It's been three weeks since our 5-day trip around Ilocos, and still I miss the places that we visited and the people that we've met a long the way. Truly, Ilocos is an enchanting place -- one filled with lots of surprises! So in memory of our trip, let me share to you what transpired on our first few days there by starting out with Vigan City.
WHAT TO DO IN VIGAN
If you’re strapped on time like we were, try to put aside at least 2-3 hours for a city tour around Vigan. With us, we were able to arrange a tour with a nice tricycle driver named Roy, right after getting off the bus. We asked him to take us around town, wherein we arranged a 3PM pick-up at our lodging that same afternoon.
With Kuya Roy -- our nice tour guide/tricycle driver. :)
I've truly grasped the meaning of 'Thoughtful Tourism' after meeting a humble tricycle driver/tour guide from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte...
The Journey
Rubel and I just came home from our Ilocos trip (June 5-9), where we spent 2 full days in Pagudpud during this travel. When we checked-in at Cathy's Homestay by Saud Beach (co-owned by Mrs. Cathy Respicio), we were introduced to the tour services of Kuya Raphie Respicio. Kuya Raphie is Ate Cathy's brother-in-law.
A Customized Ride
Kuya Raphie, a father of four, was an exceptional tour guide. Compared to other tricycles, his was customized so that his guests would not feel constricted inside the vehicle. It had a lot of headroom even for Rubel who was 5'9 in height, and was also fixed with cushioned seats. And unlike other small and tight-spaced tricycles, his was very spacious and comfortable to ride in (take that from us since we toured for over 8 hours!). And when it rained during our tours, he made sure to protect us with appropriate plastic covers, which were easily attached on the vehicle.
Are you guilty of overpacking? Fret no more! TRAVEL Magazine's Deputy Editor Monique Buensalido shared her awesome tips on HOW TO PACK LIGHT on GMA News's News to Go!
I recently came from a 5-day trip -- touring around the majestic provinces of Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. For 5 days, 1 day was spent in Vigan, 2 days in Pagudpud and 1 day in Laoag.
Rubel and I had to start our trip early (to the airport that is) since the car was held captive at home due to coding. So we took the MRT, and then went to take the cab from Taft to NAIA Terminal 2. We were flying Philippines Airlines then, so I was super giddy about flying PAL once again.
Rubel and I just got back from Ilocos --- and is very much thrilled about sharing our travel posts real soon. For now, here's an awesome photo from one of our South tour destinations in Burgos, Ilocos Norte --- the famous Kapurpurawan Rock Formation! :)
I've previously posted my first batch of Starbucks Global Icon Series Mugs, from which the following mugs are already sitting pretty on my display shelf: Korea, Seoul, China and Macau.
But as of May, more mini-mugs (and one big mug) have been added to my collection! Here's my latest additions:
So happy with my new mugs especially with my MANILA addition! Thank you also to my GF Clarice for bringing home Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, to Juneee for my Thailand and Bangkok, Rick and Robin for my New York Mug, and to my honey for bringing me my Cebu and Philippines mini-mugs! :)
I haven't been to both Malaysia and New York, but I requested for these anyway. Here's to hoping that I get to visit both destinations soon, especially NYC! :)
Meeting the awesome team behind Meet Manila was an enriching and humbling experience. Getting invited to their launch party was to me, by a long shot. I've never considered myself to be well-known in the travel blogging community just yet so I was surprised. But I owe it to my amazing followers who've been supportive of every journey that I've made.
Meet Manila's Launch Party - 'Tertulia Night'
The launch of Meet Manila introduced the 'Tertulia Night'. I actually had no clue as to what a Tertulia meant, all the more what transpired from such an event. And as I've been enlightened of its true meaning later on, I suddenly felt real excitement for this 'upcoming social gathering'. Now, it wasn't your typical 'party'. The 'Tertulia' itself meant more like an evening affair or a soiree of sorts. So you can just imagine a festive occasion where some of the most inspiring Filipino individuals come together to share their personal views and to meet for the same causes.
Budget Biyahera is truly honored to have been invited to Meet Manila's awesome launch party, and to be picked as one of the Empowered Travelers! Cheers to #ThoughtfulTourism!! :)
My family (well most of us) went on a 3D/2N beach getaway just this week -- a trip that was bound for Laiya, Batangas. Now, I've heard about the hype when it came to the well-maintained shores of Laiya, and how most resorts don't usually allow any cooking to be done within their premises. But since we were a BIG family, my cousin and I went ahead of ourselves to find that distinct resort that would accommodate both our quantity and our need to cook our own food. This was the only way that we could really save and stay within our budget. Soon enough, Kabayan Resort resurfaced from our endless google searching. And as early as February, we were already booked.
Three weeks ago, I was invited to this awesome travel website launch party (the country’s newest and most comprehensive travel portal wherein #ThoughtfulTourism is promoted) via Twitter. I honestly didn't know anything about Meet Manila nor the meaning of the word 'Tertulia' then. But I felt truly overwhelmed to be invited as a traveler blogger. Being recognized just that tiny bit made feel so honored! :) So I RSVP'd and got really excited thereafter.
My family and I recently went on a swimming escapade a few days ago, and it was set as a whole day affair. The venue was also just a short walk from our house so everybody was thrilled about that. It was also recently when the private pool was discovered. So my Kuya had it reserved right away (from 10 am to 6 pm).
I wasn't supposed to join them since I had so much work to do. But when I dropped-by to check out the pool, I was almost ready to jump into this enchanting abyss! The 6-feet deep pool was so inviting considering that it was sweltering that day. I went home right away to change into my swimsuit!
Oh, before I forget --- each of us, regardless if we were swimming or not were charged Php150 each. It was a bit pricey since we were 16 inside the premises. So we just made sure to make the most out of the place.
The little kids, trying out the deepest part of the pool.
My brother and I weren't supposed to go to Nido Fortified's Science Discovery Center in Mall of Asia. But since we were already in the area (coming from PAL's Rally to Bali event last Saturday), we opted to meet with my cousins. My niece and nephews also came along so that was actually more fun for everyone.
Anyway, my Kuya treated all of us to free passes (tickets were sold at Php330 for adults and Php300 for kids). We were about 11 people who came into the center. Now, our tickets also came with free popcorn and a Milo drink, plus two Planetarium shows -- one was about the universe, and the other was the One World One Sky: Big Bird‘s Adventure.
YES! A short travel within the solar system for only Php330! How cool is that?!
Anyhow, since we came in a bit late in the afternoon, we opted to start our tour by watching the Planetarium presentations. The first projected show was actually more interesting compared to Big Bird's adventure. But the latter was a more obvious hit for the kids since they enjoyed interacting with 'Elmo' and "Big Bird' all throughout the show.
After the Planetarium, we checked out the Grossology and Smart Media City -- both of which can be accessed on the first floor.
As you all know, I recently joined a Twitter contest that was hosted by Philippine Airlines. If you've heard about the Rally to Bali promo, then you've surely heard about the amazing prizes that came with this exciting game.
For starters, PAL required each participant to follow @flyPAL and @PALMabuhayMiles to qualify for the contest. They've also asked each follower to tweet the reason for wanting to visit and fly to Bali, to mention @flyPAL, along with the hashtag #FREEBaliSwingAround. This was what I tweeted then:
If you're a Budget Biyahera (or Biyahero) and a certified Filipino citizen just like me, then you should definitely check this list of countries that will allow you entry without getting any visa/s (for tourist visit only). Of course, you will still need a Philippine passport that is valid for six months beyond your date of entry.
Asia / ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
Brunei Darussalam - 14 days
Cambodia - 21 days
Indonesia - 30 days
Laos - 30 days
Malaysia - 30 days (you should at least have 500USD pocket money)
As you all know, I've recently been a part of an African adventure -- an African cultural show that is. I know that some of my readers have left wonderful messages, bidding me a pleasant travel to Africa, and to take lots of photos from my international trip (special mention to Patricia, Mrs. Kolca, and Philip). I had fun but I didn't get to take that many photos of the show itself (I was prohibited from doing so).
As I've said, I really didn't go to Africa. I was just invited to watch a show that would feature much of the continent's arts and culture. I recently won a Twitter contest that was sponsored by SOLAR's 2nd Avenue, and they gave away 2 tickets to 10 winners each. And what was given to me were 2 Premiere Left tickets to CIRQUE MOTHER AFRICA. Yes, I had front row seats, and we loved the view!
I recently read through the comments of those who wanted to join World Nomads Travel Writing Scholarship. Sadly, I came upon this confirmation that I am no longer eligible to join. A professional writer of any sort (travel writer or otherwise) won't be allowed to apply, especially if 25% of their income comes from writing.
All along I thought that I was exempted since I was writing for a different niche. Well, I already wrote my contribution. But instead of deleting it completely from the system, I decided to just post my entry here instead. In that way, I still get to share my story.
Anyway, the topic that I picked out was 'Seeing The World Through Others Eyes'. Enjoy!
It's going to be a year from now since I last set foot inside the Korean Embassy. I am a QC resident so getting to the embassy in Taguig was a long travel. But since my brother and I needed a visa for a trip then, we braved the roads towards the south area.
My Kuya, my younger brother and I were invited to partake in Jeonju's International Film Festival, so we made sure to apply for our respective visa's right away. My boyfriend who's been to South Korea several times now (for work purposes), was able to help me compile all of our visa requirements.
Now, the Korean Embassy has standard requirements. You will find a complete list below:
1) Application form duly filled in and signed. The form can be obtained on this link.
2) One passport sized colored picture
3) Original passport and a copy of the first page (not less than 6 months valid)
4) Photocopy and original of previous and valid visas to U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, or Korea.
I started my Starbucks Mug collection back in 2011 after seeing the same collection from a blogger that I used to follow. I was so amazed by her shot-glass-size souvenirs that I promised to get myself the same collectible after every visit to a new foreign country.
My first set was bought in Jeonju, Korea last year. I was also lucky since Jeonju only had one Starbucks shop, which was just a 10-minute walk from our hotel. Now, the shop wasn't selling an actual Jeonju-printed mug. They only had Korea and Seoul available. I guess I could consider Seoul since I had to pass through it on my way to Incheon. =D
Now, my second pair of Starbucks mini-mugs were purchased in Hong Kong. But the mugs that I have now are of Macau's and China's (been to Shenzhen so this counts). But I've been to both places too. I just need to get the ones that has Hong Kong printed on it. I actually had to ask my friend in Hong Kong to buy me the mugs since I kept forgetting during my two previous trips there.
I've also been to Singapore (twice now) and Thailand (Bangkok & Pattaya). But I didn't get the chance to visit any Starbucks stores then. Thus my still, incomplete collection. But my friend who is based in Bangkok recently updated me about a possible BKK mug sighting. So here's to hoping that I get my third set soon! =)
Ok, so I just read that there are also local icon mugs here in the Philippines (mugs from Baguio, Batangas, Boracay, CDO, Cebu, Manila, Tagaytay, and more!) I'm just not sure if these are still available. But if these babies are still out in the market, then I can't wait to get my hands on them too!
Anyway, what do you collect from your travels? Care to share your precious finds? =)
Check out TURISTA MAGAZINE on Facebook, and have a chance to shine! Post a picture of you on your favorite beach found in the Philippines (with a brief explanation why) and get a chance to be published on Turista's next issue! They will be choosing three, so good luck guys!
I recently read a post from a nice lady blogger about her recent trip to Enchanted Kingdom. Then it suddenly dawned on me that I haven't made a single post about my own trips to the theme park. So here it is!
I've been to Enchanted Kingdom several times now. My first time was when I was a senior in high school, and the second time was during my first semester in college. The last two recent trips were with family and friends.
My two latest trips to EK was back in November 2007 (my birthday celebration) and January 2011 (my surprise birthday treat for my boyfriend). Here are some of the photos.
If you booked your flight/s with Cebu Pacific via their website, then you've probably chosen either of their three payment options. You can choose to pay (1) through your credit card, (2) through Bancnet, (3) or Over-The-Counter.
Now, I've usually used the first payment option. But when I no longer had any credit card to use, I would resort to the last mode of payment --- and that's to pay through Banco De Oro (amongst other alternatives). But it was just a few days ago that I stumbled upon a somewhat perplexing question: what details do I put on the BDO slip? Cebu Pacific didn't provide a set of handy instructions for this certain matter.
So I had to google it, in hopes that I will not go into a BDO bank oblivious of what to write. But unfortunately, I didn't find any valuable information to my rescue. And so, I just approached the bank teller for further instructions, with a copy of my confirmation #.
Here's what was instructed of me:
1) PRINT or NOTE down the confirmation number (you'll see this on the flight itinerary).
2) Ask the bank teller for the ORANGE Payment Slip, as you won't find this in any of their slip/brochure counters (I don't know what those are called).
I've been disheartened for like the nth time, every time a US consul pulls out that notorious 'blue paper'. And for some reason, the different consuls that came to review my application, didn't seem to find me credible of my words. Thus witholding me of a chance to visit the rest of my family in Houston.
I've already been rejected of a US Visa three times, and I don't think I want to try anytime soon. Family members have tried to figure out the deal in every ordeal but would just end up thinking that I may have probably been denied mainly because I was a single woman, who came with pretty good genes. *=P The consuls may not believe that I am an honest businesswoman, then that's just their word against mine. I know who I am, and I never had any intentions of going TNT in the US nor marrying a US citizen for a green card.
So in lieu of this entry, I would like to turn my rejections into a positive one. I hope that with this post, that I may be able to help out anyone who's planning on getting that most sought after document on their passport's.
I once visited The La Mesa Watershed and Ecopark with Rubel's family. And believe me, I was awe-stricken! Who would've thought that an eco-friendly park was just a drive away? I am a QC resident, so it was a treat for someone like me to get the opportunity to experience a park that was just so near to me.
Every type of traveler, whether a big-spender or the budget conscious kind, will always have their own financial perspective. For me, I think I've still managed to keep my trips budget-friendly without having to spend beyond my means and without compromising the value in every journey made.
*A Budget is a plan that outlines an organization's financial and operational goals. So a budget may be thought of as an action plan; planning a budget helps a business allocate resources, evaluate performance, and formulate plans. - About.com*
In my own way, I get to travel without having to sacrifice the comfort and thrills of my trips. That to me is always an awesome plan. And as long as I stay in my budget, I will always consider myself to be the budget traveler. =)
I was still rocking a Nikon D40 at the time, so we were always excited about using it. And since we wanted to maximize the DSLR, we decided to go on a DIY Photo Walk. Rubel and I managed to drive all the way to Intramuros just so we could experience the very idea of 'walking while taking photos'. Intramuros was definitely the perfect venue as the sights were so picturesque.
Here are just some of the photos that we both took during that february afternoon (back in 2010):
Did you go to this weekend's Travel Expo at SMX Convention? I did!!!
Well, to cap thing's off, the expo ran from February 17-19, 2012. I went on a Friday, so I was hoping there weren't going to be too many people yet. But since Rubel and I only took the MRT going to Mall of Asia (MOA), we already got there around 10 am. The line was pretty long by then, and it stretched and curved towards the direction of the newest MOA Eye. But waiting in line didn't take that long.
{January 28, 2012} Our Day Tour for our second day in Coron consisted of the following sites: Kayangan Lake, Twin Lagoon, Banol Beach, Coral Gardens, and Siete Pecados Marine Sanctuary. We were picked-up at the resort at 9:30 am. The tour also ended at exactly 4:30 pm.
{January 27, 2012} We wanted to maximize our weekend, so we booked an extra tour from Ms. Cherry. She suggested that we go for the Day Tour right after checking-in at the resort. Now, our schedule was tight since our flight to Coron arrived late in the afternoon. And with that, we've only managed to squeeze in two hours on our impromptu tour (5-7PM).
For our first afternoon in the island, our tour guide Jhun, took us straight to Mt. Tapyas. I wasn't able to do any research on this particular place, so I was caught off guard when he said that we needed to do "a little climb up the mountain". LITTLE ALRIGHT! We actually needed to climb 700 steps before reaching the summit; and climbing 700 steps wasn't a joke to someone as unfit as me.
It was my first time to ride AirPhil Express. And it was also our first time to visit Coron. At the onset of our journey, Airphil departed on time (unlike our Bohol flight via Cebu Pacific). We also got to land 15 minutes earlier than expected. Apart from that, it was also my first time to ride a prop plane (propeller), so it was a scary experience for me having to feel all the bumps up in the air. There was also another setback to that specific flight, and that was the plane's airconditioning. Believe it or not, we were sweating throughout the entire trip; and I felt claustrophobic just feeling the heat inside the airplane. It was definitely something that we had to charge to experience.
Bohol Bee Farm will always have a special place in my heart...
I love their staff. I love their organic food (although too much of their honey ranch dressing on most of their dishes are nakaka-umay na!). I love their ambiance. I love their rooms. I love the look of their restaurant. I love their organic gardens. I love their organic products. I love their sun deck. I love the view. I love everything about them!
Bohol Bee Farm never fails. Not only did they serve a mean buffet breakfast (there's ham, fish sticks, vegetable and fruit salad, squash/kamote bread, etc.). They also offered the best seats in the house. Other than that, I was also able to greet my boyfriend a 'happy birthday', while dining by the seaside. And not only were we seated with a really beautiful view in sight, the sun was also rising to greet my beloved a happy 30th. It was priceless!
{January 22, 2012} The fun part about being a freelance writer is that I get to be online all the time. Other than using the internet to supply the necessary resources for my 'work', the world wide web has also helped me find the best travel deals online, much like Cebu Pacific's PISO SALE.
Cebu Pacific typically hosts this particular promo a few times in a year (probably 2-3 times annually). And I was actually lucky to get two piso slots last year (April 2011 to be exact) considering the traffic that goes on after it is posted. I also availed of the promo for a trip to Bohol. Now, the piso sale that applied to my booking was only one-way (MNL-TAG only) since most of the schedules were already purchased. Nonetheless, it was still a big help to a budget conscious traveler like me.
I booked the trip for January 2012. And since I paid for the tickets on April, it gave me 9 more months to save up for the trip. I also bought the tickets as an advance birthday gift for my boyfriend, who was celebrating his 30th on January. I wanted to surprise him but failed at keeping it a secret. =P
Now, the 9 months gave me not just time to save up. It also gave me the chance to book our accommodations in advance. And as I was doing my usual research, I came across this very organic resort. True to its word, Bohol Bee Farm is a resort like no other. I loved it instantly!
Nothing beats relaxing by the beach. More so, experiencing the different wonders of the Philippines. #itsmorefuninthephilippines
I have been on and off board airplanes, hopping from one island to another in just a span of 7 days. I was just in Bohol (my 2nd time there), and was back again at the airport for another getaway. But this time, I spent the weekend in Coron with my love.
Our family in Florida gifted us with some moolah over the holiday's. So given our Christmas blessings, Kuya EJ and I decided to spend the money on an out-of-town trip. I initially suggested that we take the family out of town for his birthday instead of just checking-in at a hotel. After our talks, we finally decided to celebrate his 41st birthday at Loreland Farm Resort, Antipolo. The resort looked very family-friendly. Plus, it was just an hour's drive from Quezon City.
Early last year, a couple of online group buying sites started popping out of nowhere. It started leaving me and a thousand others glued on to our monitors for another great buy to pop out. What's there to lose from these deals, right? Well, there have been a lot of great discounts... or so I kept telling myself. But then I realized that these money-saving tactics weren't much of a saving-approach for me. So I stopped purchasing late last year (well, that's just me).
Ok so last July, a hard-to-pass-up deal was posted online; and it was sold on Metrodeal.com. Since they were only selling each voucher for P250 per person, I immediately got my credit card for a quick purchase. I then paid for P1,000 worth of vouchers.
In this particular case, I didn't want to loose the opportunity to get into a cruise, that offered a sumptuous buffet dinner, while sailing through Manila Bay. Now, the description from the posting was promising, and the words of the writer really caught my attention. Other than that, the photos that were on the ad drew me closer to a purchase. So I got tempted. An inexpensive, special getaway, right? Well, see the posting for yourself:
My last day in SIN was dragging my feet. I wasn't ready to go back home yet. But then I was running out of money, and of course, I missed my family in MNL too. So I woke up real early to fix my stuff, then headed out to the bus station at Compassvale. Carlo, my cousin Kate's husband, gave me instructions on the commute that I was about to take. I no longer had to take the MTR, since I was told that it would eat more of my time. I was actually nervous about taking the bus alone, given the heavy luggage that I had in tow. But then I had no choice but to stay focused for the whole hour's drive. But God was good, as he directed me safely to the right terminal! =D Yahoo for that!
Basically, Day 5 was spent lounging around my in-laws residence. I helped around the house, packed some last minute stuff, and played with the little boys as promised.
I spent most of the day with the family (had one last dinner with them at Causeway Point Shopping Centre) before transferring to my cousin's place at Compassvale. Compassvale was a bit far from Woodlands, and it required a few MRT train transfers. So the whole trip probably took a good hour before I reached my final destination.
My fourth day in Singapore was also the bf's last (since he had to go back to work the next day). So for his last day, his family and I went our for lunch at the Sembawang Mall where Aston's was. They served us steaks, sausages, and other appetizers that were really sumptuous. They weren't that cheap though. But you can definitely say that their food is well worth the costs.
Aston's food and ambiance were definitely impressive. But how about an outdoor mini-waterpark in the mall? How cool is that! I felt like a kid again, as I played with the little Campos' boys. I was actually told that most of the malls in Singapore had their own water playground. His sister-in-law and I were talking about it, and she told me how the playground benefits her as a mother of two. How? Well, while she's doing the groceries, her husband will simply looks after the boys. She goes off and does her errands without any distractions. And when she's finally done doing her chores, which goes for at least 2 hours, her kids would already be tired from playing. They would all be ready to pack up and go home. Everyone would be so tried, but happy and fulfilled.
Anyway, I had my fair share of the waterpark. But I didn't bathe all out (just my feet and hands) since I didn't bring any change of clothes. Moving along, we left with some Gong Cha Tea drinks on hand before heading back to the house. He actually did some last minute packing before all of us left for the airport.
There was also an ongoing sale at the time, so we decided to leave the house early. The sale was held at the Convention Center (by the airport), so we still had some time to spare before dropping Rubel off at the terminal. Fortunately, he got to avail this really great deal on an LG LED TV.
My Day 4 in SIN ended with some Carl's Jr. dinner, a tight hug and a smooch from the boyfriend. The rest of the night was spent commuting back home. We also took the bus from the airport, before alighting to a second bus that would take us back to the Woodlands area. Now, one more thing that's great about Singapore is that the country provides a very convenient and accessible transportation system (much like HKG's). Here's to hoping that our own country gets to experience the same facilities in the near future! Slowly but surely, we will get there!
Our third day in SIN was spent just going around SIM LIM Square (I also got myself a mocha ice cream sandwich, which I ate on the way there). And since Rubel wanted to build his own CPU, we went around the entire Sim Lim building looking for potential monitors and computer parts. He didn't get to see any of the stuff that he wanted/needed throughout our 'walk', but I did! I was actually able to buy an extra memory card for my point-and-shoot, a cool 4GB purple Sandisk cruzer USB, a black laptop sleeve, and a purple laptop keyboard protector.
I went back to Singapore last year (first week of November to be exact). I wanted to treat myself on my birthday, so my boyfriend and I started planning the trip. He was already booked months early for his travel to SIN via PAL, so I decided to join him. But since PAL rates were a bit expensive, I booked via Cebu Pacific. And the fun part about it was that he paid for my ticket as an early birthday gift. Yeah!
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.
