I went inside the Immigration area after paying the Php 550 Philippine Terminal Tax. Since I didn't get to write on a Disembarkation Form yet, I went straight to the counter where the loose copies were. And right after filling up a form, I lined up. There weren't many people in the airport then since it was already late in the evening. So when I waited for my turn at the Immigration booth of NAIA 3, I was already the next one in line.
It's been over a year since my husband and I shared our first holiday as a married couple. Despite our circumstances then (he went back to work abroad, while I recuperated from a major surgery), we finally made it to our honeymoon a few months later.
I really had no plans to travel in the last quarter of this year due to some financial priorities. But Travel Expos happen to have this charm that just seems to attract you into purchasing at least a ticket or two. As for me, I ended up booking a round trip plane ticket that was bound for General Santos via Philippine Airlines. General Santos, which is the southernmost city in the Philippines, is part of the SOCCSKSARGEN region (stands for the region's 4 provinces and one of its cities: South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City). Although governed as an independent city, "GenSan" is geographically located in the province of South Cotabato. It also serves as the gateway to several municipalities such as Maasim, Alabel, and Malungon in Saranggani, as well as Polomolok and T'boli in South Cotabato.
Like everyone else on transit, looking for a place to stay-in is very important. And for a budget traveler like me, I always make it a point to find affordable accommodations that also offer quality spaces. That's when I found Microtel by Wyndham - General Santos.
I loved everything that Microtel General Santos offered us. Everything was impeccable, from the complimentary pick-up at the airport to our smooth hotel checkout. But it doesn't end there. So allow me to count the ways, as to why I loved our accommodations in the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines".
The only time that I get to explore the posh establishments in Dubai is when my friend MJ makes an invite. We were able to go on several food trips in the DIFC area (before the citywide lockdown) and was able to try the Ravioli & Gnocchi masterclass at Ravioli & Co.
In the heart of Hanoi's old quarters, our senses were awakened by the tantalizing aroma of beef pho, welcoming us to a city that would soon become our culinary playground. Our decision to embark on this 3-day adventure last month was serendipitous, fueled by the allure of inexpensive roundtrip flights that promised a year-end escape.
I miss eating out. But the one thing that I crave the most is sharing a boodle fight with friends. Social distancing has been the new norm. While ease in restrictions is slowly being rolled out in Dubai, we still can't gather as close to each other as we would like, which is completely understandable. As long as there is no vaccine for COVID-19, life will continue to go in this manner.
Did you know that Penang is a thriving Malaysian destination? It sure is! Considered as one of the country’s well-developed states (being technologically advanced and highly urbanized), Pulau Pinang (in Malay) is an island state that nurtures an interesting multicultural community. The “Pearl of the Orient” is also known for its remarkable heritage sites, multiracial citizenry, and diverse yet sumptuous cuisines.
I'm not much of a morning person. But when my friend invited me for brunch (a prize she won from a contest) at Bosporus, I knew I had to get up early for it. The location was at Jumeirah Beach Residence, so it was almost a 2-hour commute from where I lived (bus then metro). Despite the long travel, I knew I couldn't miss it because the photos of the food spread she sent me were just too enticing to pass up.
My boyfriend and I went with a group of couples just this month of March (March 14-17, 2011 to be exact). The highlights of our stay there were the ATV tour, the cold margarita-like shots at Pat’s Creek Bar, the fire-dancers at Beach Bum Bar, the surprising dance sessions at Epic Bar with the European hotties, the fruit shakes at Jonah’s, chilled drinks at Loco Frio, the amazing food at SMOKE Restaurant, dinner by the beach at Calypso with my love, and of course, our lovely stay at Hannah Hotel Station 1.
Yes, there were so many that I had to highlight, and it was a great 4-day vacation. And despite of the consistent morning rain, we were still able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon with our little beach escapades. Now, let some of our photos express the excitement for us.
We arrived really late in Boracay since Zestair had to delay our flight due to the bad weather in the Visayas region. Our supposedly 12pm flight only turned up 8 hours later. We were actually on the plane already, about to land on the Kalibo Airport, up until the plane maneuvered back to MNL. Crazy, right? Nonetheless, it was for everyone's safety.
We got to the island about 10pm. Good thing the owners of Hannah Hotel were really understanding of our situation. I was on the brink of rescheduling our booking for the next day. That's if we still missed getting on the last boat trip to Caticlan. But God was really good to us, as we immediately got a van that would take us straight to the port. The trip on the road took us about a good 1 1/2 hours. Our boat trip only took 10 minutes.
Since we got on the island really late, we were left with the options of getting some late dinner and drinks at the beach. And we ended up partying at Epic Bar right after dinner, whilst meeting the three nice caucasians who danced with our group the entire night.. We had so much fun that night, that we ended up getting back at our hotel past 3 am already.
Ok, so on to the other details of our trip! Since we were 8 in a group, we opted to avail of the ATV package that consisted of the Aviary and Tanawin stop-overs. The ATV ride was a bit slow-moving for us, since there were other tourists that were also driving on our trail. Plus the Aviary stop-over wasn't really that interesting. There were just these different bird species confined in make-shift cages, and a sex-hungry monkey that felt so threatened from one of the guys we were with. But the 'Tanawin' though was a refreshing sight as we were able to see a big portion of the island.
Basically, our trip consisted of drinking and dancing sessions until the wee hours of the morning, binge-eating during lunch and merienda, and sun-basking during the afternoon. Our last day was more laid-back; and a lot of beach strolling and picture-taking were alotted during the morning. Nothing fancy really.
Rubel and I opted to have dinner, just the two of us on our last night in the island. We walked the shores of Boracay, and ended up eating at Calypso by Station 3. The food there was a bit pricey as they were offering international cuisines. The one I ordered was a German dish, I guess. It was bland so I really didn't enjoy what I ate. But what I enjoyed though was the cool breeze and the very sight of my boyfriend, munching on some seafood delight. *wink* =) Anyway, we ended the night at the Beach Bum Bar Station 1, where we watched the Fire-Dancers do their famous dance routine.
Now, time to wrap up my first Boracay trip for this summer. Here’s to another TRAVEL EXPENSE SHEET to help you off with your future trip/s to the island of Boracay.
Explore & Be Free!
Mai
P.S. Stay at Hannah Hotel, as they're affordable and worth your every penny! You'll surely enjoy their homey-rooms, and most especially enjoy the very company of the owners. I'd like to thank Hannah, Paolo, and their parents for being so hospitable, kind, and generous to us during our stay in their beautiful hotel. I will definitely come back!
We literally experienced a jam-packed day, considering that we went to so many places just on our second day in Camiguin. And as posted on my previous article, here's our itinerary:
Island City Tour and Mantigue Island hopping
06:00 Wake-up Call --- This was a complimentary service. The staff of BBC were always very pleasant when calling us up at this hour of the morning.
06:30 Breakfast at Ocean Side Bar & Grill (inclusive in the package) --- one of the many perks to booking our stay in BBC was our complimentary breakfast. Not only did they exude good customer service, they also served the most well-cooked and well-flavored meals! Their breakfast was always a delight to eat! Not only is it typically served with their tasty 'ulam' (main course), garlic rice, fruit (banana only) and chocolate and/or fruit drinks, they also completed their service with a smile. =) It was truly a great way to start our day!
I wanted to spend some time out of the house, when I suddenly remembered this hostel nearby that offered bed spaces for just a minimal fee. Relieved that I had a few days to spare (no work, no errands), I made a booking to secure my overnight stay. BGC Hostel & Dorm QC (also known as Panay, Kain, Tulog, Atbp.) in Panay was definitely an accommodation in Quezon City that was worth trying. The lodging, which had a great location, was only a short walk from home. It was also near a mall, and a whole bunch of eateries.
If I were to describe my stay at San Rafael River Adventure (SRRA), it would be a safe haven. Imagine waking up inside a glass cottage, amidst a garden filled with trees and greeneries, and a gorgeous view of Angat River. You'd want nothing more than to stay and to experience the calmness that the horizon brings, as you embrace its enchanting setting. Truly, this lush sanctuary in Bulacan is an ideal place for that much needed rest and relaxation.
The first thing that we asked from our host in Saud (Ms. Cathy) was where to eat for dinner, and she immediately suggested to dine at Evangeline Beach Resort's -- Emohruo Beach Restobar. Although she warned us about the price, she still recommended that we try their food just for the experience of it. Good thing that we listened to her!
And as posted from their website: the excellent chefs of Emohruo Beach Restobar serve a unique blend of innovative Asian cuisine that they themselves have created. The menu boasts of a variety of offerings ranging from creative seafood fares to spicy Thai curry sauces, all made from the freshest ingredients and herbs freshly-picked from the resort’s very own organic garden. Apart from the magnificent food choices, we also have a selection of wines for our guests and their discriminating palates.
Our 4-hour road trip to Batangas definitely put a strain on us, to the point that we wanted to stay an extra night in the resort just so we could rest. But of course, we couldn't. Though it was refreshing to know that we were extending our weekend getaway in one of the nice hotels down south. And so three toll ways and three hours later, we arrived at Microtel South Forbes.
#ThrowbackEats | This was the first time that I’ve tried Genki Sushi in SM North EDSA, Quezon City. The first thing that I noticed was that the prices were a little expensive. But I had to see what the rave was all about, so on we went.
[TRIP last May 3, 2011] As I've mentioned from my previous entry, the JIFF team definitely made our stay in Jeonju a relaxing one. Every morning, there will be print-outs of reminders and event invitations for Kuya that were slipped into our hotel door. They were always very organized and cheery. Apart from that, the JIFF team also ensured that we always had our very own JIFF Ziggy (representative) to show us around the festival.
Anyway, we started our first official morning in Jeonju by availing of our complimentary buffet breakfast at Core Hotel's Restaurant (I forgot the name though) -- while topped with a nice view of the city. It was a few floors up from our 7th floor room, so we were able to get there in time. The buffet typically ends around 8am, so we made sure to arrive before then.
I'm very particular with the lodgings that I book during my trips. So I log in the necessary research so that I wouldn't have to deal with some of the mishaps that might happen along the way. So when I was looking for a place to stay in Baguio for this month, I started emailing my inquiries to several accommodations. And to me, the best option was UPSTAIRS BED & BATH.
I was in constant communication with Sir Engelbert, who I later on found out was the owner of the inn. He was always prompt when it came to answering all of my questions, and was very accommodating. Despite sending him so many inquiries, he still gave me his time. Plus, his tone was always pleasant. And that to me was pretty commendable. He even adjusted my initial booked dates when a big storm hit the city two weekends ago.
I also have high praises for his staff (Benedict and Ronald in particular), who were both working during our stay. They greeted us with a smile upon entering the inn. They even allowed us to check into our rooms early in the morning, which was a plus (check-in time is supposed to be 2 PM). They also offered my brother one of their Family Room's since another guest had to extend his/her stay. He was supposed to have the Semi-Private, but was given the Family Room for that first night.
An unexpected family matter came up that had my husband and I rushing to Abu Dhabi for the weekend. And since we were on a tight budget, we looked for ways to make our trip comfortable without breaking the bank. Good thing we had The Entertainer app, which offered a variety of Buy-1-Take-1 deals ranging from food & drinks, everyday services, travel and more. Through this app, we were able to get a 2-night stay at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi while paying for just one night.
I wanted to extend my stay in Makati, so I decided to use my reward points from an online booking site to reserve a hotel. With the points that I saved, I was able to get one night at The Hotel at Green Sun, only adding a minimal cost that's worth P136. So right after checking out from Alcoves, I made my way to the lodging via MRT.
Budget Biyahera is about finding fun and distinct food and destinations, accommodations, products/gears and activities that people can enjoy on a ‘regular’ person’s budget and schedule.
