Pinay Travel Junkie

How To Apply For A Turkey Tourist Visa In The Philippines

2013-05-20T14:09:00.000+08:00

Türkiye, why only fifteen days? Whyyy (Looks at the sky with fists up in the air)?!

... Snaps back to reality.

Merhaba!

Just flew in Istanbul today from Singapore, with a three-hour layover in Abu Dhabi International Airport. Though sleep-deprived, my heart's racing. A couple of hours into our Turkey trip, I've already fallen in love — we haven't even seen any of the sights yet! And oh, a lot of Turkish people have fallen in love with Luna too.

I tell you, I have to be dragged out of this bewitching country when my visa expires. Seriously? Fifteen days? We were thinking three months to see everything on our list.

We took it obviously. I dreamed of Turkey far too long. As for the hubby, he's simply ecstatic to be back.

Are you (my fellow Filipino) planning to visit someday too? This post could be of help. They do not accept inquiries on the phone. I paid them a visit just to inquire about the requirements and I had to pay for the shuttle service!

Requirements for Turkey Tourist Visa Application and Business Visa Application

1. Completed application form. Form is provided at the embassy.
2. Passport-size photo. To be attached on the form.
3. Passport and photocopy of the first two pages.
4. Certificate of Employment. The applicant's job title, work record and monthly/annual income must be indicated.
5. Latest Individual Income Tax Return
6. Company's latest Income Tax Return if travel is business related.
7. For business owners - Company Business Registration such as SEC and DTI
8. Original Bank Deposit Certificate addressed to the embassy. No specified amount, but some travel agency officers I spoke with in the embassy suggest P100,000+.
9. If invited by government or private sector and international companies or institutions holding office in Turkey - Original invitation letter adressed to the embassy. If invited by a Turkish national - Original invitation letter must be notarized in Turkey, affidavit of support and pertinent credentials of the invitee together with the Turkish IDs and other supporting documents.
10. Confirmed hotel accommodation booking.
11. Round-trip airline ticket.

Application day:

Unfortunately, the embassy resides in Dasmariñas Village, which means you have to pay P150 for a round-trip shuttle ride. Take note, as a non-resident you're not allowed to walk to the embassy from the gate nor from the embassy to the gate, no matter how close the distance is. But some travel agency officers do it anyways because the shuttle (there's only one) comes by every 20-30 minutes. If you're coming in by private car/taxi, the guard at the gate most probably will tell you to take the shuttle also. The embassy's address:

Embassy Of The Republic Of Turkey
2268 Paraiso Street, Dasmariñas Village
Makati City

How to get to Turkey Embassy: By public transport, simply take the MRT and alight at Magallanes MRT Station.

When you get to the entrance (gate beside Ecology Village), do not forget to write your name on the logbook. If you can't find it, ask the guard. The driver may not let you board if you don't. He sometimes uses this as basis on who to serve first.

Payment of shuttle service is done at the village office. The driver takes you there first, before bringing you to the embassy.

Bags are checked in at the embassy's guard post. Mobile phones must be left there too. You can only get in the office with your documents.

You'll be asked to write your name on a logbook inside the office. The guard will then give you your application form and number.

Wait can take up to three hours. Dedicate your whole day for the application. Do not come with an empty stomach (the embassy guards discreetly sell biscuits and cup noodles at their post, ask if they have some if you're about to pass out from hunger).

Original documents and their photocopies are presented/submitted to the secretary. Incomplete documents arel not be accepted. If satisfied with the documents, secretary will ask for the P2,500 single entry tourist visa fee and will give you a claim stub with the date of visa release. Also, ask if you can take the original documents with you (except passport and bank certificate) after the secretary has seen it, because they might not remember to give you back come visa release.

How long is the processing time for a Turkey visa? Within ten working days from the receipt of the application.

IMPORTANT
- All invitation letters will be submitted by the applicant and should be faxed to the embassy prior to application.
- Guards will let you in from 9:30 AM to 12:00 noon. Embassy will serve everyone who came within such time window until afternoon.
- Embassy is open from Monday to Friday except Wednesday.

Visa Release Day:

Pay another P150 for the shuttle service. Register at the embassy guard. Oddly, you may give the secretary your claim stub at anytime, so long as she's not speaking with another applicant. In my case, I handed it to a guy who came downstairs (office has two floors) to release passports to travel agency officers.

He gave my passport within a minute, but I still waited for more than an hour prior because there was no staff in sight on the ground floor except the guard.

If you have work on weekdays, you may seek the help of a travel agency for your application. I initially planned on doing so because I don't have a COE. I decided to apply myself when the travel agency "boss" appeared hesitant about my application just because my onward flight goes to the country Georgia, which she does not know of!

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Ideas For Casino Vacations

2013-05-16T09:03:00.000+08:00

[By Brian Jensen]

The development of online casinos has led to casino games becoming more popular than ever – and reaching a wider customer base. However if you enjoy playing these games then you may want to use a vacation abroad as an opportunity to visit some of the great casinos that are available around the world, and when most people think of casino vacation destinations, the first place that will spring to mind will be Las Vegas.

The resort in Nevada was built with this purpose in mind and time has done nothing to diminish its status as the number one port of call for casino vacations. In particular the Strip, which is the entertainment centre of Las Vegas, has an abundance of casinos – and throughout the resort you will find the likes of the Caesars Palace and Bellagio casinos – which are the last word in opulence and luxury. However, although Las Vegas has a reputation as the number one gambling holiday destination in the world, it is certainly not the only option available.

Indeed just within America itself, Reno offers almost as many opportunities for casino as Vegas does, but there are also plenty of options outside of the States. Of course another perennially popular destination for those looking to play casino games while on holiday is Monte Carlo in Monaco, which arguably offers a kind of high rent glamour that even Vegas cannot compete with.

Granted you may find that some of the casinos in Monte Carlo cater more to the high roller gambler, than the holidaymaker with a part-time passion for casino games, but the sheer number of casinos available in the resort means you should find somewhere within your budget.

Mambukal Resort, Murcia, Negros Occidental: Two Months And Seven Falls On The Way

2013-05-12T23:15:00.000+08:00

Mother's Day, and it feels good to be unexpectedly "home".

While we celebrate the family's rare togetherness over a more-than-the-ordinary lunch, I am reminded of my early expectant months three years ago and the adventures my hubby and I purposely got into — to take my mind of our unplanned pregnancy.

Back then we were light years away from being prepared, financially and emotionally.

Definitely not a walk in the park for a preggy hiker. First waterfalls.

As if in protest against the universe's scheme, instead of spending our savings renting an apartment during my first trimester, we voyaged to the Visayas region of the Philippines for our last backpacking hurrah of the year (And in case you're wondering, we camped at my granma's house when we got back). The eleven-day trip witnessed us catching up with friends, weaving through urban jungles, marveling on historical structures, riding a motorcycle on rough roads, strolling along blinding white sands, and hiking semi-unforgiving trails. Morning sickness and heaps of hissy fits in between.

Hubby was ecstatic to see all these bats at the beginning of our trek.

Out of all the intense activities we got caught in, our Mambukal Resort hike takes the Most Awesome Award. Or the Most Maniacal, depending on your outlook in life. Why so? Two words: Seven Waterfalls. You're probably shaking your head and/or rolling your eyes (I know my mom will if I tell her about this.) thinking, "You can't possibly have done that". Or, "Meh!". Again, depending on your outlook on life.

I did trek all the way to the seventh. Proudly, without falling like a log.

Towards the sixth.

The jeep-plus-bus ride from Bacolod City to the resort didn't cause much pain in the preggy backpacker's arse. Okay, just a little discomfort in the bladder. But you see, that's the easy-breezy part. The anguish only began soon as we set off for the actual hike.

"Are we there yet?", a question asked every minute.

Parts of the trail were, hopefully still are, sheltered by trees. I called for respite ~~a little too much~~ every so often in the shadows, which our guide granted without protest even if it meant possibly missing out on more guiding gigs later in the afternoon. He knew I was two months on the way.

None of the falls in Mambukal are as mighty as Negros Oriental's Casaroro Falls, which we visited days prior, but they're still worth the half day. Seven Waterfalls may sound and look intimidating, but they actually aren't. The trek to each one doesn't require special climbing skills. Just patience. And that, I have a lot of even when I was pregnant.

He just couldn't resist.

But even with all these words of assurance and encouragement, I know that not a lot of pregnant women will take such risk (Which is a wise move.). You know, I wasn't just feeling rebellious that time, but I'd like to see how far I can go as an expectant mother. Because what I did, using "ordinary" public transport and trekking relatively long distances, are nothing out of the ordinary for so many expectant moms in both big cities and quaint towns. I thought, if I conditioned myself not to be too picky/lazy/whiny in the early stage of my pregnancy, the following months will be much easier.

And you know what? It worked.

Happy Mother's Day, my fellow mums! It may be a man's world, but it would be nothing without a woman.

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Bagan Bound: A New Dimension Of Crazy

2013-05-09T20:25:00.000+08:00

How I managed to keep my jaded brain somehow alert those twenty-nine hours is beyond me... What challenged my mortal body and wit: a couple of sleepless flights (wee hours layover in between), a quickie Yangon city tour, and a looong van ride to Bagan with a two year old sans the hubby. Sure I was in the company of Luna-loving, travel bloggers-turned-friends, but there's nothing like having your partner around to demand help from.

Luna asked "Bubba?" only once during our trip. In between the lines of her plea for milk.

March this year, after a bit of prodding from fellow Filipino travel bloggers, I decided to join them in a seven-day Myanmar backpacking trip. Because internet in the country's notoriously known for being hair-pulling slow, I had to leave to the world wide web-dependent hubby in the Philippines. And because I can be quite annoying when I'm distant from my daughter (I have the tendency/skill to insert "I miss Luna" in every sentence I deliver!), I brought her with me.

It's our longest and craziest journey without her bubba, thus far.

Dong of EscapeIslands.com babysitting Luna, who spread her flash cards in front of the boarding gate counter at NAIA Terminal 2.

As foretold, Luna began serving as a human gym equipment (what Ron of FlipTravels.com calls her) for Dong who chased her around NAIA Terminal 2 even before our motley crew checked in. Dong also babysat her at the boarding gate. Aboard the Kuala Lumpur bound flight though, when he was able to sit peacefully with the others away from us, Luna started bugging "Monster Marky" of NomadicExperiences.com who was seated by the aisle beside me.

Window seat is Luna's seat.

Luna dozed off halfway into the flight after watching cartoons on her laptop. May seem awesome since I had some down time the rest of the plane ride, but you see, she slept through the whole hoopla of our arrival at Kuala Lumpur's Low Cost Carrier Terminal. Which meant me walking through the valley of the shadow of the brain-dead (that is the lengthy covered walkway to the terminal building where sleep-deprived travelers trudge on) with a sixteen-kilo baby doll in my arms. Thanks to Monster Marky's help, I didn't have to pull Luna's Hello Kitty carry-on stroller while doing so.

Marky's pretty cute with a Hello Kitty bag, he should travel more often with it.

Luna sleeping on a bench in Kuala Lumpur's LCCT's Taste Of Asia branch.

We exited the arrivals hall around midnight and met up with Ron who flew from Singapore and Robbie of TheTravelingDork.com who was then on a month-long backpacking trip. Our group grew to a whopping number of nine. At Taste Of Asia, we saw passengers slumbering on chairs. The restaurant staff, who were probably too sluggish themselves, did not make any effort to shoo them away so that's where we camped until our early morn check in for the Yangon-bound flight.

It's fortunate that I found a spot where Luna could lay on. It's unfortunate however, that I had to stay awake to make sure she doesn't roll off it.

"Lost in the Temple of Dum", Ron captioned this photo he took. Luna calls Dong, Dum.

Apart from seeing Luna's saddest face (ever) under the care of Marky and helping Robbie come up with cash to buy a pristine US$100 note (cause old ones are not accepted in Myanmar), everything else that transpired after checking in our second flight until our landing in Yangon is a blur to me. I believe I switched on autopilot mode the minute we stepped in the surprisingly modern Yangon International Airport.

Kaba Aye Pagoda, the first of many unplanned destinations. Photo by one of our travel mates Jerome of Balintataw.org

Hiring a van to take us all the way to Bagan was a unanimous decision — after some intense budget estimating. The "package" not only included a ride to the ancient city but also a short day trip around Yangon, plotted by a knowledgeable ~~dictator~~ guide we fondly called (behind his back) Moe Hitler. I was ecstatic that everyone agreed to this, because at that point, I knew I could easily pass out any second.

Luna loves walking barefoot. At the time Ron took this photo at Kaba Aye Pagoda however, our guide was carrying Luna around.

Pushy he may be but our guide Moe voluntarily acted as Luna's nanny during our Kaba Aye Pagoda visit, during lunch, and during shopping . Ain't that a kind gesture? Or maybe he just didn't want her to slow down the pace of our ~~military march~~ tour? Whatever. At least I was given a few occasions to catch my breath, and to fully enjoy the company of my pals.

Out of the countless dishes served, she chose to have saluyot (jute) soup for lunch.

The whole gang with Moe. From left: Dong, Monette, Ron, Moe, Me, Melo (Luna behind him), Jerome, Marky and Robbie.

Day one, I must say, went quite well even if it left me majorly bushed. Our plan of sleeping aboard the van (though I napped a bit on the van's floor for Luna took over my seat) to save on accommodation didn't happen because we reached New Bagan at one in the morning. Moe arranged the booking for us and we were more than thrilled to bunk in an airconditioned room.

Bagan Central Hotel marked the end of my twenty-nine-hour agony.

As early as the first day, I already learned my lesson: Backpacking with a two year-old at such pace without hubby is a kind of crazy I won't dive into again.

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Puebla City, Puebla, Mexico: All Things Beautiful

2013-05-05T00:37:00.000+08:00

Puebla had me at hello. Oh how I cursed countless times the first hour of our meeting. And the next... And the next.

Have you felt the same way with some place depressingly beautiful?

Been a long time coming. But it seems today is the day that I speak of a ciudad that I hold dear in my heart. Today because it's Cinco De Mayo (fifth of May). A patriotic holiday that commemorates the implausible victory of the badass Mexican army over French troops at the Batalla de Puebla (Battle Of Puebla) on May 5, 1862. In the United States, it's a shindig wherein Mexicans celebrate their ancestry and culture.

Templo de San Francisco. Puebla's rich with stunning churches.

It was day 183 of our 2011-2012 round-the-world trip that I fell hard for the city. I remember stepping out of the deserted Hostal Santo Domingo and into boots-clad foot traffic. The Christmas buzz was heady, and its rush resembled that of the Philippines'. It left a slight pang of homesickness.

My longing, however, dissipated faster than you can say Cuetlaxcoapan (area where the city was founded in the 16th century) the more we inched through the tiled streets. Truth is, we didn't want to be anywhere else. The hubby and I soaked in the merry atmosphere. I know our toddler Luna did too.

Cafes and restos surround the Zócalo.

Everywhere I laid my eyes on, there was some kind of visual treat. A flower-printed poncho. A ruby red poinsettia. A huge bunch of character balloons. A stranger's infectious smile. Multicolored walls. Oh those buildings I ran out of adjectives for!

So I resulted to cursing.

The historic center of Puebla is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And that says a whole darn lot about its colonial mansions, old monasteries and churches. When I think of the city, I remember how all things are beautiful. Let me count some of the ways.

Museo Amparo

As with most sightseeing itineraries I constructed, our start line in Puebla was a museum. Museo Amparo is housed in two linked colonial-era buildings, which were formerly called Hospitalario for the obvious reason that they once served as a hospital.

Banderitas at Museo Amparo's courtyard. It has an impressive collection of pre-Hispanic and colonial Mexico artifacts. Could be underwhelming though if one has already visited Mexico City's National Museum Of Anthropology. My fave exhibit's a timeline of civilizations from different continents.

Free admission on Mondays.

Now that's an awesome timeline!

Puebla Cathedral

This Roman Catholic cathedral's black limestone surface is in stark contrast to that of the nearby buildings' brightly painted facades. The cathedral's construction began in 1575, completed in 1690, and is currently looking well-preserved.

Puebla Cathedral dedicated to Immaculate Concepcion. No words, people. No words. Lackluster it may appear on the outside, but its interiors can surely cause even the hardest to please jaw drop.

Teatro Principal de Puebla

One of the oldest theaters in Mexico, and is the oldest still in use as a theater.
Avenida Cinco De Mayo

Boutique shops got way more character than stalls in a colossal department store.

Holy Mole!

In a restaurant named Fonda De Sta. Clara, we had a dish of chicken mole poblano that made us weak in the knees. And let me tell you, we gobbled quite a lot of different moles (sauces).

Chili and chocolate, a match made in heaven.

Las Ranas.

Also in Puebla, the hubby found his fave restaurant in Mexico. Budget-friendly Las Ranas, whose divine al pastor's to die for, is considered a local institution. I wanna cry just thinking about their tacos and the whole shebang on the resto's menu.

Oh those buildings I ran out of adjectives for!

I know, I already mentioned that.

The city is also famous for its colonial buildings embellished with azulejos (ceramic tiles).

So after all that's been said and shown, I reckon you could easily fathom why Puebla is one of my favorite cities in the world. Because seriously, I got nothing more to utter but profanity.

Round-The-World Trip 2011-2012, Ola Mexico:

Teotihuacan, Mexico: Where Gods Were Born... And Where We Lost Our Pram
Morisco Kiosk And Museo Del Instituto De Geologia De La UNAM
Photo Essay: National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
Metropolitan Cathedral Of The Assumption of Mary, Ciudad De Mexico
Jade Guesthouse, Mexico City
Prospero Ano Nuevo
Feliz Navidad
Ola Mexico

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Filipinos On Long-Term Backpacking: The Great Depression (Part 2)

2013-05-02T09:50:00.000+08:00

"Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was." - Jodi Picoult

In case you missed the traveler memorandum, this is to remind you that the journey ain't all party buckets and postcard-worthy photos.

Homesickness, being broke, and excruciating land transfers. Inflictions all too familiar to us long-term backpackers. Four Filipino travel bloggers will let you in past heartaches today just like Paul, Bino and Flip did in Part 1 of this post.

Here are their stories.

The lowdown (edited photo from BackpackMojo.com).

Aleah Taboclaon of Solitary Wanderer

Diagnosis: "I usually travel alone, anytime from a week to 3 months at a time. One thing I noticed about my extended solo travels is that there will be times when I will feel lonely and homesick, when I crave for something dear and familiar that would remind me of home. I experienced this a few times when I did my longest trip—my solo backpacking trip to Europe for almost 3 months."

"Whenever I felt like that, I did what I usually do: I connect with others."

Treatment: "Whenever I felt like that, I did what I usually do: I connect with others. I find people to meet up with, or I go to places where I’m sure I will see some Filipinos. I don’t even have to talk to them; just hearing them talk in our language is already enough to assuage my loneliness."

Lois Yasay of Sole Sisters

Diagnosis: "India was my trial by fire as a starting point for a 6 month backpacking trip across Asia. My partner and I had decided to go around India from North in New Delhi to South in Tiruchirappalli- by overland travel in 30 days! Halfway through the trip, we had to cross from Jodhpur to Goa in an excruciating 3 day nonstop overland journey by bus and trains. I was not prepared for the fatigue and over exertion that followed. Imagine traveling for 3 days straight without stopping for a hotel or a decent shower. We had to take naps on the floors of bus stations or inside cramped sleeper trains. And I don't need to discuss personal hygiene at this point."

"I can hack through this. I've been through India after all."

Treatment: Seawater. "After that, I was never happier to reach the beaches of Goa to take a dip. Whenever I encounter challenges while traveling, I always tell myself: 'I can hack through this. I've been through India after all.'..."

Edcel Suyo of Solo Flight Ed

Diagnosis: Lowest point was "... When I wondered where I was going to get money in the next couple of months. In my long-term travel adventure, I relied on freelance work online to fund my expenses. But I went short on budget."

" Everything just came to place..."

Treatment: "When I found short-term work as a waiter in a resort in Terengganu, Malaysia (blog article here: http://soloflighted.com/how-i-lived-in-a-five-star-resort-for-two-months/). Everything just came to place since I didn't have any itinerary during my stay in that country and I also wanted physical work in exchange for food and accommodation to sustain the travelling lifestyle. I realized that I didn't have to focus solely on online gigs as I had other avenues to earn extra income and extend the backpacking."

Doi Damasian of The Travelling Feet

Diagnosis: "When I decided to go backpacking last February 2012, I was confident that I could do it because I was travelling with friends. I travel on a budget you see. Having a travel buddy whom I can split most of my travel expenses with gave me the reassurance that I could afford to travel away from home on a shoestring budget for a longer period of time. However, unforeseen events almost ruined my backpacking plans.

My travel buddy and I decided to move up north to Laos after living in Siem Reap for almost 2 months. But because of some personal issues, my companion had to fly to Singapore leaving me behind. I did not know what I was supposed to do nor where I'm supposed to go. I was running out of funds and having no one to share the travel expenses with spelled disaster to my depleting money. Homesickness crept in. I got depressed but I knew I had to snap out of it."

"I know I should not rely on other people forever in chasing my dream to see the world."

Treatment: "I know I should not rely on other people forever in chasing my dream to see the world. So instead of packing by bags and booking a flight back home, I decided to book a bus ticket to Chiang Mai. I found it more practical and economical than heading up to Laos. That decision opened my eyes to meaningful realizations. It dawned on me that my passion for travelling is strong enough to stop anyone or anything from interfering with my dream to travel. Even though I ended up travelling solo, which I was never prepared for, I will never regret making that rewarding decision."

Wrapping this series with a moving story of healing. Stay tuned for Part 3.

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Case Of The Missing Mermaid Ariel Carry On

2013-04-28T11:39:00.000+08:00

Pandemonium around the belt. It was quite unsettling. And there's only one in Dili's teensy Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport. My daughter Luna and I stood in confusion while the hubby fought his way through the ferocious crowd to fish out our luggage. Everyone seemed to be in a rush even though there was no scheduled bus or train to catch. Prolly East Timorese who have been away far too long?

Luna's first ever stroller bag.

Grabbing the luggage was only half the battle. Falling in line for the customs X-ray machine upon exit turned out to be a push and shove business. Hubby let us hang out in the sidelines while we waited for his turn. When he was about to toss our bags into the machine, Luna sprinted out of the arrivals hall.

I frantically chased after her, leaving the hubby to single-handedly deal with our belongings.

The airport's lone belt. Luna drops a hard-to-get act on an airport ground staff.

Outside the arrival hall, Luna got caught up in a blockade of local kids. It was as if a celebrity just got busted for sneaking out a building and is being attacked by fans. Except, her fans curiously touched her tresses and sweaty skin. I allowed her to bathe in the attention as I scanned the bevy of cab drivers for a piece of paper with the hubby's name on it.

It didn't take long for me to find Abilio, the driver sent by our homestay host. I waved at his direction, and he responded with the slightest of nods. He didn't budge. I tugged Luna away from the mob and warily approached him as the other drivers demanded to have a look at his handwritten welcome sign. They were wondering, perhaps, why he was chosen.

Abilio and Luna hit it off right away!

Hubby appeared muddled when he finally emerged through the exit with a cart full of our luggage. We followed Abilio, who managed to carry Luna all the way to his cab with no single grunt of protest from her. The tot, we believe, has a third eye for finding souls that are fond of kids. If she likes someone, we like that someone without askance. And trusting Luna's gut has not failed us so far.

After piling our stuff in the trunk, we climbed in what felt like a conventional oven. The heat was more sweltering in this city than in Bali where we flew from. Our breaths were laborious throughout the ride which fortunately lasted less than fifteen minutes.

Lovely Dili home.
Meg, a volunteer for Academy of Swimming Education East Timor, was waiting for us by the gate of her rented bungalow. She replied to the hubby's online forum inquiry about cheap places to stay in Dili and offered hers. And that's how we found our home for nine days.

We were led to our spacious room at once. The air-conditioning was simply divine! We slumped into the mattress and laid still for what seemed like eternity... Until Meg knocked on our door and invited us for a dinner at the esplanade.

Stroller still with us while we were filling out our visa on arrival form.

I realized that we were missing Luna's carry on bag when I was about to change her nappy. We immediately backtracked the day's events. It boarded the flight fo sho. And as evidenced by the snapshot above, we didn't leave it in the overhead bin.

So where could it be?

Our assumption: It was left on the X-ray machine's belt. This theory we failed to prove with facts because we didn't feel like traveling back to the airport just to look for it. Luckily, I didn't stash any valuables (which I sometimes do) in the bag. So we let it go with a tinge of heartbreak because it's Luna's first ever stroller bag. I hope the new owner loves it more than Luna did (she doesn't know who Ariel is) and that they were able to put its contents into good use.

And with that, case sort of closed.

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That Psychedelic Village Named Nimbin

2013-04-20T13:08:00.000+08:00

Duuude, it's 420! We ain't celebrating with a slice of space cake though. No Puff, The Magic Dragon either. To commemorate this uhm, counterculture holiday, let's do a different kind of "trip", shall we?

A psychedelic visual trip.

The talk of spliff takes me down two travel memory alleys. That of Amsterdam's (where possession of cannabis is legal) and that of Nimbin's... Nim-what? Precisely why I chose to feature the latter today. I shall save my story about "dining" in a Dutch brown cafe for another 420.

Nimbin Museum. Groovy! Nimbin Hemp Embassy. Since 1992.
Possession of cannabis in the state of New South Wales, Australia is a criminal offense. But northeast of this state, in a village named Nimbin, locals have a high tolerance for its trade and usage. And it is for this reason, alongside permaculture, that peregrine hippies flock in busloads 'til this very day.

Titled: The Last Session Kaleidoscope of tins.
Postcard with a photo of the annual MardiGrass Festival. The highlight of this festive weekend is the Cannabis Reform Protest and Parade.

The once-sleepy village that lived off dairy farming morphed into a vibrant town in 1973 when the Aquarius Festival, a huge experimental shindig attended by uni students and alternative people, was held here. A small population of which stayed behind. And the rest, as they say it, is history.

The hunt for hemp soap. Shops that line the main street. On day 122 of our 2011-2012 round-the-world trip, my hobo family did a pilgrimage to Nimbin. It is the real deal. No poser hippies like me around. Just spiritual beings who live in isolation or in communes, and live off the land and/or tourism.

Nimbin remains to be one of my fave places on Earth.

"Chip hemp not forests." Run free, my wild child.
For vintage vultures. Oh those pretty sidewalks!

May the entire universe conspire to help us relocate somewhere nearby this village someday.

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Filipinos On Long-Term Backpacking: The Great Depression (Part 1)

2013-04-18T10:59:00.000+08:00

We came. We saw. We conquered.

Conquered our fears. Conquered our doubts. Conquered financial hurdles. We quit our jobs, booked those irresistible seats on sale, traveled on a shoestring for months and finally saw the world beyond glossy magazine pages. Beyond Facebook timelines. We ignored all that bull people said about us, especially the one that goes: "Oh that's career suicide!". And oh, in my case, "She's a selfish mum!". Against all odds, we trusted our guts and — cliché ahead — chased our dreams.

La vida no es un camino de rosas. Same is true for our so-called grand vacations. We knew it won't be a path of roses. Aside from the constant fight for that one-dollar discount, we battle that sneaky feeling called homesickness. Then there's also heartbreak and believe it or not, jadedness.

The lowdown (edited photo from WeKnowMemes.com).

There's grief that lies beneath some of our snapshots, even though they seem to evoke joy. And we don't shed all our tears for the whole world wide web to witness because our domain is a only a fraction of our refuge.

Or sometimes, we just try to see the good in everything.

I keep saying "we" because a handful of fellow long-term Filipino backpackers are peeling themselves before you to expose their lowest points while traveling overseas. Because we travel junkies don't just snap at withdrawal, we also go nuts while at it.

Here are our travel wounds. Healed but not totally forgotten.

Paul Xymon Garcia of Walk Fly Pinoy

Diagnosis: "All it took was a lousy hostel experience in Hue in Central Vietnam, yet another long sleeper bus ride to Hanoi in Northern Vietnam, and a stomach needing gastroenteritis meds every 12 hours. It probably did not help that Hanoi was cold, cloudy, and drizzly when I got there. I felt down the next few days. Traveling all the time meant nothing felt new and exciting anymore. I used to relish that feeling. It was gone. So I cancelled my train ticket to Lao Cai, Vietnam's border crossing with China, cancelling the entire China leg of my journey altogether. I was not up for anything at that point, definitely not something as big as a month-long trip to China."

"Traveling all the time meant nothing felt new and exciting anymore."

Treatment: "Thankfully, after a cold yet still enjoyable trip to Halong Bay, a 10-peso mug of Hanoi's local brew Bia Hoi, meeting fellow travelers fascinated with and eager to travel to China again and again, I came to my senses. The next day, I booked a flight to Kunming leaving that same day. That evening, I emerged as the only foreigner from that Vietnam Airlines flight. At the airport, nobody spoke English. To top it all off, it took me more than three hours to get to my hostel as it took me an hour to find an ATM, an hour more to find a phone and call my hostel to ask for their address, and another hour to queue at the taxi rank. I felt like a newbie backpacker again. I'm thinking I made the right call to travel to China."

Bino Caiña of Frameless World

Diagnosis: "My lowest point while travelling long term would be saying goodbye to strangers who became my friends. It’s true that one of the best things about travelling is all the people you meet. I remember the last time I was in Cambodia, I volunteered in a Wat (Buddhist temple) to teach the abandoned kids residing in the Wat. After three weeks of going there everyday, I quit to continue my journey in Asia. The thought of leaving those children was unbearable. On the other side of the story, it would also be more difficult for those children to feel being abandoned again by volunteers that they get attached to."

"The thought of leaving those children was unbearable. On the other side of the story, it would also be more difficult for those children to feel being abandoned again by volunteers that they get attached to."

Treatment: "On the other hand, travelling removes my inhibitions and taught me the importance of letting go. There is simply no time to think about sad moments when you constantly deal with finding new adventures, new place to wander, and experience new things. I also keep in mind that every time I experience loneliness because of saying goodbye, it means that I’m blessed to have met wonderful people and be forever grateful for the small time I had with them. I learned that when we say goodbye, it is simply because we are going towards something new."

Flip Nomad of uhm, Flip Nomad

Diagnosis: "I could remember two instances wherein I felt intense sadness while I was overseas. First one was when I was on my solo backpacking trip in Varanasi and I got news that my grandmother died (last 2009). She's like my second mom and she practically raised and cared for me for the longest time. Despite the fact that I had to cut the trip short and might not be able to return backpacking, I still went home to see her for the last time...

"I learned that sometimes it's ok not to be ok and it's ok to reach out to family and friends for support."

Second lowest point that I can remember happened last October 2011 (my 8th month on the road this trip) and I was really running low on money. My Paypal was *limited*, my blog got hit by Google update and all advertisers that I already closed some deals with cancelled those deals. It was devastating and I really thought it was my last month on the road. I wrote an article about it and got immense support from fellow travel bloggers. I also got a lot of support from firends back home."

Treatment: "From those experiences, I learned to stand up despite of all the trials that were thrown my way. I figured that I need to keep moving on and nothing should deter me from continuing what I have set forth to achieve. Shit happens to anyone and sometimes it happens a lot at the same time. I learned that sometimes it's ok not to be ok and it's ok to reach out to family and friends for support."

Up next... Part 2 reveals broken hearts and growing pains.

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Thanjavur, India: Brihadisvara Temple (Brihadeeswara Temple)

2013-04-10T00:06:00.000+08:00

Under the fiery Tamil sun, hubby and I trampled on Thanjavur's dusty streets. To which direction, we were quite unsure, yet we rambled on. Minutes ago, we just hopped off a bus that traveled from Tiruchirappalli. As I looked up and down what appeared like a major road, the lack of foreign tourists and absence of the infamous Indian gridlock made me wonder, "Is this worth the trip?".

It was February, two years ago. Summer was off to an early start in the state of Tamil Nadu. The pavement beneath our soles was ablaze, each step we took was such chore. Funny how templed out we were when prior that day we had only seen one since we arrived in the country. That's India's hard-to-handle intensity for you.

From a distance, we caught sight of Brihadisvara Temple's fortified walls. That worn out map could be trusted after all. Unlike Madurai's Meenakshi Amman Temple, this one's far from multihued. Its shades mainly played with a palette of browns. A characteristic that made me fall for it.

This temple dedicated to Shiva is one of the Great Living Chola Temples (a collective of Hindu temples in south India) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At about a thousand years old, it's looking mighty preserved. From the structures to some of its frescoes.

Brihadisvara Temple or Brihadeeswara Temple is also known as "Big Temple", named so for an obvious reason. Its complex is so massive that it will prolly take you a couple of hours or more to take everything in. Best appreciated when you visit with a knowledgeable guide to point out all the awesomeness of Dravidian architecture.

Since we came by ourselves, we wandered clueless and aimless. Occasionally tailed a few tour groups with the letter L on our foreheads. Because we lacked objective and purpose, I had random realizations like... My bare feet could amazingly tolerate the sizzling floor. And that the grassy area on the temple grounds is a popular hang out for young Indian couples. Also, for the nth time that trip, I longed to touch our then five month-old Luna who we left in the Philippines.

And well, I spent the rest of the arvo stalking (and sometimes cuddling) cute Indian tots who stray away from their parents. An activity cut short when we decided to see nearby Thanjavur Maratha Palace, which by the way failed to entertain us like Brihadisvara Temple did.

Thank You, India Series:

St. Mary's Cathedral, Madurai, India: That Eve We Lost An iPhone
Madurai, India: Gandhi Museum And Its Resident Dinosaur (I Kid You Not!)
Madurai, India: Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Madurai, India: Meenakshi Amman Temple
Aboard India's Modes of Transport
Arrival Turned Fans Day
Thank You, India
How To Apply For An India Tourist Visa In The Philippines

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Ulaanbaatar Walking Tour, Mongolia: The Long And Dusty Road

2013-04-07T15:47:00.000+08:00

To climb, or not to climb? Our brows asked for the sake of asking. Hubby and I were eyeing Zaisan Memorial from the foot of a Sakyamuni image in Buddha Park. The cold has not bitten the lowlands, and we chose to keep our arses out of below-ten-degrees-celsius-harm's way. So our answer was quite predictable.

Besides, where were we to leave the stroller when we climb the three hundred steps?

Three. Hundred. Steps.

At the foot of Zaisan Hill.

A quarter of an hour earlier, we were dropped off here by our Couchsurfing host. Her house sits just a few blocks to the north, yet she gave us a lift anyway. It was autumn last year and our second day in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital that's as nomadic as its people (Read that it changed its location more than twenty times!). The balmy weather that we crossed our fingers for blanketed the city that morn. We were off to a promising start.

A Sakyamuni image at the heart of Buddha Park.

Buddha Park is more park than Buddha, if you know what I mean. The relatively new, standing Sakyamuni image statue is a pop of bling amidst the greens and blues. And well, it's the only Buddha you'll find in the park. Travelers who stray this way are probably more keen on visiting nearby Zaisan Memorial, a memorial that commemorates soldiers killed in World War II. This attraction atop a hill, although will most likely cause pain in anyone's already freezing arse, rewards its guests with a panoramic view of Ulaanbaatar.

Thank you, one year and eleven-month-old Luna, for giving us a lame excuse to skip it.

A city that visibly grows every summer.

As our map indicated, we only had to follow Zaisan Road forever to get to our next destination. Little did we know that forever meant four kilometers (Suddenly three hundred steps seemed easy, breezy!). Zaisan Road is a major road in Ulaanbaatar. And like many other major roads in this city, some parts are either peppered with potholes or not paved at all.

Soviet-looking Sukhbaatar Square.

Luna's stroller, which our host lent us, gave off-roading a go for the first time. No thanks to the lack of pedestrian side and cross walks. But even with all the bumps and sharp turns and dust that made breathing a chore (The city has a high level of air pollution.), our still-jetlagged tiny traveler was rocked to sleep. This made it easier for us to dodge vehicles here and there. They say Mongolians drive cars like they ride horses. We proved this correct during our four-kilometer walk. Road rules, if they even exist in the country, are never followed.

Damdin Sükhbaatar in the middle of Sukhbataar Square.

Ulaanbaatar's skyline was dominated by cranes. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration. But yeah, construction was literally everywhere. It reminded me of Dubai and its ever-changing landscape. According to our host, laborers work long hours from spring to summer or fall, simply because they can't possibly accomplish a construction project when it's −20 °C outside.

Seated statue of Genghis (Chinggis) Khan, Mongolian Parliment building's facade.

We reached Sukhbaatar Square an hour later, unscathed though a bit shook up. This central square named after a pivotal figure in the 1921 revolution has witnessed various parades and massive demonstrations. On normal days, it's a bustling public place where Mongolian teens donned in the latest Korean fashion mingle and where 'rents take their kids on bikes. If ~~procrastinating~~ people-watching is your thing, this is the place to be.

State Ballet and Opera House, east of Sukhbataar Square.

Northwest from the square is the National Museum of Mongolia, the end point of our walking tour. Well, sort of, since there's another three-kilometer stroll back to our host's house. The museum fed us an introduction to Mongolia's history and culture that gave our sluggish pace the push it badly needed. We left the building hungrier for a Gobi Desert adventure. And hungry for a khuushuur snack.

National Museum of Mongolia.
Our long and dusty walk home was serenaded by a band of youngsters with the song Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen. True story.

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2013 Thus Far: The First Quarter

2013-04-03T16:46:00.000+08:00

Three months down, many more moons to go.

2013's first quarter was a mixed bag of family huddles, waiting games, bittersweet reveries and whirlwind peregrinations. And oh, tons of toddler sobs. We stepped foot on six countries with a so-called scheme that's jotted on sand. Its course we paved as we went, depending on our temperament and the pennies in our pockets.

The first quarter of the year we planned to settle down was intense, to say the least.

Ban Tajok Hmong Village, Xieng Khouang Province, Laos.
Here's the year thus far in chronological order... I think. May contain random shiznit.

Two days into 2013, we hired a car for only $5 a day in Sydney for our New South Wales-Queensland roadtrip. The catch? It should be delivered to the company's Brisbane Airport branch in five days.

Floorsurfed for two weeks in Queensland. At least the floor's carpeted.

Luna turned on the keyless ignition of a rented Holden Cruz (Thanks, rental company, for the free upgrade.).

The following three weeks (Two weeks of which, the hubby was in U.S. for a business trip.), we shacked in a Brisbane self contained studio on the seventh floor of a building full of frequently inebriated college students. On one of the nights during our stay, I was awoken by a fire alarm and an evacuation announcement.

We were stuck for days in the same studio when ex-tropical cyclone Oswald barreled through southeast Queensland. Luna and I celebrated our first Australia Day indoors.

Attended a gorgeous Sydney wedding held in a 1900s sandstone manor.

Flew back to the Philippines to eat my mom's pinakbet again. Too much of it, actually.

Was invited to a sneak preview of the Philippine Travel Tour Expo 2013. Also attended the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2013 Presscon at The Manila Peninsula.

Had a much needed catch up with mom over vegan food, scraped dead skin, and Androids on mute in the luxurious The Farm At San Benito, Lipa City.

Celebrated hubby's birthday in Thunderbird Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union. The El Mundo Villa is the second most expensive room we booked ever (First placer is a simple double room in Rio De Janeiro during Carnival season.) and its WiFi sucked.

Backpacked with Luna and fellow Pinoy travel bloggers in Myanmar for almost a week. All of us were manhandled by our tour guide in Yangon, which only Luna enjoyed. Ron of Flip Travels is scarred for life.

Did a temple run in Bagan and witnessed one of the most stunning sunsets I've seen in my existence.

Visited Singapore and met up with my sister who I haven't seen in five months. Gorged on char siew and kaya toast like there's no tomorrow, lah!

Finally made it to Laos. Now I've completed all of Southeast Asia's countries!

In a Vientiane hostel room, hubby and I endured two sleepless nights and collected a variety of furious next-door neighbors because we weaned Luna off the bottle.

Also in Vientiane, we saw an orange moon for the first time.

Luna said "I love you" (More like, awabyu.) back for the first time at some Vang Vieng restaurant.

Where we are now...

Currently checked in a dirt cheap hostel in Phonsavan, Xieng Khouang Province, Laos. Yesterday we visited the mysterious Plain Of Jars site and trudged in bomb craters. Day after tomorrow, we head back to Vang Vieng, then Vientiane.

We're flying out sooner than expected because we thwarted our own intents.

The "future" — spanning a mere three months — lies in the hands of a visa application.

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The Bayleaf, Intramuros, Manila: So We Sort Of Celebrated Valentine's Day

2013-03-28T04:32:00.000+08:00

The newish kid on the block humbly stands within Intramuros' old walls. It ain't much of a looker from afar, but we effortlessly spotted it from the bedlam that is Taft Avenue on Valentine's Day 2013 — much thanks to the discernible sign posted on its facade just below the roof deck. Our car cautiously cruised Victoria Street, as we let a barrage of college students and belligerent pedicabs weave through the rush hour traffic.

The Bayleaf Hotel. Newish kid on a very old block.

Entrance to the hotel's basement parking is much less obvious however, for its steep access is on the other side of the block. This we learned when a security guard of the next door building shooed us from our public parking space so as we didn't have to pay the fee. He thumbed to the direction of the driveway. So off to the basement parking my mum and pop went, while the hubby and I and our daughter Luna walked to the lobby.

Bay leaves aglow at the lobby. Bay leaf is more popularly known as laurel in the Philippines, and Laurel is the family name of its owners.

I booked our superior room for two, priced at about $95, through the hotel's website. The check in process wasn't the swiftest we've experienced, and we bought what the front office staff said, "We're just double-checking the room... [insert toothpaste-commercial-worthy smile]". Our wait lasted a little under ten minutes, enough for me to wonder how often is the piano by the staircase played — which consequently led to my opinion that the lobby could use more of them plush chairs for guests to sit on while their rooms are being "double-checked".

The Bayleaf Hotel's superior room. It's blue for Valentine's.

We were asked for a P2,000 (about $50) deposit before we're finally endorsed to the bellhop. Front office also handed us a ticket to present to the basement parking attendant. I gasped as the bellhop let us in this gem of a room, as much as I gasped when I found out about the deposit fee. The white and royal blue mix was pleasing to our eyes. The headboard's pattern is playful yet not too busy, and matches a wall in the spacious bathroom. There's a mini bar plus a coffee and tea making facility. In-room WiFi is awesome, hurrah! The floor space is sufficient to allow maneuverability without letting your knees bump into furniture. I prefer my hotel floor carpeted, but a squeaky clean one will do as well.

Our own slice of the famous, storied walls. Beyond it is the golf course.

Our view from the window was the icing on the cake. We're fortunate to have been assigned such room given the occasion. Take note, there are a few rooms with no view at all. We were unlucky however in booking a table at the Sky Deck View Bar and 9 Spoons Restaurant for dinner that night. Our reservation literally went down the drain... The hubby and I saw his name scribbled on a piece of paper in a drainage on the roof deck the next morning. Our non-romantic Valentine's dinner with the family ended up at nearby McDonald's, to the delight of sundae-craving Luna.

Sky Deck View Bar, open 5:00 PM onwards.
The overnight stay includes a breakfast buffet that's served at the 9 Spoons Restaurant. Continental brekkie lovers may not rave about it, due to the limited choice of breads. I didn't find the spread outstanding myself. Maybe it was just the selection that day? And it's quite disappointing that the coffee took forever to be served. At least the muesli brightened up my morning.

9 Spoons Restaurant at the penthouse.

The breakfast buffet counter.

The Bayleaf Hotel for me is a hit despite its wee misses. It'll do fine without a gym and pool. I hope someday though each room is provided with a simple kit containing information about the hotel's facilities, restaurants and most especially about its surrounding area.

It is after all sitting on a heritage site, which is the hotel's primary draw.

Not-to-be-missed walk on the walls.

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We're not running away, we're running towards adventure!

2013-03-23T11:43:00.000+08:00

"We've only just Bagan.", Ron of Flip'n Travels playfully coined, referring to our whirlwind Myanmar jaunt. For me and my two-year-old daughter Luna, it was indeed a beginning — it was also our longest journey together without the hubby. Myanmar commenced another family backpacking trip with unknown destinations and an unplanned schedule.

Bagan. Where it all began.

Here We Go Again

Our round-the-world trip back in 2011-2012 garnered a bunch of raised eyebrows, mostly from our respective families and random conventional parents. Who in their right minds would travel around the world with a toddler? Well, first and foremost, we're a married couple who are not known for acting with our "right minds". Second, because the countdown to domesticity was pounding in our ears. Time is of the essence, and if we didn't chase our dream then, when will we?

So we followed our gut. And for 280 days, we saw the world from our chosen perspective.

Day by day we unveiled snapshots that depict our experiences, and this made non-believers somehow understand this once-in-a-lifetime journey. But now that we're doing it all over again, skeptics assume that our immature selves are simply running away.

But we're not running away. We're running towards adventure!

Towards spontaneity. Towards more learning. Towards freedom.

Plan B

We actually attempted to design our lives in a more ordinary fashion right after our round-the-world trip concluded. Yah know, I want to have a food processor. I want to tend my own herb garden. And I also want to build a cubby house for Luna. I looked forward to achieving these wants this 2013, the year we thought we're finally settling down.

When 2012 was about to end, however, I found myself restless. And compiling Pinay Travel Junkie's Year-Ender last December aggravated the situation. I knew I was not ready to be chained in one place. I confessed this to the hubby.

He confessed the same. And right then and there, we agreed to hit the road again.

Newborn Challenges

This trip, as mentioned earlier, started in Myanmar where Luna and I joined fellow Filipino travel bloggers. After six exhausting, action/dust-packed days (slash sleepless nights), we reunited with the hubby in Singapore where we visited my sister. Stayed there for two-and-a-half days, long enough to catch up on sleep and gorge on char siew and kaya toast.

Currently, I'm swearing in our dingy Vientiane hostel room because of its patchy in-room WiFi access. I already feel beaten up and a little uninspired, and this work obstacle is certainly driving me nuts. I also lack sleep yet again. Last night, for the first time, we didn't give Luna bottled milk. She's now two years and six months old, and we're making her slowly wean off the bottle. This shall prepare her for potty training. How the heck do we do that while constantly moving around? I don't know yet, but we'll eventually work that out.

Then there's this other uhm, issue, that surely requires a bit of planning. The hubby and I think it's time for a second bub. Luna seems to suggest it every time she steals a toddler from unknowing parents. I am terrified of being pregnant again, but if that's what it takes to have another adorable backpacking buddy, then I'll get my act together.

You Can Run But You Can't Hide

You see, like "normal" folks, we're caught up in the same predicaments. We know there's no escaping them, so instead we deal with things differently. And during such process, we choose to have world heritage sites and national landmarks as our backdrop. That's where our adventure lies. And we're running towards that.

If there's one thing we'd like to run away from, that would be a closed mind. But even that follows as around.

How would you define travels? Were/are you running away or running towards something?

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Guest Post: English Seaside Magic

2013-03-11T23:29:00.001+08:00

For anyone who has experienced it, there is something magical about traditional English seaside towns in the height of summer – and particularly during the school summer holidays in the latter half of July and during August.

Of course, you can never guarantee the weather but you can always guarantee a lot of fun and some of the most beautiful countryside and beach surroundings the world has to offer if you choose your location carefully enough.

Nowhere in the UK comes close to being as popular with tourists during the summer as the south-west peninsula of Devon and Cornwall. This is where the British – those who stay at home anyway for the increasingly popular “staycations” – come in their millions each year. And it’s not hard to see why. Devon has some of the country’s finest undulating countryside and resort towns whilst Cornwall has the most beautiful temperate region beaches on the planet.

Small fishing villages and bustling resort towns all add to the magic. The peninsula epitomises all that is good about an English seaside summer holiday. There are hotels, guest houses and campsites aplenty, but if you really want to have some family fun, then try out caravan park holidays for that real English summer holiday feel – particularly if you have young children. There are hundreds of great parks to choose from and nothing else comes quite as close to fun for the kids and a reasonable level of comfort for their parents.

Do your research thoroughly before you come to see what each has to offer and remember to book early as the best sites tend to get completely booked out quite quickly for the peak weeks.

Pick a park close to a beach and, preferably, close to a town or perhaps a town beach for that real old-fashioned bucket and spade break, fish & chips and ice creams on the prom; you really can’t beat it.

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Get Your Summer On: Lagu Beach Blanket Giveaway

2013-03-07T23:06:00.001+08:00

"Save the sand. Save the beach."

Last week, during the hubby's birthday shindig in La Union, we were able to sample a beach blanket that's proudly Pinoy-made. It repels sand, it's allergen-free and has quick-dry properties. It's... Lagu!

Did you know that every year Boracay's shore line is slowly diminishing? Now before you lash out and say "Damn you evil resorts!", let me ask you this: Do you know how much sand per day you, the beach goer, unintentionally displace because your towel's playing backhoe for the summer? A university study estimates about 3 handfuls.

Oh. And please don't tell me you collect it. Have you forgotten? Take nothing but pictures.

Luna on a Lagu Rosa Oscuro. One of the bestsellers.

Add to that the more obvious factors, overdevelopment and climate change... Mother Nature cannot keep up with her task of replenishing natural sand.

"Lagu aims to be part of the solution by offering beach-goers an environment-friendly alternative to ordinary beach towels."

It sounds like an awesome cause, but how's the product like in real life? Well, It's as awesome as its cause! Indeed, it repels sand. Unlike with an ordinary beach towel, I didn't have to shake off the sand 'til my biceps are toned. In fact our toddler Luna simply picked up the blanket, handed it to me, and I tucked it in my bag. Speaking of packing, it's got a swatch of a cloth stitched on it with buttons (kinda resembles that of an umbrella's), which keeps the Lagu blanket nice and folded. Also, even though it's a roomy 45"x60", it's totally lightweight.

And yeah, it doesn't take a whole sun-drenched day to dry it.

Eye candy. There are 5 (soon 6) colors to choose from!

So I'm done raving, now it's your turn to give it a go! Two of you guys could win a Lagu beach blanket! You just have to "like" a couple of pages and leave a comment below answering the question: What's your fave Philippine beach? Refer to the Rafflecopter widget as your guide.

Only Philippine residents are allowed to join. Visit Lagu's Facebook page to know more about the product.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, fellow travel junkies. Get your summer on!

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Guest Post: The Spiritual Side Of Travelling

2013-03-04T01:24:00.000+08:00

There has long been a link between travelling and enhancing our spiritual sides, and it’s not difficult to see why. Travelling broadens our horizons, enriches our experiences and opens our minds to different ways of looking at the world; all things which are important for good spiritual health.

The places we travel to and the people we meet can have big positive impacts on our spiritual self, as you will know if you have travelled yourself and experience different cultures. Sometimes it can be the different practices we encounter during our travels which encourage us to really look into our spiritual selves for the first time. Many westerners who have previously found no connection with western religions have found a deep spiritual link with practices such as Buddhism when travelling abroad to countries such as Thailand.

For other people, travelling opens our minds simply through the awe-inspiring natural wonders it exposes us too. There is no greater place for internal reflection and meditation than sitting at the top of a mountain overlooking the planes of Africa or on a deserted beach overlooking the Great Barrier Reef. Moments such as these stay in the traveller’s mind forever and can give us a feeling of a greater connection with the natural earth.

Further still, many people discover local customs and traditions when travelling which put them in touch with their spiritual side in ways they may never have thought of before. Whether it’s visiting tarot readers or the local psychic, or visiting Tibetan monks and local spiritualists, discovering new ways of looking at spirituality in different cultures and countries is a wonderful way of enriching our own spiritual lives.

What is the most spiritually-enriching experience you have ever had on your travels and where did it take place?

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Chellah Necropolis (Sala Colonia), Rabat, Morocco

2013-03-01T16:50:00.000+08:00

"Have we come to the right place?"

It was a question born out of bewilderment. No tour bus as far as the eye could see. No importunate guides jumping at us with paws up. And the city's buzz sounded muffled from where we were standing even though our cab ride from Rabat's center took only a few minutes.

We trudged toward the magnificent gate with hesitance. The absenteeism of tourist hordes led us to the speculation that the driver delivered us to the wrong destination. I looked up at the Moorish arch that marks the entrance. It reminded us of Bab Oudaia, which we visited earlier that morning. Such an impressive sight. Somehow it indicated, this is where we we're supposed to be.

The admission fee, an incredibly cheap ten dirhams (about $1.20), is all a visitor has to pay. Fancy audio guides are nonexistent, and human ones come by only at certain times of the day. Apparently, noon's not one of them. Usually, the presence of tour guides peddling their service makes us sprint to the opposite direction. But for a place like Chellah, where info signs are nil, we longed for one.

The noise of civilization faded out all the more as we stepped deeper inside the historical site, and was replaced by the constant clacking of storks' beaks. Man, were there heaps of storks throughout the expanse. Either flying about, or idly sitting in their respective nests. They barely noticed us.

We let our toddler Luna run free.

Chellah was the site of ancient Roman city named Sala Colonia, as evidenced by a few key Roman architectural elements. Before the Romans took reign of the area in 40 AD, the Phoenicians were believed to have inhabited the banks above Bou Regreg river. In the 12th century, the Romans left the city and moved to Salé.

A necropolis was built on the same site in the 14th century under the reign of Marinid sultan Abou al-Hassan. He also added a mosque and a fortification wall. The Islamic complex is easily recognized, thanks to its still-standing minaret which is now home to — you guessed it right — a family of storks.

Chellah's crumbling ruins ain't an Angkor Wat. It ain't a Machu Picchu either. But you see, its charm lies in its sorry state. The structures' undiscerning features can flirt with one's imagination.

It's a place that is not masked with heavy makeup. Devoid of facilities that beg for a tourist's approval. No souvenir shops, no posh cafes with a view. Chellah may seem like an underdog in Morocco's tourism arena, but it has potential in becoming one of the frontrunners.

At least for a crowd like us who sees beauty in the forgotten.

Round-The-World 2011-2012, Morocco Leg:

Photo Essay: Kasbah Des Oudaias And Le Tour Hassan, Rabat. Mexico
Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco: A Persian's Birthday

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The Farm At San Benito, Lipa City, Batangas: Journey Of Healing

2013-02-26T19:56:00.000+08:00

The pitter-patter of rain shattered the deafening silence. A bloke rushed to our aid with a couple of brollies in his hand. I took one to shield myself from the light drizzle even though I actually found it quite refreshing. It was mid-afternoon, yet the air we inhaled had a morning dew aftertaste. I sensed an involuntary smile on my face, and it lingered for a long while.

The Farm's Healing Sanctuary. My short-lived refuge.

I was handed The Farm's site map and the day's schedule of activities as we checked in. A glass of fresh coconut juice promptly followed. The receptionist's smile, same as mine, did not disappear all throughout a quick briefing. My mom listened intently as she sipped her own glass of juice.

The Farm's reception.

Her briefing was a refresher of the pre-arrival and resort guidelines. A copy of which I received via email, together with the confirmation of our booking, sent by The Farm's Makati sales office prior our visit. For such globally-recognized health resort, setting clients' expectations is a weighty factor that affects a satisfactory experience.

Southpark Lagoon. The reception and meeting hall adjacent to it.

Beyond the selection phase of classy resort wear and chic fitness outfits back home is an epochal preparation of the body, mind and soul. The Farm at San Benito is not merely a destination. It is a journey of healing and recovery. A backdoor to escape the mundane. Time spent here must be treated as gold. The hefty price tag constantly reminded me that.

Rustic sign of Alive!, The Farm's vegan restaurant.

We left our trivial worries behind. Our usual noise too. Guests are expected to keep their mobile phones on silent mode particularly in public areas that are to be shared respectfully with others. Jaded urban souls troop to this retreat for tranquility, and all guests must join the mutual effort in maintaining quietude.

Table for two. A rare one-on-one date with mom.

Guided by the map in my hand, we made our way to the property's resident vegan restaurant Alive!. It was our body clock that dictated the first order of business. At quarter to twelve noon, we found one family finishing off an early lunch. The rest of the tables inside the restaurant and at the outdoor deck were vacant. We had the liberty to choose a nook that offers a view of the organic garden.

My fave out of the 5-course meal. An appetizer of homemade cracker with chutney.
The 5-course meal served to us was part of our day tour package. It consisted of: Homemade cracker with assorted chutneys, roasted eggplant soup, mango tomato salad, Bombay wrap with cucumber raita and vegetable korma with organic rice, and pineapple cheesecake. If ordered separately, such lunch is priced at P1,250+. A 2-course meal is P650+, 3-course is P950+, and 4-course is P1,100+. For guests that prefer à la carte, there's a handful of other choices too priced at around P200+ to P480+.

The organic garden which provides majority of Alive!'s fresh produce.

The Farm's spa cuisine has garnered international awards. Not only are the dishes made with the freshest ingredients, they're also creatively prepared and chock-full of interesting flavors. Well at least for an ex-pescetarian like me. My mom, a huge fan of meat, wasn't jumping up and down. Only the pineapple cheesecake and Batangas coffee won her nod of approval.

Man-made waterfalls. Its catch basin is one of The Farm's swimming pools.

I squeezed a quick dip in between lunch and our spa session. I was the only one who did so that rainy afternoon. My pool of choice was the South Pool, which I reckon is the biggest of them all. A few seconds into my swim, my mom engaged herself in a phone call. A habit which she cannot give up even for half a day. She will go nuts too without a telly. It was, in fact, my deciding element in choosing a day tour package instead of an overnight stay. No villa in The Farm has a telly.

Sulu Terraces, modeled after the traditional Philippine rice barn. The most affordable of all villas.
The highlight of our day tour, as you might have assumed, was our respective healing sanctuary spa treatments. As advised, we arrived at the Healing Sanctuary fifteen minutes before our appointment - which I booked by the way through a phone call two days prior. Late comers will not provided the full treatment time so as to avoid disrupting the succeeding appointments.

The Healing Sanctuary's main entrance.

It took ages for mom to choose a treatment. The Healing Sanctuary's "menu" had more pages than the restaurant's. I picked the Relaxation Massage, a popular one among day trippers, while mom threw hundreds of questions more at the spa's receptionist. Eventually, she chose the Skin Kayud. A treatment that uses a nacre also known as mother of pearl to scrape the skin "to stimulate the lymph canals, drain the toxins and purify the entire lymphatic system".

Mom browsing a whole book of spa treatments.

The Farm's website states: "Our vision is to establish a unique healing centre in a new dimension offering a personal journey with a total holistic approach to rejuvenation of the mind, body, and soul in an idyllic setting...". That vision is depicted everywhere. A vision that tapped our five senses, and then some.

I emerged from the treatment room recuperated. And helplessly in love with my therapist. My mom too, except, she was a bit shaken after stripping everything off for the session.

The most scenic of all.

The Farm At San Benito paved way for a life-changing journey which I did not expect to happen in a manicured wellness resort. I've always preferred destinations that are a bit rough around the edges, but you know what they say, there's a first time for everything. It's an experience I wouldn't want to call "once-in-a-lifetime", because in all honesty, I'd like to do it again.

Plus everything else that we missed.

Trip's Nitty Gritty

1. The Farm At San Benito is about an hour and a half from Manila (Pasay, Malate, Ermita area). How to get there? Upon confirmation of your booking, the sales office provides a directional map to the site from Lipa City proper. The use of Star Tollway is highly adviced and toll fee is just P35. If you're coming via bus, call the office to arrange a pickup. Price depends on your pickup location.

By the way, The Farm offers Helicopter Service. High rollin', you say?

2. Booking the spa and medical services in advance is not compulsory but recommended. As mentioned, clients are expected to arrive 15 minutes before treatment. Change in schedule or cancellation of treatment must be made at least three hours beforehand.

3. Browse the day's schedule and come armed with a fitness outfit. There are loads of complimentary activities of varied nature: Circuit training, yoga and meditation, Tahitian dance, aqua aerobics, and even vegan food preparation.

If you got kids in tow, The Farm can organize something for them too.

4. Food and drinks are not allowed to be brought in the property. Yo, leave those evil chips at home.

5. Still and motion cameras are allowed in the resort but not at the spa and during the activities conducted by the resort.

6. Price for accommodation range from P8,400+ to P52,500+, includes Alive! brekkie for two and daily wellness activities. WiFi as available throughout the resort (Hurrah!).

7. Absolutely no smoking within The Farm's premises.

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Guest Post: South America, What to See?

2013-02-24T09:55:00.002+08:00

What springs to mind when you think of South America? The hot and heady weather? The vibrancy of Brazil? The Amazon rainforest? The cultural diversity? The fact is that there is so much more to South America than most people think. Why not discover for yourself what this exciting part of the world has to offer on South America holidays?

Take a little taster tour of the popular South American hot spots to whet your appetite:

Venezuela

Venezuela is home to some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful waterfalls in the world – not least the spectacular Angel Falls. Plunging 1000 metres from Devil’s Mountain, it’s a sight that will never leave your memory.

Peru

A four day Inca Trail hike awaits at Peru, taking you through ancient ruins, mountainscapes and forests.

Alternatively, for a jungle adventure, head into the thick of the Amazon on a rainforest tour – an experience that will see you through many dinner parties and gatherings with an interesting tale to tell.

Brazil

Hit the beaches of the Brazilian coast, the hustle and bustle of Rio De Janeiro, hike up Sugar Loaf mountain and take in the world famous Christ the Redeemer statue – it all waits for you in vibrant Brazil.

Brazil is easily combined with other South American destinations - Argentina, for example, will complete a great twin centre itinerary. If you love your waterfalls, the Argentinean Iguassu Falls are a stunning sight, or why not enjoy a taste of the high life in Buenos Aires?

Bolivia

A hot, heady adventure awaits in Bolivia. Explore the winding streets and bustling markets of La Paz, or take a 4x4 tour of the curious salt flats of Uyuni. Bolivia is a destination that is also easily combined with other South American hot spots, such as Peru and Brazil, as well as being a gateway to the Amazon.

Chile

Any visitor to Chile is sure to be blown away by the magnificence of the country. Vineyards, valleys and volcanoes combine with crystal clear waters and vibrant cities to make one of the most stunning and exciting landscapes in South America.

Argentina

The only crying to be done in Argentina is when you come to leave. Submerge yourself in the colourful atmosphere of Buenos Aires, the home of the passionate tango dance – you could even take a course to learn the dance and its history!

Don’t forget the aforementioned Iguassu falls, a world heritage sight offering spectacular natural vistas.

Easter Island

There’s something ethereal and ‘other wordly’ about Easter Island. It is, in fact, the world’s most remote inhabited island. Tour the stark and beautiful landscape, take in the haunting Moais statues, hike the volcanoes and explore the beaches and crystal clear waters of this peculiar paradise.

South America offers a wealth of interesting and exciting destinations to really get the juices of life flowing through your veins. Hike a mountain, trek the rainforest, dance the tango - come alive in South America!

18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2013

2013-02-20T22:45:00.000+08:00

Fun in the Philippines is seen in almost all angles...

Philippine Department of Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez Jr. was of course referring to this coming weekend's much awaited 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PIHABF). February 21 to 24 at the OMNI Aviation Complex, Clark Freeport Zone.

It's going to be a weekend of everything that flies.

A weekend of everything that flies.

Balloonists, pilots, local and foreign dignitaries were introduced by the secretary in between forkfuls of our divine entrée served in Manila Peninsula Hotel's Garcia-Villa Function Room. His brief talk served as the opening for the jocund press conference, followed by an AVP presentation featuring clips from the past years of the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, then Maestro Ryan Cayabyab's fun introduction of a drum circle from Dumaguete which involved the whole audience playing native Filipino instruments.

Breitling Jet Team Aerobatic Exhibition

This 2013, PIHABF is bringing world-renowned Breitling Jet Team to the Philippines for the very first time. Breitling Jet Team, the world's largest professional civilian flight team based in France, will show off their precision aerobatic exhibition.

Maestro Ryan Cayabyab talking about the 2-day all OPM music festival.

Aside from the 30+ hot air balloons (expect specially shaped balloons like Humpty Dumpty, Space Shuttle and Tulip), participants will also get a chance to witness paragliding, skydiving, ultralight flights, radio-controlled UFO flyers, the hot air balloon glow and many more!

It's more fun in the Philippines!
As for the OPM music festival that will be held on February 22 and 23, top Pinoy OPM icons such as Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Avanzado, Jessa Zaragoza, Cookie Chua, Wolfgang, The Dawn, Imago, Kjwan, Spongecola, Joey Ayala, Pepe Smith, Gloc9, Urbandub, Noel Cabangon and Ebe Dancel are among the featured performers.

18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2013 Schedule
(May change without prior notice.)

First Fiesta Day, THURSDAY, 21 February 2013


5:30-6:15 AM	UFO Light Flyers
6:20-6:30 AM	Philippine Flag jump
6:30-8:00 AM	Hot Air Balloon flight
7:30-8:00 AM	RP / Malaysia / Spain / Australia Paragliding Exhibition
8:00-8:30 AM	Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
8:30-9:00 AM	Breitling Jet Team Aerobatic Exhibition
9:00-9:15 AM	Radio-controlled model aircraft demonstration
9:15-9:30 AM	PT13 Stearman Air Show
9:30-10:00 AM	ACFC Ultralight Flights
10:00-10:30 AM	PNP Skydiving Exhibition
10:30-11:30 AM	AOPA-P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition
11:30-12:00 PM	Breitling Jet Team Fly-by
12:00-12:30 PM	Glider flight
12:30-12:45 PM	Banner Towing Demonstration
12:30-1:00 PM	KAP / KTP Kite Flying Exhibition
1:00-1:45 PM	Airlink / WCC / Omni / Alpha flyby
1:45-2:30 PM	AOPA-P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition
2:30-2:45 PM	FEATI/PHILSCA Rocketry/RC Demonstration
2:45-3:15 PM	Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Demo
3:15-4:00 PM	ACFC Ultralight / Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights and Flour Bombing
4:00-4:30 PM	RP /U.S./ Malaysia / Spain / Australia Paragliding exhibition
4:30-5:00 PM	Skydiving and Tandem jumping Exhibition
5:00-5:30 PM	Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
5:30-6:00 PM	Hot Air Balloon Fly-In

Second Fiesta Day, FRIDAY, 22 February 2013


5:30-6:15 AM	UFO Light Flyers
6:20-6:30 AM	Philippine Flag jump
6:30-8:00 AM	Hot Air Balloon Flights
7:30-8:00 AM	RP / Malaysia / Spain / Australia Paragliding Exhibition
8:00-8:30 AM	Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
8:30-8:45 AM	PT13 Stearman Air Show
8:45-9:30 AM	Skydiving Exhibition
9:30-10:30 AM	AOPA- P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition
10:30-11:00 AM	ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights and Flour Bombing
11:00-11:30 PM	Breitling Jet Team Fly-by
11:00-11:15 AM	FEATI / PHILSCA Rocketry / RC Demonstration
11:15-11:45 AM	Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration
11:45-12:15 PM	Paragliding Tow Exhibition
12:15-12:30 PM	Banner Towing Demonstration
12:15-12:30 PM	KAP / KTP Kite flying exhibition
12:30-1:15 PM	WCC / Omni / Airlink / Alpha / Leading Edge Flyby
1:15-1:45 PM	Glider flight
1:45-2:15 PM	Car Drifting Display
2:15-2:45 PM	Radio-controlled Jet Turbine Model Aircraft Demonstration
2:45-3:15 PM	ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights
3:15-3:45 PM	AOPA- P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition
3:45-4:15 PM	Skydiving exhibition
4:15-4:45 PM	Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
4:45-5:15 PM	RP / Malaysia / Spain / Australia Paragliding
5:30-6:30 PM	Hot Air Balloon Fly-In
6:30-9:30 PM	OPM Concert, Directed by Ryan Cayabyab

Third Fiesta Day, SATURDAY, 23 February 2013


5:30-6:15 AM	UFO Light Flyers
6:20-6:30 AM	Philippine Flag jump
6:30-8:00 AM	Hot Air Balloon Flights
7:30-8:00 AM	RP / Malaysia / Spain / Australia Paragliding Exhibition
8:00-8:30 AM	Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
8:30-9:00 AM	Breitling Jet Team Aerobatic Exhibition
9:00-9:45 AM	AOPA-P Light aircraft balloon bursting competition
9:45-10:30 AM	Tandem Sky diving exhibition
10:30-11:00 AM	ACFC Ultralight/Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights and Flour Bombing
11:00-11:30 AM	Turbine RC flying display
11:30-12:00 PM	Helicopter flight display
12:00-12:30 PM	Philippine Coast Guard Rescue Demonstration
12:30-1:00 PM	PT13 Stearman / AOPA-P Flyby
1:00-1:30 PM	WCC / Omni / PPA / CIA / Orient / Airlink Flyby
1:30-2:00 PM	Winch-launched Glider flight
2:00-2:15 PM	Banner Towing Demonstrator
2:00-2:30 PM	KAP / KTP Kite Flying Demonstration
2:30-3:00 PM	Paragliding Tow Exhibition
3:00-3:30 PM	Radio-controlled Jet Turbine Model Aircraft Demonstration
3:30-4:00 PM	ACFC Ultralight / Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights
4:00-4:30 PM	Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
4:30-5:00 PM	Skydiving Exhibition
5:00-5:30 PM	RP / Malaysia / Spain / Australia Paragliding Exhibition
5:30-6:00 PM	Hot Air Balloon Night Glow
6:30-9:30 PM	OPM Concert, Directed by Ryan Cayabyab

Fourth Fiesta Day, SUNDAY, 24 February 2013


5:30-6:15 AM	UFO Light Flyers
6:20-6:30 AM	Philippine Flag jump
6:30-8:00 AM	Hot Air Balloon Flights
7:30-8:00 AM	RP / Malaysia / Spain/ Australia Paragliding Exhibition
8:00-8:30 AM	Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
8:30-9:00 AM	Breitling Jet Team Aerobatic Exhibition
9:00-9:45 AM	AOPA – P Light Aircraft Balloon Bursting Competition
9:45-10:30 AM	Tandem Skydiving Exhibition
10:30-11:00 AM	Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration
11:00-11:30 AM	ACFC Ultralight / Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights and Flour Bombing
11:30-12:00 PM	Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Demo
12:00-12:30 PM	Radio-Controlled Model Aircraft Demonstration
12:30-1:00 PM	Glider flight
1:00-1:30 PM	Car Drifting demonstration
1:30-2:00 PM	PT13/ WCC / Airlink / Omni / Leading Edge Flyby
2:00-2:15 PM	Banner Towing
2:00-2:30 PM	KAP / KTP Flying Exhibition
2:30-2:45 PM	FEATI/PHILSCA Rocketry/RC Demonstration
2:45-3:15 PM	ACFC Ultralight / Microlight Aircraft Formation Flights
3:15-3:30 PM	PT13 Stearman fly by
3:30-4:00 PM	Skydiving Exhibition
4:00-4:30 PM	Meynard Halili Aerobatic Show
4:30-5:30 PM	RP / Malaysia / Spain/Australian Paragliding Exhibition
5:30-6:00 PM	Hot Air Balloon Night Glow
7:00 PM	Fireworks

Tickets are available at the gate during the event. Price is P250 per head. Also available at SM Ticketnet outlets.

The 2013 PIHABF will be held at OMNI Aviation Complex, Clark Freeport Zone. It is presented in partnership with the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Note: All photos without watermark are provided by the PIHABF

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Guest Post: Be Spontaneous And See The World

2013-02-18T23:11:00.000+08:00

Today, with so many cheap flights available from a range of budget airlines, we really have no excuse not to see more of the world. You can find flights to so many different destinations at really low prices – all you need to do is make sure you have enough vacation time from work.

Living in Europe, it really has become possible to spend weekends away in other countries as easily as it is to spend a weekend in your own capital city. It used to be that you’d have to travel to a major airport to get an international flight, but now you can leave the UK from most regional airports, as you can in many other European countries.

So, if you’ve had enough of the winter and want to feel some warm sun on your back, why not book some cheap flights to Alicante for a long weekend at the end of March. Even if it’s not baking hot, it’s going to be like a warm summer’s day compared with the UK, and just being somewhere warm and sunny can really lift the spirits.

Of course, you may not crave the beach, in which case there are so many different cities to visit across Europe. You can approach city breaks away in two different ways. Have a bucket list of cities that you wish to see, and work your way through them or see what bargains are available when you’re ready to travel and take more a ‘mystery tour’ approach. Doing this can open your horizons as you visit countries and cities you may never even have considered before.

Previous generations never had the freedom to see as much of the world as we do and the only surprising thing is that more of us aren’t grabbing hold of the chance to be spontaneous and see the world one city and one destination at a time!

20th Travel Tour Expo 2013: The Gateway To Getaways Of Your Dreams

2013-02-14T22:04:00.000+08:00

Fellow travel junkies, put your game face on. A pair of comfy kicks too.

This year's 20th Travel Tour Expo (TTE 2013), dubbed as Gateway to Getaways, is slated on February 15-17, 2013 and will be held at the SMX Convention Center Halls 1, 2, 3, 4 plus Function Room 5. The three-day event is expected to showcase a plethora of booths featuring Philippine travel and tourism's crème de la crème. Brace yourself for a mad dash!

A whopping 257 companies (as of February 11) are participating this 2013, with a booth-count of over 500. An approximate 8% growth of exhibits from last year. From airline companies to hotels and resorts to national tourism agencies and travel agencies to travel gear suppliers. Find out what the exhibitors got up their sleeves, fun games and prizes await.

So what else is new? This year, the first PTAA TravelTour Expo Gateway to Getaways Coupon Book is launched. It's a compilation of all discounts and freebies from participating exhibitors, and comes with two complimentary admission tickets to the expo. There's also a raffle from AsiaMiles (Frequent Flyer Program) of 92,000 miles every event day. These miles are equivalent to a premium economy ticket for one to Europe or U.S.' West Coast.

Also, for the first time in its 20 years of experience, the TravelTour Expo will have live streaming. Even if you're not physically joining the frenzy, watch out for the cultural presentations from participating national tourism organizations online.

The 20th Travel Tour Expo 2013 is organized by PTAA with the Department of Tourism - Tourism Promotions Board, featuring Solaire Resort & Casino. The event is also supported by Platinum Sponsors Philippine Airlines as Official Carrier, Citibank as Official Credit Card Partner and Asia Miles as Official Travel Reward Program, Silver sponsor Icon Graphics, Bronze Sponsors Air Asia, Duty Free, Globe and Tieza, Official Venue SMX Convention Center, Official Caterer Lina Vitan Catering and Official Broadsheet Partner The Philippine Star, Crossover 105.1, RJ 100.3, Business Mirror, the Foreign Post, Travel Update, and View Travel & Lifestyle Magazine.

Event is open to public from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM on Friday, February 15 to Saturday, February 16 and from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Sunday, February 17. Admission fee is P50.00 for regular visitors and P20 for senior citizens.

Bring your fave travel buddies! Parents, bring the little ones... Hello Kitty will visit the Japan Pavilion. Plus the kids will be thrilled to see the indoor playground on the second floor.

See y'all there!

Special thanks to YMV & Associates Inc. for the sneak preview invitation and PTAA for accommodating us.

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Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: Vistas To Die For

2013-02-02T15:07:00.002+08:00

"Jeeezaz Chriiist!", the hubby muttered.

I couldn't think of any thing more apt to say.

It was day 243 of our round-the-world trip. We watched Jesus grew bigger and bigger as our bus hurtled its way to the tram station on Rua Cosme Velho. In the spirit of Brazil's Carnival, a bunch of passengers aboard were either donning hideous wigs or hair accessories adorned with feathers. The air smelt of alcohol. It was an unnerving festive sight.

The Christ of my dreams.

Hurriedly, we hopped off the bus when we realized that more than half of the passenger population were alighting. As we stepped on the sidewalk, we were immediately swallowed by a wild river of tourists that flowed toward Cosme Velho's station and eventually ended up in a sea of cosplayers and drunks. It was the ticket counter's queue.

View offered by the Corcovado tram.

"Jeeezaz Chriiist!", was also the hubby's reaction when he learned that the next available trip was in an hour and a half's time. Since we came all the way from Rio De Janeiro's business district via public transport filled with rowdy crowds, we resolved to waiting. And time was easily passed chugging Brazilian fave Skol at a nearby drinking joint.

Fight for your spot.
Our late afternoon foray to the tram was accompanied by a debate about buying a pair of Havaianas for little Luna. We rode in silence through Tijuca Forest until views unraveled through the window. At which point, some passengers rose from their seats to capture the stellar vistas with their larger-than-life SLRs. I did the same. Hubby fumbled in his pocket for the videocam, cautious not to wake a napping Luna draped on his shoulder.

Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Behind it, Ipanema.

Upon disembarking, we were with faced two options. A 220-step stairs versus an elevator+escalator combo. Though backbreaking - and not exactly a beeline, we chose the arduous ascent because it showcased more views. And to the hubby's vexation, because it passes by more souvenir shops.

Pão de Açúcar or Sugarloaf Mountain.
The task of snapping shots without being photobombed required patience and skill. Every scenic nook and cranny had someone either posing in it or taking photo from it. Christ The Redeemer, the largest art deco statue in the world, is clearly not the sole attraction atop Corcovado mountain but also the bird's-eye view of Rio De Janeiro.

I got a love-hate relationship with the city, and I have to say, the "love" part includes its amazing topography.

The lowdown. What you don't see on postcards. We climbed the last set of stairs. Luna awoke and gaped at the massive crowd. From the foot of the pedestal, Christ The Redeemer looked even more imposing with surprisingly soft features brought about by its soapstone mosaic outer layer. A remarkable work of engineering and art constructed in the 1920s. For me, without question, it deserves to be one of the "Wonders Of The World".

Rear view at sunset.

"Jeeezaz Chriiist!"

This time, his expression bore a tone of astonishment. And again, I couldn't think of anything more apt to say.

Trip's Nitty Gritty:

Can't remember where I stumbled upon this info, but I kept it for future reference.

1. How to get to Christ The Redeemer by subway and bus: Take the metro from any subway station in Rio De Janeiro to Largo Do Machado Station. Fare's about US$1.50. Bus stop is just outside the exit. Take bus #584 to Corcovado Train Station. Trip takes 15-20 minutes.

If you're coming from Copacabana or Ipanema, you could take bus #583.

2. Corcovado tram runs from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Leaves every half hour and a one-way trip lasts about 20 minutes. If you wish to visit at sundown, come earlier to purchase tickets. Rides are sometimes fully booked because of big tour groups. Cost for round-trip is about US$40+. Ticket must be used on the same day of purchase. Free admission for kids under 6.

No can of olive oil was used during our trip.

Round-The-World 2011-2012, Brazil Leg:

Rio Carnival 2012: Party Tickets For Two And A Half
Cabo Frio, Brazil Holidays: That Thong-Tho-Thong
Brazil Tourist Visa Application In Lima, Peru

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Guest Post: Cheaper Family Holidays

2013-01-30T18:26:00.002+08:00

When you have children the price of going on holiday tends to go up quite a bit. Not only do you have to pay for their flights once they’re over the age of two, but you also get charged for a family room, or multiple rooms and then of course, there’s the expense of eating out for everyone while you’re away as well.

However, there are some ways that you can reduce the cost of family holidays without making them any less fun.

For some people the easiest option is to go on a self-catering holiday. That way, you can take advantage of cheap flights and get some great accommodation deals, but you don’t have to eat out every mealtime. For people who have children who are fussy eaters this can be a real saving as you can cook them what they like in the apartment or villa and not have to watch good food being thrown away (at your expense) in a restaurant. It can also make holiday mealtimes less stressful.

However, if the idea of self-catering doesn’t appeal, there are other options open to you. Lots of parents don’t fancy the idea of continuing in the chief cook and bottle washer role when they’re on holiday – it doesn’t always make for the most relaxing of breaks after all. Many holiday companies now offer cheap all inclusive family vacation packages, and this often represents a great saving for people travelling with their children. As well as having all your flights, accommodation and food and drinks paid for before you set off on holiday, an all-inclusive trip often includes kids’ clubs and other activities at the hotel itself. Not every facility or activity is included in the deal, though, so check any details on what extras you’ll need to pay for before you go to avoid disappointment.

Another option is to holiday with the kids in your own country, so you don’t have to pay out for flights for them. If you have willing grandparents or friends who will look after them at another time during the year, you and your partner could always jet off for a week’s relaxation by yourselves.

Everything depends on your budget, your children’s temperament and what kind of holiday you all want. Going abroad with the kids need not cost the earth, but there’s no doubt that holidays with children are quite different to the ones you had when you were young, free and single!