Globetrekking with KY

Non-Travel-related ¦¦ K9 Scam at Burgos Circle, BGC

2011-05-19T06:58:00.000+08:00

Reposting a facebook message sent by a concerned K9 / animal rights advocate :

K9 Scam - burgos circle

Friends, I'm sending this as a personal note since the ones affected are on FB and didn't want to blast it to the general public.

I realize I can only send to XX amnt of folks so I'm sending several copies out to the others (in case you don't see their names above)
______________________________________
There are three "K9" trainers hanging out in Burgos Circle BGC Taguig who are currently training some bulldogs, boxers, husky pups the painful and inhumane way with choke chains and other harmful approaches such as punishing the dog for not following the command.

One's name is Lastico, the other is Vince - no other info available.

The style is that they will befriend/ ligaw all the doggy yayas in the area. They charge Php30,000 per dog or will give a discount of Php 45,000 for two dogs. The amount is insane!

First Lastico who is the K9 Supervisor is a skinny guy and extremely arrogant. He was seen spitting in the mouths of the poor boxer puppy and husky puppy while they were tied to a tree. The lady that hired him gave him a copy of the condo keys so he can go in and out as he pleases.

My story revolves around Vince. He was hired by a US pinoy and was offered a place to stay at their condo since he gave some sob story that he resigned, yadeeyadeeyada...

Of course he was asked to do his part (being paid Php 30,000) and clean up a bit. They bought him clothes and real crocs since they liked and trusted him.

Yesterday, he stole a wallet and it was caught on the CCTV inside the condo. The police were called and there is an NBI report out. Next step is to report him to BGC Security.

The US pinoy called Vince and he apologized and promised to LBC the wallet but not the money.

Apparently, he is also wanted in Bicol because he stole both money and a dog from a breeder who hired him to train. So the accident daughter Bicol thing is a lie.

The arrogant little ^#%^&#%^&#$ will be back in BGC in 2 weeks because another poor soul hired him to train their dog.

We are trying to raise awareness by talking to as many owners as possible.

If any of you have encountered them please take the necessary precautions and respond back to this thread with information.

Now all the fort yayas are siding with Vince since he told them he was being mistreated at the US pinoys house and being made to do "maid" work. The night before he stole the purse the US pinoy caught him hurting the poor dog and was reprimanded.

They are already making their rounds Boni High and Burgos Circle and I wouldn't be suprised if they targeted Tiendesitas.

Latest update as of an hour ago. Lastico and Vince have threatened that they will "get even" if they will be arrested.

These are dognappers and thieves and we are thankful that only the wallet was stolen and not the poor dog. Vince and Lastico befriend the yayas to find out if their dogs are spayed. This is probably so when they steal them the poor dogs can be used for breeding purposes. They expressed interest in my sweet Kahlua and they liked that Hershey has an unusual color. (leave my babies alone!)

Vince has then destroyed the reputation of the person he stole from and all the yayas here are siding with him and will protect him. I pity the owners especially if the innocent dogs are stolen one day.

These people are fast talkers and are good at selling themselves. Do not fall for it.

Please spread the word!

Yesterday at 12:25pm

Happy Easter from Murphy the traveling doggie :)

2011-04-24T07:38:00.000+08:00

Happy Easter!

- Murphy, Mommy GlobetrekKY and Dada :)

Murphy Portabelly visits Ilocos Norte. Saw the beach for the very first time!

This shot taken at the Kapurpurawan rock formation.

US firm Shell Horizons peddling endangered Philippine corals | Asian Correspondent

2011-04-09T17:51:00.000+08:00

US firm Shell Horizons peddling endangered Philippine corals | Asian Correspondent

So… you wanna be a travel writer?

2011-04-04T13:56:00.000+08:00

Been following several travel blogs for quite a few years now, but recently I stumbled upon this very helpful travel blog from Filipina sisters who love independent travel. And yes, obviously my dream is to be like a Samantha Brown, or Anthony Bourdain, or that couple from Man, Woman, Wild on Discovery Channel - be paid to travel.

Image Source: Icon Easy

Found this post very helpful, so I'm sharing this with you!

So… you wanna be a travel writer?

Although I really do wanna get out of that "Day Job" rut.. but heck, the day job savings pay for these trips :)

So, where's your next destination?

Q & A: How To Save Money For Your Dream Vacation

2011-03-29T20:32:00.000+08:00

Found this post from the GypsyGals's blog ... a very timely article for the dream gap adventure I'm planning with the Hubby :) Although not we're not exactly traveling 'solo'. ;-)

Q & A: How To Save Money For Your Dream Vacation

RTW here we come!

P100 Sale at Airphil Express

2011-03-28T13:35:00.000+08:00

It's AirPhil Express's 1ST ANNIVERSARY!

And to celebrate the occasion, we have a treat for all of you! P100 SALE for all A320 domestic destinations! Woohoo!

Travel period: June 1, 2011 to Feb 15, 2012! This is it, guys! Booking starts NOW!

Plus you can also get a chance to win a trip to Palawan!

http://www.airphilexpress.com/escape-to-palawan/

Itchy Feet Know No Relief.

2011-03-22T22:48:00.000+08:00

After almost 2 years of being on a travel "diet" (meaning, only a few trips per year)... the Itchy Feet gang is on the roll again!

Because most of us are corporate geishas (ain't this better sounding than corporate slaves) working in the banking, BPO & O&O industries, long weekends and Philippine holidays are what we live for. (Peste si PNoy, no holiday economics this year. Boo.)

So it was good that we kicked the year off with New Year in Baguio. Feb and March were out of the question because I had to stay home and rest after my operation.

Here are the trips planned for the rest of the year *woot woot!*

April - Ilocos OR Caramoan (North or South) road trip

May - ??

June - ??

July - Iloilo & Guimaras (Cebu Pacific & Zest Air sale)

August - Roxas (Php 499 CebuPacific sale)

September - Boracay (Php 16 Seair sale :))

October -Cebu for the hubby & me - attending a wedding :-D

November - ??

December - ?? (praying - Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, etc)

Except for Boracay, I'm extremely excited about all the other trips! I've been to Ilocos and Caramoan, but there's still tons to see and do!

As for Boracay, (I know I'll have a lot of criticism *insert here*)... but I've never been a fan of Boracay. Yes, nice... it draws a lot of tourists, foreign investments, and all that sh*t. But at the expense of everything else? I heard the sand is no longer white and fine, there are too many resorts and bars (what's new. People just care about the moolah), there's too much hedonism (well again $$)... hay buhay.

I probably would've liked Boracay if it weren't I so overdeveloped and overpopulated with bars and establishments that pollute the once-pristine white sand beach. I'll post siguro my observations once I visit the place again this September. Would love to try kiteboarding though, and see how Bulabog Beach fares compared to the overrated white (err... hindi na nga daw white) beach.

Hope everyone (tourists and locals alike) can work together to help with cleanliness, environmental preservation, etc. Otherwise, wala na tayong pwedeng puntahan next time! Look what happened to Anawangin & Nagsasa. :(

But anyway, just want to say that the Itchy Feet gang is back putting more pins on their maps.

Thank you Lord for all the blessings :)

Philips Go Gear 2GB from Good Times with Mo Podcast!

2011-03-14T22:46:00.003+08:00

I received the gadget I "won" from the Good Times with Mo Podcast this afternoon! :)

I decided to send in a question last March 3, to the GTWM Podcast guest that night, Kuya Kim (Kim Atienza), via SMS. And lo and behold, Pat of GTWM called me after a few minutes! I really wasn't expecting a call. Well they did call, I got put on hold 3x, got cut off 2x, got called back. Finally got to ask my question. They didn't talk to me much though.

Anyhoo, the next day, a certain Ed of Tradeport sent me an SMS, asking me for my address for the mp3 player delivery. I initially thought it was bogus. But what the heck, I sent in my details anyway.

Today, I got the gear :)

It's the Philips GoGear MP3 Player SA011102S 2GB which retails at Tradeport (at time of writing) for Php 2,190 + Php 140 shipping charge.

Image from Tradeport.com.ph

Here's the write-up from the Tradeport site, and below are the specs:

Enjoy your music on the move!

Enjoy digital music with the digital audio player SA011. Easily take your favorite tunes on the go with Direct USB and enjoy 10 hours of playtime.

All your music on the go - everyday
• MP3 and WMA playback
• Equalizer to suit your music preferences
• Enjoy up to 10 hours of music playback*
• FM radio with 20 presets for more music options

Ready to wear, ready to go
• Small and wearable for ultimate portability
• Voice recording to take notes or record anything, anytime

Easy and intuitive experience
• Drag and drop your songs easily - no software needed
• Direct charging from PC via USB

Specifications

Picture/Display
•Backlight
•Lines of text: 3
•Resolution: 128 x 48
•Type: LCD

Sound
•Frequency response: 80 - 18 000 Hz
•Equalizer settings: Funk, Hip Hop, Jazz, Rock, Techno, Classical
•Signal to noise ratio: > 80 dB
•Channel separation: 32 dB
•Output power (RMS): 2 x 3 mW

Audio Playback
•Compression format: MP3, WAV, WMA
•MP3 bit rates: 8-320 kbps and VBR
•ID3 Tag support: Song title, artist, album
•WMA bit rates: 64-320 kbps
•WMA sample rates: 8, 11.025, 16, 22.050, 32, 44.1, 48 kHz
•MP3 sample rates: 16, 32, 44.1, 48, 11.025, 22.050, 24, 8 kHz

Storage Media
•Built-in memory type: Flash
•Built-in memory capacity: 2 GB
•Mass storage class compliant
•Music memory capacity, MP3: Up to 450 tracks*

Connectivity
•Headphone: 3.5 mm
•USB: USB 2.0

Convenience
•Function: Keypad lock
•Battery charging indication: On user interface
•Volume control
•Battery low indication

Accessories
•Headphones
Green Specifications
•Lead-free soldered product

System Requirements
•PC OS: Windows 2000 / XP / Vista
•Internet connection: Yes (for access to updated support documents and manuals)
•USB: Free USB port

Power
•Battery capacity: 150 mAh
•Battery Type: LI-Polymer
•Playtime on internal battery: Up to 10 hours
•Rechargeable: Yes, via USB

Dimensions
•Product dimensions (WxDxH): 91.7 x 29 x 14.3 mm
•Product weight: 0.029 kg
•Packaging type: D-box

Audio Capturing
•Audio file format: MP3
•Built-in microphone: mono
•Voice recording
•FM radio recording

Tuner/Reception/Transmission
•Station presets: 20
•Tuner Bands: FM

Thank you GTWM!

Tune in to the Podcast everyday at 9pm (GMT+8)!

It's sooooo NOT nice...

2011-03-12T12:58:00.005+08:00

... getting peed on by a dog.

The evidence... + The culprit

Apparently Billy wanted to "greet" his new friend... aka ME.

Say hello to Billy, Dennis's new 'toy' :) Or should I say, Momo's new toy.

LOL!

Had a quick get together earlier with the Itchy Feet gang at Mercato Centrale's new location. Honestly, I personally did not like the new location. I liked their old location better. And from personal observation, I think they had more visitors before than now.

It was a tad bit dusty. Or rather, the ground was. Dusty / dirty. :(
Were there fewer vendors? Was trying to find the yummy truffle fries, the fish & chips, and the cute cupcakes with the yummy dates. But didn't get to see them. Maybe it's just me. :-P Could not go around much due to my condition.
I think the vendors themselves do not like the new location. I overheard some mentioning... "Ay baket walang signs?" Yada yada...

What I liked now though is that they have regular trash collectors. I honestly would have preferred if visitors cleaned up after their own mess. CLaYGo = Clean as You Go! Proper etiquette lang naman diba. Oh, and on a side note, that more trash bins/recycling bins should be put up at the venue. But then again, maybe that's just me.

I also liked that some of the vendors now have biodegradable containers rather than styro (I HATE STYRO!!!) or plastic bags. Kudos to the vendor that sells Lavosh and the dips. She had those cornstarch-based biodegradable containers for her 'healthy' food. She's good with PR too :)

------------
I came across Anton Diaz's feed about Mercato Centrale and I'm happy that he had a "pahabol" ... or postscript about the dang plastic containers :)

P.S. We are banning plastics, styrofoam containers and plastic bags by April 22, Earth Day. We are looking for eco-friendly solutions for Mercato Centrale. Let us know if you have suggestions!

Yay!
------------

I didn't get to try a lot of food. It was too hot today, I didn't want to go around and sweat while looking for food. Arte ano? BUT... There was one notable heavenly find... Thanks Kring for the bread pudding creme brulee!

Here's what was left of the yummy bread pudding slash creme caramel slash creme brulee thingie we tried earlier (and after taking the pic, we almost licked the tin clean. Good thing we had our doggies to do that for us). That guy manning the booth... he shoved the free taste to me.. and it was well worth it!! :) Php 190 a tin c/o Kristina. YUM-O!

Perfectly bruleed top. Cracks when you tap your spoon. Yummy x infinity.

(Gosh I need a better camera phone.)

The Bread Pudding Creme Brulee was from Desserts To Go Friday! at MedChef by Chef Hasset Go.

For orders and inquiries:
585-6052 / 0915-487-1332
Look for Jayson, Ritchel or Hasset)

Store Address: 139 Mother Ignacia Ave.,Quezon City, Philippines (Across ABS-CBN)

We even saw Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet taking pictures. I'm such a groupie. :)

Visit Midnight Mercato & Mercato Centrale every weekend!

Ensogo + Benefits Salon vouchers A-OK!

2011-03-11T22:02:00.003+08:00

Finally! After 48 years ... I got a decent haircut.

Had my hair treated with keratin too.

Had taken advantage of free wifi ... a plus point for Eastwood, most areas have free wi fi!

Had my caffeine fix at Starbucks Eastwood Mall with Momsie's senior citizen discount (ok barat ako... so sue me) . Was trying to get the 'free' cake pop that they mentioned was free for each purchase today because of their 40th Anniversary. But didn't get the freebie! Only for the first 30 customers daw. They sure didn't mention that on FB! :-P

Spent the rest of the afternoon at Padre Pio...

All for Php 736.

Haircut = Php 168 (valued at Php 450)
Hair Keratin Treatment = Php 249 (valued at Php 1000)
Tip/s = Php 150
Starbucks Tall Latte = Php 84 (with Momsie's SC discount :) )
Parking = Php 85 (Php 45 at Eastwood Mall, Php 40 at Padre Pio)
Grand Total = Php 736 :)

Not bad for a very eventful March 11. I was checking twitter almost every 5 minutes (on the Japan quake that hit WHILE I was getting my hair done)... )... Buti talaga may wi-fi! Of course the staff at the salon was clueless. The quake was so nerve wracking, and the updates didn't help much either.

After that twitter "war" I had this morning with Cebu Pacific Air regarding their stupid contest (actually the contest was cool... The person running the contest was just plain BOBO.) ... I had to step back and be grateful... I'm still pretty much very blessed.

Anyhoo... Thank you Ensogo for such wonderful deals!

Earlier this afternoon, I went to Benefits Salon at the 2F Fashion Square Bldg. Eastwood Citywalk, Libis, Quezon City to use my voucher. Set an appointment for 130pm.

My hair - BEFORE

Getting the hair keratin treatment

Feeling alien

Both the haircut & hair keratin treatment I got at discounted prices through Ensogo's deals.

Only P168 for Professional Hair Cut at the Benefits Style Salon (valued at P450)
Only P249 for Hair Keratin Treatment at the Benefits Style Salon (valued at P1000)

Hair getting blow dried, and then more cutting & trimming.

I finished around 4pm, Vince was so meticulous, he wanted to make sure the cut was perfect. Me likey! :)
The hair keratin treatment was so-so. Good thing I didn't pay Php 1000. It sure didn't feel like it was worth Php 1000.

Ta-dah!!!
The AFTER shots.

Here are the pics I showed him, sample cuts that I wanted:

Pwede na diba?! :)
I like the fact that my hair is now wash & wear. I no longer have to wear a scrunchie or a ponytail. And I can style it so may ways!

If you want to get a fab haircut c/o Vince, visit

Benefits Salon
2F Citywalk Walk 2, Eastwood City
Libis, Quezon City

For reservations, please contact:
Phone #s: (02) 421-6961/ 421-6965
Email: benefitstylesalon@yahoo.com

They have pretty cool business cards too! Too bad I didn't get to take a pic.

For incredible deals, visit Ensogo Philippines or click here.

Prayers are with Japan and the rest of the world

2011-03-11T19:26:00.001+08:00

LET US ALL PRAY TOGETHER: Dear Jesus, we fervently pray for your intercession so that our nation will be spared from a threatening earthquake. Save us from further calamities by embracing our country with your protective grace & merciful blessings. Please pass on to start prayer brigades.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.quake/index.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/pictures-earthquake-2011-3

Got this video tweeted by Business Insider (@businessinsider) -- which gives you a pretty remarkable video gives you a sense of the speed of a tsunami.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/japanese-airport-tsunami-2011-3#ixzz1GHyYJ0sm

Let's pray for our world. 8.8 - 8.9?

Today's Affirmation - Have Feet... Will Travel

2011-03-07T09:37:00.005+08:00

I will make time to blog about my travels. Even those that date back to 1997!

No day but today.

:-P

25 Things to Do in the Philippines (from Inquirer.net)

2011-03-07T09:28:00.005+08:00

Sharing a nice article someone posted on her Facebook wall. An interesting read. Huwag nga naman maging dayuhan sa sariling bayan diba?

Enjoy!

25 THINGS TO DO IN THE PHILIPPINES - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

By Jill Lejano
Philippine Daily Inquirer

DateFirst Posted 22:05:00 12/04/2010

… before fantasizing about exploring other countries

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

1. Go white water rafting in Cagayan de Oro.

2. Visit Batanes.

3. See Mt. Mayon up close.

4. Swim with the whale sharks in Donsol.

5. Climb Mt. Pulag and be awed by its sea of clouds.

6. Dive, swim and explore Palawan’s underground river.

7. Hike and let the view of Mt. Pinatubo crater take your breath away.

8. Party in your bikini in Boracay.

9. Surf’s up! Choose your wave—La Union, Zambales or Real, Quezon.

10. Missed out on the pristine beauty of Boracay 15 years ago? Visit Malapascua, Cebu.

11. Dive and see the rich marine life of Anilao, Batangas.

12. Travel back in time—go to Vigan.

13. Let Bohol wow you with its many offerings—the Chocolate Hills, the tarsier, the Loboc River Cruise, old churches and the beach.

14. Go high! Drive to the Mountain Province of Sagada. Check out the caves, the hanging coffins and enjoy the laidback lifestyle.

15. Grab a Viaje del Sol map, visit Ugu Binyan’s pottery studio, eat at Kusina Salud and unwind at Casa San Pablo.

16. Spend an entire week up north. Take a road trip from Manila to Vigan, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Aparri and Isabela!

17. Try wakeboarding in Camsur.

18. Check out Malate, Old Manila and all their secret spots.

19. There are many reasons to love Davao. Kublai’s artworks, its proximity to the beach, the tasty pastil and juicy suha. And did I mention that it’s a smoke-free city?

20. Spend a weekend roughing it in Anawangin and Capones in Zambales.

21. Check out our colorful fiestas and document them with your camera. Ati-atihan, Dinagyang, Masskara, Sinulog, Higantes, Panagbenga and more.

22. Pick your own strawberries at the Strawberry Fields in La Trinidad, Benguet.

23. Go to Pampanga for sisig.

24. If it’s too hot in Manila, grab a few friends and take a quick trip to Tagaytay.

25. Enjoy a food trip in Iloilo. You’ll never go hungry in this city.

Cambodia Tips for Vinz & Vero

2011-03-05T18:18:00.050+08:00

For Vinz & Vero...

I'm not so sure how helpful this would be, because when we went there last time, our entry point was HCMC (Saigon) and exit point was Bangkok.

We wanted to squeeze in Vietnam (Saigon, Mekong Delta), Cambodia (Phnom Penh & Siem Reap), and Thailand into our 9-day trip. Too short!!

So here are a few tips right at the top of my head:

- If you can book early, book flights out of BKK to Cambodia (there are flights to Phnom Penh- capital, or if you're going to Angkor Wat - flights to Siem Reap)
- We came from Phnom Penh, so our flight to Siem Reap was via Cambodia Angkor Air - booked through the Vietnam Airlines website.

- Spend minimum 3 days in Siem Reap. The Angkor complex is huge. Bring lots of SD cards, or memory for your camera/s. You can never capture the true beauty of Angkor. Take it all in!!!

- In Phnom Penh we stayed at Blue Lime. http://www.bluelime.asia/ $40 a night, pool, great staff, modern minimalist decor. Near the Royal Palace, National Museum, etc. Lots of nightlife in Phnom Penh - parang red light district natin.

- Phnom Penh is an interesting city. But we only spent 2 days there. Visit the usual touristy spots like the Royal Palace, Killing Fields, Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. Bring tissue. It will break your heart. $ is the main currency.

- In Siem Reap, we stayed at Motherhome Guesthouse. http://www.motherhomeguesthouse.com/ Their honeymoon suite is $20 per night! :) Great staff. They have wi fi too.
- Siem Reap is very very very touristy. It's pretty safe to walk around even at night. You'll mostly see expats. They have lots of nightlife too.
- It's pointless to stay at those big hotel chains that charge > $50 / night. You will be out the whole day touring Angkor Wat and the surrounding areas and will be back late. Don't forget to include Bantaey Srei even if it's far. It's worth it.

- Here are tips I found on google re travel from BKK to Siem Reap

http://www.travelfish.org/feature/71 - I completely agree with their tips:

Don't use the minibus scam service
If you have money - fly
If you have loads of time - take the train
Never talk to touts (parang sa atin, mga fixer, scammer)
Don't use the minibus scam service

http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srtransp.htm - Good reference
http://wikitravel.org/en/Siem_Reap

IF you still have time, then tour Saigon & the Mekong Delta. Traveling to Laos is pushing it. But I heard Laos is nice too.

Enjoy!! :)

The Philippines (oh... and the World) Is Just Awesome (Boom De Yada)

2011-03-04T22:11:00.002+08:00

Let's keep it that way :)

:)

GlobeTrekKY's Travel Map

2011-01-02T11:57:00.002+08:00

I so need more pins on this map.

View my profile
Create your own travel map or travel blog
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Itchy Feet || Singapore

2010-11-30T14:01:00.000+08:00

11/25 - 11/29/10

Itchy Feet || Malapascua - Intro Dive & Snorkelling

2010-08-25T15:13:00.000+08:00

Itchy Feet || Magnificent Malapascua

2010-08-24T14:27:00.189+08:00

I've been hearing about Malapascua for years now, especially from diver friends. 2010 was the year we finally got the chance to go.

Plan A obviously was to dive.
BUT of course we went into Plan B and C which was to just take an intro dive, and to snorkel.
Why? Because we're not licensed yet!

(The hubby & wifey dum dums took a full diving course with NAUI instructor Ron, finished the course, no check out dive / open water yet. Will get their license soon. Long story short. To make the long story longer... we STILL do not have our licenses yet because a. I got pregnant b. Then I had a miscarriage c. Then I recently got operated on .. which would take another few months to recover. Whew. )

Getting to Malapascua from Cebu City was pretty easy. We followed most of the tips we read online...
From SM Traveler's Lounge, we took a cab to the North Bus Terminal (because it was too damn hot to walk!).

The North Bus Terminal or NBT is the main hub for buses, mini-buses and vans-for-hire plying routes to the Northern part of Cebu. (Liloan, Compostella, Danao, Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Bogo, DaanBantayan, Maya etc.)

To get to Malapascua, we took the bus to Maya. (Around Php 140 - Php 160). It took roughly about 4 hours, roads were ok, driver was sane too.

From Maya, there's a ferry boat that will take travelers to Malapascua, Php 50.

Manong bangkero

Our welcoming committee by the beach

Malapascua means Bad Easter or Bad Christmas. Before all these resorts and dive shops came about, I would imagine that this island was the closest you'd ever get to paradise.

Malapascua is famous for thresher shark sightings and awesome dive spots. The hubby and I will surely come back next time... to dive of course.

It's a pretty small island, way way smaller than Bantayan.
Since we did not have any prior bookings, we walked around to find a place to stay.

While walking around looking for a place to crash, we discovered that apparently there were more foreigners than locals. We were the only Pinoys!

Pristine beach

We ended up staying the first night at Blue Corals Resort. Php 2000 / night for the fan room, with breakfast for 4. It has a view of a cove, with a cemetery overlooking the cove. Creepy.

Our goal for the duration of the stay was ... NOTHING. We wanted to get away from being corporate slaves / corporate geishas (as Dennis puts it)... and just CHILL.

And that's what we did. Eat, sleep, snorkel, laze around, take pictures, eat... chill.

We transferred to a different resort during the course of our stay. Slam's Garden Resort had a better room, not exactly cheaper... Php 1800, but with no breakfast. The toilet, bath, and wash areas were en-suite but separate.

Slam's Garden Resort, our room - top right

Our room at Slam's

Personalized towels

Don't SLAMMED the door at Slam's :-P especially when you CLOSED it.
Diyos ko. Mental note, when I go back, I will try and print a new copy for them, without the grammar & spelling errors. :)
So that I can enjoy my HOLLIDAY, even if they will not CHANGED the towels every 2 days.

Little (?!) pets at Slam's

Dennis staying true to our GOAL. CHILLAX.

The funniest most memorable thing about our trip was Ging-Ging's Eatery. Food was forgettable, but the mere fact that we ate EVERY SINGLE FRIGGIN MEAL there... was for me.. funny. Well, for the price, and the variety... what we paid for was worth it. The other restos on the island were either closed (because we went there August, which was most likely low season)... or too expensive or too western.

Open early til late. And we're there early - for breakfast, and then lunch, and then snacks, and then dinner... FTW!

The only place worth dining in. Seriously. The food is not THAT spectacular, but for the price pwede na :)

Yup, that's OUR table. Inangkin na namin.

Their version of Fish & Chips. Serious 'to.

May bantay pa kami. Isn't his forehead cool? :)

Well, there was one meal we ate elsewhere. I think it was our first night's dinner... we had the buffet at the resto bar near Blue Coral's. They had the usual Filipino buffet fare, with some viands spot cooked. Forgot the price, I think it was about Php 450? Sorry Ging-Ging.


The cat had fun licking the leftovers off the other table's plates.

Next day at Ging-ging's again. for breakfast.

PANCAAAAAAAAAKKKE.

Antok pa si bantay.

More breakfast, err.. Lunch.. err breakfast... at (where else??) Ging-Gings!

Dinner at Ging-Ging's. Dennis on the phone wanting to strangle or better yet FIRE one of his staff. (Can't though coz she's pregnant.)

Since the hubby was bored, he decided to do light trails outside Ging-Gings while we were all waiting for dinner.

I would understand why foreigners love coming back to Malapascua (and some even staying for good).

Beaches are pristine, serene.

There's fresh seafood... always.

Dennis & the catch of the day.

The dive spots are amazing. The marine life there is aaahhh-mazing! The hubby & I had the chance to do an intro dive. Even if you don't dive, and just opt to snorkel, you will not be disappointed.

The locals are friendly, helpful, hospitable, not just to whites. Yes people, we normal folks have money too. Duh. : ) Peace!
Even the "other" residents are friendly.

The hubby waiting for our boat ride back to the Cebu mainland. Boo hoo.

As a local (meaning Filipino, resident) I would still come back and visit Malapascua.

If you have the chance, don't just visit the usual run-off-the-mill tourist spots like Cebu City/Mactan. There are tons of places around the city... quaint little places.. that offer a lot.

Where we stayed:

Blue Coral Beach Resort
Malapascua Island, Barangay Logon
PI - 6013 Daan-Bantayan, Cebu, Philippines
Sonia de Dios (Philippines)
Mobile: +63-926-3050827
+63-915-5086134
+63-920-5506208
Telephone/Fax: +63 32 4371021

SLAM'S Garden Resort
Malapascua Island, Barangay Logon
6013 Daan-Bantayan, Cebu, Philippines
Mobile: (00-63) 9053433495 Or (00-63) 9267853743 MAY : in English,Tagalog or Visaya
(00-63) 9154410621 NELSIE : in English,Tagalog or Visaya
slamsgarden_resort@yahoo.com

If you Google Malapascua (which we did prior to our trip), there are tons of resources / references. Where to stay, how to get there, what to do, when to go, etc. etc. Some of my favorite travel bloggers (I envy them.. I admire them :) ) have posts about Malapascua too like Lakwatsero --> Malapascua by Lakwatsero

Be sure to plan your trip well, or if you do not have a plan (like us), make sure to stay longer. It's worth it.

Itchy Feet || Chilling in Cebu

2010-08-23T13:55:00.143+08:00

The hubby & I, plus two of our friends, flew to Cebu without any itinerary.
I've been to Cebu several times, this trip was one of those - "let's not plan anything" trips.

"San tayo pupunta?" (Where the heck are we going?)
"Bahala na si Batman!"
"kakain na naman tayo?" (We're having breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, snacks AGAIN??? :-P )
"Saan tayo kakain?" (Where do you want to have breakfast? lunch? dinner? snacks? :-P )
formed most of our discussions / debates.

[Touchdown Mactan International Airport - and I apologize for posting this, but it's just too funny not to post Mr. ButtCrack Man at the conveyor belt.]

So our first day (or rather night... because we took a late night flight) was spent catching up with the "locals" aka our work friends who re-loc'd to Cebu.

From the airport... first stop, IT Park at Lahug, backpacks and all.

We had a late late dinner at Abuhan Tres at the i2 Bldg. with Lindsay and her boy. Hmm. No pic.
Next stop, Coffee Cat at e-Bloc, a few blocks away from Abuhan Tres to visit friends who were working the night shift.

Original Yo Go for me, Hot White Chocolate Mocha for Dennis


Nice printouts on their to-go containers.


Ganito pala pag late night ang flight. Chilling at IT Park at Lahug.

Ubos!

We had absolutely no idea where we'd be spending the night yet. Went around the city, visited a few pensions & inns... ended up at Sugbutel. Not a bad idea :) Thank you Manong Taxi Driver for the recommendation!

At Php 250 / person / night / bed, it wasn't a bad deal. Especially for travelers/transients like us. We arrived around 4 or 430am that day/night (whatever!) and paying > Php1000 to sleep for a few hours and shower was unfathomable.

If we had known about Sugbutel earlier, we could've gotten the Php 99 / bed deal. The Philippines lacks these budget friendly hostels (and by budget friendly I mean the non-sleazy non-red-light-district kinds of places. I know you know what I mean :-P. Most countries around the world & in SE Asia have a lot. I know our hotel / resort rates are pretty easy on the budget, but it's still a different experience for travelers to mingle with other travelers / backpackers in a non-sleazy environment.

When we stayed there, it was Php 200 / bed exclusive of linens (add Php 50 for linens & a towel) for the Business Class room. The Business Class area / room had about 20 or so double deck bunks with curtains, similar to the bunks on a cruise ship.

The hubby at the bunk above mine.

Business Class

I had my own night light, a 'safety box' right below my bed mattress (kept my camera bag, wallet, and other valuables there). The bunk had a shoe ledge, and an outlet so that I can charge my gadgets. They had wifi too! :) (A great deal... mental note for future Cebu trips... But no, my phone then was still toooo old-fashioned LOL)

My bed for the night

I did not get to take a pic of the common bath, but it was clean, it had separate cubicles & shower rooms. And I, for one, am very particular about bathrooms. I can sleep anywhere. I just need a nice, clean bathroom.

Sugbutel apparently was located near the Reclamation Area and the Port and near SM City. It's clean, affordable, and modern. Thumbs up!

We left Sugbutel around 10am the next day, refreshed even after only a few hours sleep. For lunch (see common conversation above)... we decided to head to SM City, which was so near Sugbutel. Dennis had his Sodexho thingie, which we could use at the supermarket :)

We discovered the SM Travelers' Lounge, had our caffeine fix at Coffee Dream right beside the reception area, and made "uzi" their amenities. For travelers like us, we highly highly appreciate the amenities! The group and I were even discussing... Baket walang ganito sa Manila? Baket hindi na lang Cebu ang capital ng Philippines? LOL.

My usual Latte.

The SM Travelers' Lounge is a one-stop shop perfect for backpackers, transients, and tourists. They have baggage storage (very important for Go-Lite travelers like us! Php 30 for half compartment, Php 50 for. the whole compartment - which fits all 4 of our packs! At 50 bucks!), shower rooms (at Php 50/20 min shower with hot water!), ferry ticket sales, flight and bus trip information, hotel booking and reservation, battery charging stations (cellphone battery charging is P25 / hour; Laptop, PS2, I-pod and other gadgets - Php 50 / hour), pay phones, electronic loading services, and since it's SM, free wi-fi. The manong guard even helps you hail a taxi to get you to your next destination.

Before we embarked on our Malapascua adventure (yes, we finally decided after so many discussions... to just do Malapascua on this trip, and scrap Moalboal & Camotes), we had a quick lunch at the supermarket area, and of course dessert after.


Lunch c/o SM Supermarket - the rotisserie chicken :-P

Gelatissimo at SM! :-9

So many choices... so little space... (in my tummy that is)

We saw a few kids practicing for Linggo ng Wika

The North Bus Terminal is just a few blocks away from SM, and we wanted to be nice and full before the 4-5 hour trip.

More about our Malapascua adventure here :)

Lakbay Norte || Palaui & Cape Engaño

2010-06-18T13:53:00.003+08:00

Lakbay Norte || Sta. Ana & Anguib

2010-06-16T13:52:00.002+08:00

Lakbay Norte || Cagayan Valley - Callao Caves, and the other caves at Penablanca

2010-06-15T13:51:00.005+08:00

Lakbay Norte || Cagayan Valley - Tuguegarao, Piat

2010-06-15T13:48:00.003+08:00

06/11-06/15/10

Lakbay Norte || Cagayan Valley - Pinacanauan, Mororan, and the circadian flight of bats

2010-06-13T09:00:00.003+08:00