? From the place, to the food down to the service, it was really lovely. I can really say, it was good to be back in the Philippines again.

Astoria Pork Medallions

Bradshow Pork Saltimbocca

Lemlunay, “the good place one goes to in the afterlife”

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:48:00 +0000

One Friday afternoon, my friend and I visited a Lemlunay, which, in B’laan and T’Boli tongues, roughly means “the good place one goes to in the afterlife." We are in search for a good reception for her wedding and so we decided to take a jaunt down. We don't know actually where Lemlunay is but we should try our luck. Good thing that Lemlunay can easily be spotted from the highway.

It is a paradise for nature lovers, but most especially for scuba-diving enthusiasts. The resort is nestled on a cliff and we wowed upon seeing the view of the deep blue/green waters thirty feet below. This countryside getaway will surely take your breath away, with its homey ambiance, beautiful scenery and magnificent ocean. It is comparable to that of in the Greek and Mediterranean movies. We also enjoyed lunch at their restaurant where you can choose from different dishes, and please do try their seafoods. There is an amazing infinity pool and I have seen a real one since I only seen them in magazines and television. This infinity pool brought an infinite happiness to me.

How to get there:

In General Santos city, just tell the tricycle driver to drop you in the van terminal going to Maasim and Kiamba along North Osmena Street, Gen. Santos City. Travel time is more or less thirty minutes from the urban environment of the city. Please tell your driver that you are going to Lemlunay, it's going popular and they are surely familiar with it.

Fare from the city to the resort is Php50.00

Entrance fee: Php300.00
Php 100- swimming pool
Php 200- food (consumable)

I think, it's worth it since the food is great and you cannot really resist the infinity pool. Scuba-diving has a different rate, though. Snorkeling is also an activity you don't want to miss, right?

Ayutthaya Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:51:00 +0000

A taste of history

Wat Phra Si San Phet

We left Philippines for a glimpse of an old city in Thailand, Ayutthaya... and it's like bringing a new sense of the world.

Ayutthaya city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. The city was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya kingdom or Siam. It is estimated that Ayutthaya by the year 1600 CE had a population of about 300,000, with the population perhaps reaching 1,000,000 around 1700 CE, making it one of the world's largest cities at that time.

The city is rich in History and one local resident told us that there are almost 400 temples in the city when we visited Wat Phra Si Sanphet, one of the temples we reached (in the photos above). Amazing isn't it? The city is now known as the "Venice of the East" after Burmese army destroyed in 1767.

We stayed overnight in Ayutthaya and we paid only 600 baht in a nice secluded hotel which our Tuk-tuk driver recommended for us. A nice find after all.

HOW TO GET THERE:

By Train
The city is 3 hours away from Bangkok if you take the old train in Hua Lampong Railway Station but it's the cheapest way we know because the ticket is only 15 baht and we really want to experience riding an old school train. Awesome experience! By the way, from the airport we took the A1 bus going to Hua Lampong Station for 150 baht.

By Taxi
If you want to get there fast and quick you can take a taxi but it would be quite expensive ranging from 1000- 1500B (all tolls included) and the journey will be about an hour depending on traffic. You can also haggle this price down.

By Bus
Buses leave every 20 minutes from Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mor Chit) direct to Ayuthaya and take about 1 hour. Although not far from Bangkok, the traffic around Bangkok at any time of day is bad and buses stop frequently. First class air–con buses are 45 baht, while second class buses are 35 baht.

By Minibus
Minibuses to Ayuthaya run from the Victory Monument square in Bangkok and take about an hour. They are more expensive than regular buses however they are faster and they don’t stop to pick up passengers en–route. Many guesthouses and tour operators in Ayuthaya sell tickets for Bangkok–bound minibuses.

By Boat

You can also get to Ayuthaya from Bangkok by cruise boat. The downsides of going by boat is the time taken (a whole day), the cost and the fact that there are no scheduled services; tourists need to book in advance. Stops are at Ko Kret and Bang Pa-In, and overnight tours are available.

Usually people only use this option as a privately arranged tour, and an overnight trip to Ayuthaya on an old teak barge is a charming and luxury experience.

Once you reached Ayutthaya, chief transport option for getting around Ayuthaya is tuk–tuk. Ayuthaya’s bizarre tuk–tuk are bigger than the Bangkok variety and have side–facing seats to get more people in. Tuk–tuk also provide transport to and from the train station, or you may prefer to get around by motorbike taxi for about 20 baht a journey within the old city.

But oh, there is also a good and fun way to get around the city because most guesthouses have bicycles for hire and this is undoubtedly the best and cheapest way to get around the city and all of its sites. As nearly everything is enclosed by a moat and the city is flat, getting about this way is a cinch. Be sure to obtain a free map and make sure essential nuts and bolts are tight!

Tuk-tuk Tour

In the second day of our trip, we decided to have a city tour but limited only to the ones we really wanna explore. The tour cost 200 baht per hour because we visited Ayutthaya Tourism Office.

Tourism Office

We visited first the Wat Yai Chaya Mongkol where I was able to have my photo taken with a Monk (my dream!!). Wat Yai Chai Mongkol is located near the main Ayutthaya ruins and a short distance from the walls of Ayutthaya. It is famed for an impressively large statue of the Reclining Buddha inside the temple compound. When we went there, we were able to witness a traditional religious festivities and many Thai people participated.

Reclining Buddha

The second destination was Wat Penon Choeng, an old monastery housing Thailand's largest ancient Budhha image known as "Luang Po To." A historical chronicle states that this gilded stucco image was made in A.D 1344. About 26 years before the establishment of Ayutthaya as the capital city of Thai Kingdom A.D 1350. Pretty much interesting history. The admission fee is 20 baht and it is open from 8:00 to 5:30 daily. You have to take off your shoes when entering in the main building, by the way.

The last one that we visited was Wat Phra Si San Phet, Built in the reign of King Boromtrilokanath, Wat Phra Sri San Phet was the biggest temple in the area at its peak and is historically very significant. The temple is situated in a compound (similar to that of the Grand Palace in Bangkok) that was originally used as a royal palace and home to a number of kings during the Ayutthaya period. Admission to Wat Phra Sri San Phet is 50 Baht and the temple is open 08:00 to 5:30 daily.

The tour took us 3 hours and we headed back in the train station to catch the 12:30pm schedule going back to Bangkok. We've had the best of Ayutthaya and it was enough for us to stroll around Bangkok and catch our flight back to the Philippines.

Hanging Bridge, Bohol

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 17:04:00 +0000

waiting on the other side

Fourth Stop.

Hanging Bridge.

Across the upper part of the Loboc River in Bohol is a hanging bamboo bridge that has become a major tourist attraction. This bridge hangs approximately 20 meters above the Loboc River and sways back and forth as you walk across.

happiness!

This bridge, which connects two barangays, is made with steel cables and bamboo flooring. Cable lines run across Sipatan River, around 7 meters up. It’s stepping board is made up of woven bamboo slats that creek and sinks depending on which part you step on and, of course, your body weight. The official warning states that it’s good only for 10 people using it the same time, although I figure if I’m on that bridge, that limit would change to around 8 people. It was pretty shaky and sways a lot. I was laughing at the people and my friends who would try to cross and chicken out because of the all movement. I wasn't scared because I figured the worse that could happen is that I would fall into a deep river full of crocodiles. Kidding!

let's start walking!

There's is nothing really special about the hanging bridge, it only trembles your body for a while. :)

This bridge over the Loboc river connects the village on the other side to the world and it's quite fun doing the walk.

Having fun :)

This bridge is located in the town of Sevilla, province of Bohol. I heard it’s called Sipatan Hanging Bridge, hmm... because of the obvious reason. :)

Excess: You can run on your own risk :)

Sandugo Shrine, Bohol

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Kampai for history!

We were able to visit the historical Sandugo Shrine during our Bohol trip!

Bohol Sandugo History

One of the most important historical events etched in the annals in the Philippine history and immortalized in canvass by the famous Filipino painter Juan Luna as one of his masterpieces, is the famous Blood Compact between Datu Sikatuna, a local native chieftain, and Captain Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the intrepid Spanish explorer and colonizer.

Paula with the rest of the group :)

That historic event took place on an unpretentious coast of Bool, now a district of Tagbilaran, on March 16, 1565, a day after Miguel Lopez de Legaspi and his crew of conquistadores on four ships were drifted into the shores of Bool during the course of their trip to the province of Butuan from Camiguin Island because of strong southwest monsoon winds and low tide. On that day, March 16, 1565, Captain General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the conquistador from Zumaraga, Spain, with Fray Andres de Urdaneta and some of his crew set foot on land for an audience with the local chieftain Sikatuna. The two bands of different nationalities, race and creed met at a murky place, a few hundred meters away from the beach, and after a few pleasantries, the Basque seafarer and the native chieftain of Bool sealed off and strengthened their newborn friendship in a historic Blood Compact.

View from the Shrine

The Sandugo Shrine at Barangay Bool In that Blood Compact, Sikatuna and Legaspi each made a cut on the left arm and collected the dripping blood oozing therefrom in a single vessel and mixed with wine. From that single vessel, two others were filled giving one to Sikatuna and the other to Legaspi. The two leaders drank the mixture of their blood.

The Blood Compact sealed the ties of friendship between two people once different in religion, nationality, culture and civilization. The Tagbilaran native chieftain who swore by his ancestral Anito and Bathala, and the Spanish intrepid explorer and colonizer who sought New World with the sword and the cross, drank to the common cause - friendship. It was the first international treaty of friendship and comity between the Filipinos and Spaniards.

The shrine, with the bronze statues of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Rajah Sikatuna and several other witnesses, was created by the national artist Napoleon Abueva. It overlooks the magnificent view of Bohol Sea.

A Little Controversy

There’s another blood compact site several kilometers from the one in Loay. Unlike the current site which is high above the hills, the other “sandugo site” is near the shore of Bohol sea. And even the current site is not really the duly recognized actual site of the Sandugo. About a hundred meters from it, there’s a marker inside the school that claims to be the actual site for the Sandugo in March of 1564. But whichever is the real one doesn’t really matter as the Blood Compact site is just a representation of what has transpired five centuries ago.

So you have just learned history in my blog. LOL. Refresher, perhaps.

Chocolate Hills, Bohol

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:47:00 +0000

Lovely Girls in Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills are an unusual geological formation in Bohol, Philippines. According to the latest accurate survey done, there are 1,776 hills spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres (20 sq mi). They are covered in green grass that turns brown during the dry season, hence the name.

Last month, my friends and I visited Bohol. We were too excited for the trip and itinerary was of course one of the things we should prepare. We listed down all tourist destinations in Bohol that we are gonna visit... the top of the heap is Chocolate Hills.

Beautiful Paula

The entrance fee is Php50 for unlimited sight seeing, climb the stairs just to reach the viewing deck, and for photos we are gonna upload for fb's sake... I think it was worth it.

When I was looking the vast view of the hills, I was wondering how this unusual geological formation happened. However, I learned some legends with regard to its existence.

Mia at the start of the long journey

Four legends explain the formation of the Chocolate Hills. The first tells the story of two feuding giants who hurled rocks, boulders, and sand at each other. The fighting lasted for days, and exhausted the two giants. In their exhaustion, they forgot about their feud and became friends, but when they left they forgot to clean up the mess they had made during their battle, hence the Chocolate Hills.

Mitch and Mia: stop arguing.. :)

A more romantic legend tells of a giant named Arogo who was extremely powerful and youthful. Arogo fell in love with Aloya, who was a simple mortal. Aloya's death caused Arogo much pain and misery, and in his sorrow he could not stop crying. When his tears dried, the Chocolate Hills were formed.

close to reach the top (viewing deck)

The third legend tells of a town being plagued by a giant carabao, who ate all of their crops. Finally having had enough, the townsfolk took all of their spoiled food and placed it in such a way that the carabao would not miss it. Sure enough, the carabao ate it, but his stomach couldn't handle the spoiled food, so he defecated, leaving behind him a mound of feces, until he had emptied his stomach of the food. The feces then dried, forming the Chocolate Hills.

Ruthy, excited for the pictorial =)

The last legend is about a gluttonous giant named Dano that eats everything in his path. One day he came to a plain. He saw a beautiful young woman named Eng. To win her affection, he needed to lose weight. So he excreted everything he ate. In the end, his fecal matter covered the land and he won Eng's affection.

Ansie's perfect smile and superb view!

It might be true or not, I can say Chocolate hills was splendid indeed. Scientifically, I know there is an existing explanation but I don'd wanna dwell on that. I would like to believe the legends since science is boring.

How to get there:

Since Chocolate Hills is in Carmen Bohol which is located in the center of Bohol, there are several starting points to travel going to Carmen. Few of the popular starting points to travel to Carmen is Tagbilaran City and Tubigon Bohol.

If you are travelling to Carmen via Tagbilaran City and do not have a private vehicle, you have the option to get a taxi (which you have to pay pre-negotiated special fare called pakyaw), or you can go to Intergrated Bus Termincal located in Dao Tagbilaran where there are several bus lines that offer routes to Carmen. Some of the routes passing directly in Carmen is Tagbilaran-Carmen-SierraBullones route, Tagbilaran-Carmen-Jagna route, while other bus route ends in Carmen. Carmen route is commonly called INTERIOR.

Dream come true mi!

From Tagbilaran, you can take bus ride as early as 5 am and last trip is around 4 pm or possibly 5 pm. Around 5 to 6 pm it would be nearly impossible to get a passenger bus leaving for Carmen. If you are not familiar with the route or which bus to take, there are schedules and signs in the terminal, or you can always ask any bus driver, bus fare collector (called konduktor), they are mostly kind enough to help you. Travel time from Tagbialran to Carmen usually take around two (2) hours if you take the passenger bus because of the different stops along the way. Taking a direct non-stop trip to Carmen with private vehicle or a taxi, its possible to make the trip around more or less an hour. If you are staying in a hotel, you can always make taxi and special trip arrangement with the hotel for a fee.

Miss Bohol

Jeah proved that the hill isn't that tall :)

From Tubigon Bohol, you can also take the passenger bus with route directly to Carmen. Be sure to know or ask the bus schedules going to Carmen because most bus have time slots when they leave. If you have a hard time getting a bus going to Carmen, you may also have the option to take Tubigon-Tagbilaran route and then transfer to another bus Tagbilaran-Carmen route. Travel time from Tubigon to Carmen is roughly around one hour or more. Some passenger bus makes frequent stops, it will take two (2) hours to arrive Carmen.

Friends!

Suria Indoor Soccer Centre, Kota Kinabalu

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 08:03:00 +0000

Outside of the facility

World cup 2010 ended last July 12 after Spain won the victory. I was sad that time because my flight to Manila was 6AM. I left Lanai at 4:30AM to catch my flight and Oranje was still battling hard against Spain. It saddened me more when my boyfriend called that Oranje didn't make it while I'm busy checking in at the Airport. However, I tried to think, I will leave that memory in the Philippines because that day, my boyfriend and I were heading to Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

Malaysians playing futsal

Touchdown.

Malaysia was then still having FIFA fever and I was surprised when we were in Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal going to Palau Manukan, there was an indoor soccer center! The Jesselton Point ferry terminal is in the heart of KK, located north of downtown Kota Kinabalu. It is possible to walk to this terminal if you are staying at nearby city hotels like Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu or Hyatt Regency Kinabalu. Otherwise, if you are staying in other resorts south of the city such as The Magellan Sutera, The Pacific Sutera or Shangri-la Tg Aru, it is best to get a taxi which will set you back anywhere between RM10 to RM15 per journey.

To be exact, this ferry terminal is located close to Wisma Sabah, Grand Port View building, or marine police and custom offices.

Futsal Rates

Besides the Terminal counter is a Futsal centre called Suria Indoor Soccer Centre, which consists of 4 courts. Futsal is a mini version of football with only five players on one side instead of the usual eleven. This place is a favorite hang out for KK Lites who want to have a good game of futsal with friends, and the much needed exercise. My boyfriend and I really wanted to try it out but we just decided to pursue our plan of visiting an island in TAR.

Football lovers

Anyway, price per court from 6pm to closing time(11pm) is RM 100 an hour, special discount prices apply during the day time and also during weekends and public holidays. Sweet! I just wish that we'll have this kind of facility in my city.

geared up

Do call the futsal centre for more details. Suria Indoor Soccer Centre tel: 6088 249 709

flip flopping: 1 Borneo Hypermall

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:58:00 +0000

flip flopping: 1 Borneo Hypermall: "Our visit in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia was highlighted when we visited 1Borneo Hypermall. This mall had just opened last March 2008 and coined ..."

Puh Toh Tze Temple, Kota kinabalu, Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:53:00 +0000

Puh Toh Tze Temple

I feel like I'm in Thailand :)

Sabah is proud of its multiculturalism and this is often reflected in its diverse architecture. The Puh Toh Tze temple is a Buddhist temple located off Tuaran Road.

Built in 1980, the temple stands out with its traditional Chinese roofing and structure. Ten large statues of deities adorn the temple with the Goddess of Mercy, Kwan Yin, standing tall at the main entrance of the temple.

The facade of the temple.

BF is so happy

We visited this temple when we were in Malaysia. You can really see how different religions influenced one's culture. There were some Chinese and Japanese tourists with us, offering respect and prayers

Getting There
The Puh Toh Tze Temple is located some 15km from the city centre. Take a taxi from the city centre for approximately RM15.00 per ride.

Arrange for your return with your taxi driver. You can also take Bus no.1 or No.3 from the bus station in front of Wawasan Plaza for RM1.20 per person. Inform the bus driver of your destination. Buses run from 6:30am to 8:00pm.

Admission is free :)

Right side of the Temple.

too tired already but having fun

flip flopping: Puh Toh Tze Temple, Kota kinabalu, Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:53:00 +0000

flip flopping: Puh Toh Tze Temple, Kota kinabalu, Malaysia: "Puh Toh Tze Temple Kota Kinabalu Sabah is proud of its multiculturalism and this is often reflected in its diverse architecture. The Puh To..."

1 Borneo Hypermall

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 04:30:00 +0000

"walkator" :)

Our visit in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia was highlighted when we visited 1Borneo Hypermall. This mall had just opened last March 2008 and coined as the largest Shopping complex in Borneo. Well, I can say it's really huge! It is home for over some 600 shop lots scattered over a total floor area of nearly 140,000sq m. Although, 1Borneo is a tad smaller than Kuala Lumpur's Mid Valley Megamall in terms of retail space. But there is more to 1Borneo since it has four hotels with a total of about 800 rooms slated which is now operational. Among them are the no frills Tune Hotel affiliated with budget airline AirAsia, Novotel and the Grand Boulevard. There are two blocks of 800 mid-level condominiums and the proposed 114 super condominiums. All these will push the total built up area at 1Borneo to a staggering 445,000 sq m.

One of the stores.

Concourse Level

The concourse level has a large concentration of food choices with
a myriad of food outlets and restaurants in this area along with some
non-restaurants like Giant HSL Circuit Centre, the aquarium, furniture
shops, Bata, Laundry World,Johnson Fitness and a Souvenir Shop.

The restaurants on 1Borneo’s concourse level include Old Station
Kopitiam,La Manila, Crocodile Restaurant, Manhattan Fish Market,
Burger King, Vedablu, KFC, Deli France, Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonald’s,
Kenny Rogers,The Chicken Rice Shop, Sushi King, Big Apple, Kiew
Brother BBQ, Penang Village and Michi Japanese Restaurant.
Almost all the fast food families are here.

Also lesser known RasaMas and Chicken Rice Shop. Michi a fine Japanese
restaurant also has an outlet at this floor.

Local favorite such as Curry Laksa at RasaMas is Rm 7.90

Try the Mexican Bun of Giant Hypermarket (Rm 0.98 per bun).
You will like it.

Ground Floor

Something special about the ground floor restaurants is an outside
facing area, which creates a boulevard with a side-walk culture of
al fresco dining and coffee.

Enabling these particular outlets to operate beyond the usual mall
opening hours, it promises to popular with the late night crowd and
has potential to be a strip where there’s always a buzz and life till late.

For your coffee needs, included in this strip is Coffee Bean,
Old Town White Coffee, San Francisco Coffee, Dome and Starbucks.

Food and snack outlets include amongst others HK Recipe,
Made in China, Olive,Secret Recipe and New York New York.

Elsewhere on this level you’ll also find Fish & Co, Sweet Dynasty
and Thai Odyssey.

First Floor

On the first floor, is Tasty Food Court, located near Laksa Shack,
the upstairs part of Starbucks, Wagamama and Yoshimi. A little father
along Beijing BBQ and DimSum are also on offer.

boutique-like mall, i love!

What interesting about this hypermall is the architectural aspect. Spaces were huge, wide hallways so as its dim lights made it so romantic and relaxing to roam around. There is some sort of "flat escalator" that can bring you to the upper floor. It's a new thing for me and I really enjoyed going back and forth to other shops in other levels. We visited the Indoor Chinatown for best bargains but we ended up buying for some Malaysian crafts in the other store.

At the Indoor Chinatown

Furthermore, this hypermall is located 7 km. out of the city (25 mins) and getting there is quite expensive. From the Airport, we payed RM50 for a cab.. and that's a lot! Good thing, hovercraft or shuttles are readily available for free. Schedule of departure should be observed nonetheless. I am sure those who ride the hovercraft would find the journey to be too short because it will be a thrilling experience.

I heard that they will extend the hovercraft services to the Kota Kinabalu International airport thus enabling passengers to avoid peak hour traffic jams. This gotta be a good news!

This way to the Indoor Chinatown

Chinese products up for grabs!

To cap it all off, 1Borneo will become the first mall in the world to have its own helicopter services for those in search of some serious retail therapy to reach the mall even faster. Perhaps those who spend say a minimum of RM3,000 in a single day could be ferried back to their resorts in a helicopter. That would make you remember of your stay in Kota Kinabalu. Hopefully, I could try this just for experience! I'm looking forward to the proposed Aquarium in the mall with a concept of making it as Ocean Park.

1 MYR=14 PHP

Not to mention, there is a Forex inside the mall and it is located at the second floor at the back of Adidas. Surprisingly, it was a good deal compared to other money changers in other parts of KK. It opens 10:00AM until 10:00PM. Sweeeet!

Shuttle Bus Schedule

1Borneo Shuttle Bus

How to get to 1Borneo

Transport from airport to 1 borneo : 1Borneo is only 20 minutes drive from KK International Airport. Located along Jalan Sulaman Highway it is a neighbor to Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

To get there, just travel from Kota Kinabalu City via Likas Bay on Sulaman Road. Head along Jalan Pantai, direction Likas. At the start of Likas Bay, the first 1Borneo signboard will direct you to 1Borneo which is only 7kms more to go. Along Jalan Pantai road landmarks including the Sabah Trade Building, the Floating Mosque, the Tun Mustapha Building, University Malaysia Sabah.

1Borneo has ample parking space, 2nd and 3rd floor of 1Borneo has ample parking space, and easy to navigate.

By Taxi A taxi cost around RM 15 from the city centre. With a maximum capacity of 4 people. From the airport is quite expensive especially during at night. There are some taxi operators inside the airport, just tell your destination, pay for ticket and you are good to go.

1Borneo Shuttle Bus A free shuttle bus runs a set schedule on a fixed route between major hotels in Kota Kinabalu and 1Borneo. Hotel guests of Promenade Hotel, Sutera Harbor Resort and Shang-ri La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa pick-up points for shuttles going to 1Borneo. The 1 Borneo Shuttle Buses depart regularly from the designated points.

You wouldn't miss the drop-off point at 1 Borneo, as you will see the mall long before you arrive. Just ask your hotel staff, they love taking care of tourists and guests.

Shangri-La, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:56:00 +0000

When I'm traveling, I usually make sure that I can try the best of everything; pack light not to have time bug looking for concierge, best deal of airfare, taste the local cuisine, and not to spend much on hotels. However, I can't get enough of our Malaysia trip if we cannot book in the famous Shangri-La Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu.

Yes, there was some sort of changes this time. It was my first international trip with my boyfriend and I'd like it to be something special.. and there you go Shangri-La.

We stayed for atleast two nights before going back to Philippines at Shangri-La Hotel. Our first two nights, well, it was great though but not compared to this one of course. We booked two months ahead before our arrival and I can say, we've had a nice deal.

Aside from the thought that it's Shangri-La, we wanted to stay closer to the Airport and Tanjung Aru is just 7-minute walk. In our case, we took a cab to the Airport since we were running out of time and it was RM20 for less than 4-minute drive. We could have prepared earlier to lessen such expense.

Anyway, our experience in the most sought-after hotel in Kota Kinabalu was really with a touch of grandiosity. Food are expensive, of course, but there are some nice restaurants outside the resort which were cheaper. Restaurants such as Coco Joe's, Cafe Tatu, Peppino and Shang Place are located inside the resort and will give you more wonderful dining experience. However Coco Joe's atmosphere and extravagant food choices really blew us away. Not to mention that it was located near the pool and beach making us lucky to have plenty of time relaxing while watching sunsets. Spectacular, indeed.

And oh, next time before traveling, I will make sure that I'm with my boyfriend!

For reservations please contact:

20 Jalan Aru, Tanjung Aru

88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Malaysia
T: (60 88) 327 888
F: (60 88) 327 878

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/kotakinabalu/tanjungaruresort

Map of Shangri-La, Tanjung Aru

Palau Manukan, Kota Kinabalu

noreply@blogger.com (irecoholic) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:45:00 +0000

Approximately 10:00am, we arrived at Jesselton Point Jetty. There were a lot of tourists inside queueing to buy ticket. In our case, we didn't queue at all since the tour operators were almost all Filipinos (from Palawan and Zamboanga) and they recognized us as "kababayan." A dark young man approached us and offered their tour services. At first, I was hesitant because some websites didn't mention that there are these sort of "fixers" outside the building. The young man said, "I'm a Filipino don't be afraid." Perhaps, he recognized the fear in my face. So we sat for a while, we talked about the tour in our native language and agreed about the fees as it was cheap compared to what I have read in the internet. So, that was a deal.

We waited for 10-15 minutes as the young man secured our tickets, terminal fee, and taxes. Actually, we took advantage to take photos of us outside of the building which has a line-up of coffee shops, food store etc.

Tunku Abdul Rahman is marine park. It's a cluster of islands comprising Pulau Gaya, Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik and Pulau Sulug, all only 10 - 20 minute speedboat ride from the city of Kota Kinabalu. These islands are located off the coast of downtown Kota Kinabalu. From Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, a 2-minute drive or 10-minute walk will bring you to the jetty at Jesselton Point(formerly Sabah Port Authority ferry terminal).

There are a number of tour operators here that will bring you to Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park and it is open daily from 8:30am to 5:00pm.

The rental is charged per boat, which can range anywhere between RM100 and RM200. One boat can fit 4-6 people. A short 30-minute breezy boat ride will bring you there. However, if you plan to just hop in with a friend or two in one of their speedboat, it costs RM23 per person and RM10 for tax. In the island, you have to pay RM10 for entrance but that is good for all the islands you will visit.

The five islands of the Marine Park are characterized by shallow waters, sumptuous coral
gardens and all boast splendid white sandy beaches.

The reefs lie in shallow waters with little current making it an ideal location for novice divers, however, the diverse and sometimes rare marine creatures also make it an interesting dive location for experienced divers and underwater photographers.

To dive in the marine park you must contact one of the local dive centers based in Kota Kinabalu who also offer a full variety of PADI courses ranging from Discover Scuba to Instructor.

Among the sandy seabed a good variety of marine life can be found such as Scorpion fish, Blue-spotted rays, cuttlefish, mantis shrimps and the occasional green or hawksbill turtle. At some locations, rare creatures such as the harlequin ghost pipefish and mandarin fish can be found especially with the help from local dive guides.

During the cooler months from November to February, plankton blooms attract krill which in turn attract whale sharks, the world's largest fish. At times, the density of the krill can be so thick in these murky conditions underwater encounters with these colossal animals
can be exciting as they suddenly appear out of the gloom.

Non-diving visitors can still have as much fun in the islands with other optional activities such as snorkeling in Pulau Sapi and Manukan and seawalking in Pulau Sapi. If water sport is your cup of tea, you may contact any local tour companies for more information regarding the water sport activities that are available.

However, my boyfriend and I only visited Palau Manukan because of time constraints as we just wanted to bum around and soak-up under the Malaysian sun.

There is a resort on the island called Manukan Island Resort, operated by a leisure outfit by the name of Sutra Sanctuary Lodges.

Accommodation	No. of unit
1. Hilltop Lodge (Single Storey)	4 Units
2. Hilltop Lodge (Double Storey)	6 Units
3. Beach Lodge (Single Storey)	4 Units
4. Beach Lodge (Double Storey)	6 Units

Other than that, there are basic tourist facilities provided on the beach, such as water-based activity centre (for renting kayaks, snorkeling gears, life jackets, etc), a small café and public bathroom.

Getting there

The Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park is accessible via 15 – 20 minutes speedboat ride from Kota Kinabalu. The departure and arrival point for the boat transfers is at the Jesselton Point Ferry Terminal, situated next to the Malaysia Royal Custom Department. Boat transfers to the islands are available daily from 7.30am to 5pm.

Boat transfer fares to the Islands are listed as follows:

sland	*Fare per pax/boat
sland	Adult (return)	Children (return)
Manukan Island	RM23	RM18
Mamutik Island	RM23	RM18
Sapi Island	RM23	RM18
Sulug Island	RM25	RM18
Two island hops	RM33	RM28
Three island hops	RM43	RM38
Four island hops	RM53	RM48
Boat charter for one island	RM204
Boat charter for Malahom Bay	RM204
Boat charter for Police beach	RM204

* A levy of RM50 per boat will be charged for special pick up times or overnight stays

The following rates are not inclusive of charged terminal fee (RM7.20 for adults, and RM3.60 for children under 12); each entrance fee is valid for 5 islands per day.

Tariffs and other fees and additional charges are listed as follows:

Particulars	Malaysian	Non-Malaysian
Entrance fee Adults Children below 18 years of age	RM3 per pax RM1 per pax	RM10 per pax RM6 per pax

Well, the beach at Pulau Manukan is as spectacular as other neighboring islands. Nonetheless, the water surface is compensated by the rich and colorful marine life that you can find underneath it. Really, people come to Pulau Manukan for the diving and snorkeling. However, comparing it to the beaches in the Philippines, Palau Manukan is not as amazing as Boracay, Pangalo and even Palawan beaches. It is more of a family beach where children can play in the seashore.

Still, I think the beach is quite nice. There are still plenty of tourists coming here for the underwater actions. In general, the beach can be regarded as sufficiently long for your personal space where you can spread your beach towels and put on your sunglasses.

We went back to the city about 2:00PM. By the way, you have to ask your tour operators about their scheduled trip back to KK City to avoid any problem or miscommunication as they also cater trips in other islands.

For Information:
Sabah Parks
Lot 45 & 46, 1st - 5th Floor,
Block H, Signature Office
KK Times Square
Coastal Highway
88100 Kota Kinabalu

Telephone: 088-486 432/486 430/486 420

Fax: 088-486 435 (General)