Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts

Scariest and Weirdest Trip Ever

I don’t know if I believe in ghost or any other supernatural beings. I have experienced a lot of “weird stuff” in my own home and in some places that I travelled to and I always try to find the logic behind those “scary moments” that I encounter although sometimes there really is no explanation.

My scariest and weirdest trip would probably be the one in Baguio City. This happened a couple of years ago. Me and my friends went to Sagada for a couple of days and went down to Baguio to meet up another friend.

As soon as we arrived in Baguio, we started hunting down some hostel or cheap hotels within the city. We found one near SM Baguio and the price fitted our budget perfectly.

The four of us were resting on our beds watching TV when we heard some knocks on our door. Since I was the one near the door, I opened it and to my surprised, there was no one there. So I just ignored whatever it was.

I went back to my bed and tucked myself inside the cozy comforter. I continued watching TV when I felt that the comforter was like being pulled from below. I just pulled it up again and continued watching.

And then, it happened again. I didn’t move and I held on to the comforter, and f*CK someone was really pulling down the comforter. I glanced at my friends and all of them were glued on the TV show that they're watching. "Who the hell is pulling down the sheets then?"

WTF!??!?

I got off the bed and looked. The comforter was neatly tucked. Maybe it was just my imagination. I untucked the comforter and put everything on my bed. My friends were puzzled with what I did. I didn’t bother to tell them about it.

And then we heard some knocking again, I opened it again, and there’s no one. The knocking happened repeatedly until we just gave up and concluded that maybe it’s the neighbouring rooms that we kept on hearing.

The following morning I talked to the receptionists and asked if they had a lot of guests last night. She said that there were no other people in the entire floor where we were staying except us. WTF!??!?

How about you? What’s your scariest travel moment?

Flick Creative Commons Attribution Pic by Nikko Russano

Three Places that Made me Cry

Travel is all about fun and laughter, right. That’s what I thought. I travel to have fun, to enjoy, to meet people, to party and sometimes to get drunk... until I get to these places that slapped me in the face and woke me up.

Hiroshima, Japan (Peace Memorial Museum)

As you walked inside the museum, nothing seems to be special. It’s just an ordinary museum that showcases some relics of the past. I followed wherever the crowd was going, and tried to read everything that was posted on the wall. Until one particular poster hit me. I could not exactly remember the exact line but it says something like, ‘For we shall not repeat the evil.” I was overwhelmed. The statement is not nationalistic, doesn’t bear any hatred, might have a little regret but most importantly there’s a conviction that the place where one of the biggest tragedies in the world happened will serve as the same place where peace would flourish.

Varanasi, India (Burning Ghats)

This was the first time ever in my life where I saw many people grieving (silently) over their departed ones. They burn one body after the other. Families waited for their turn to bid their final goodbyes to their loved ones thru the process of burning. And ironically, the place where I always see and feel death, would be the same place where I was when my grandma died back home.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (S21 Genocide Museum)

Murray, the guy that I told you about in my previous article asked me not to miss S21 when I go to Cambodia. I didn’t know about this place back then. I only knew about the Killing Fields. I entered the museum which used to be a school turned into a prison during the Khmer Rouge era, and just went through the rooms one by one. I read the notes on the wall and took a lot of pictures. And the more posters I read, and the more pictures I looked at, the heavier the feeling became, until I wasn’t able to hold myself together anymore. Tears fell off and I immediately went out. I lit a cigarette and I burst into tears. I could not believe how cruel man can be. I calmed myself and continued on.

Travel is not just a medium to get drunk, laid or whatever. Most importantly, it’s a medium where we can all learn who we were, who we are and who we want to be.

How about you? Have you been to a place that made you cry?

I received an email last week from Lauren of Abandon the Cube about an update on the Mongol Rally, a charity event that will benefit Mercy Mongolia. I was thrilled to know that they were able to achieve their target.

A brief information about Mongol Rally from ATC:

"The Mongol Rally began several years ago as a way to make the world less boring and to help our fellow man in the process. 500 cars depart from London, Spain, and Italy simultaneously, and race to Mongolia to donate their cars and an additional $1,700 USD to Mercy Mongolia."

The Route (Pic Courtesy of ATC)

Here's Lauren's short report about their participation in the Mongol Rally.

"The 2010 Mongol Rally was much dirtier, harder and longer than we anticipated when we began planning for it in 2009. We crossed fifteen countries in roughly 40 days, some 10,000 miles, in a tiny Citroen Saxo on dirt roads and without a map. It wasn't always easy but it was always an adventure-- and one we'll remember for a lifetime.

A Memory that will Last a Lifetime (Pic Courtesy of ATC)

Some of the most memorable occurrences on the rally were not the 'up' times but the 'down' ones. We found out the morning after crossing the particularly difficult border of Ukraine-Russia that a rallier had died in a car accident. It was sobering and devastating. Everyone who participated in the rally felt the loss and, for the duration of the trip, kept the loss in their minds. The morning we crossed into Mongolia we drove around a corner to see one of our friend's cars in a ditch, glass and steel everywhere and their belongings strewn out across the steppe. They suffered broken ribs, but were lucky to have walked away. The rally had some rough moments for everyone, and challenged us in ways we didn't expect and couldn't have imagined.

There were many great times as well. We met people from all over the world. Our convoy included people from six nations. Interacting with people from around the globe on a daily basis was enlightening and uplifting, and to be blunt meeting these people was the joy of the rally for us. We met dozens of amazing locals on our travels who invited us into their homes and into their culture with open arms.

We managed to raise our goal in funds for Mercy Corps- Mongolia. It was a great joy to see that goal achieved while we were on the Steppe. Our last and goal-clenching donation came through as we were on the rally and it was cheered by dozens of people when announced to the convoy. We all saw the need for this money while in Mongolia, and I believe the rally does some real good."

Success!!! (Pic Courtesy of ATC)

Congratulations to ATC and to the other teams who joined the Mongol Rally! 'hope I could join you guys in a couple of years.

How to Earn Miles Fast from your Credit Card

How to Travel the World for Free:

Tip#2: How to Earn Miles Fast from your Credit Card

Last week, I’ve shared with you various credit card in the Philippines that can help you earn miles that you can exchange for a free ticket. This week I’ll be talking about how to earn miles fast.

There are various ways on how to earn miles fast from your credit card, here are some of them:

1. Charge Everything to Your Card: Charge your movie tickets, groceries, gas, etc to your credit card. Make sure that you plan this properly to avoid being in debt with your credit card company. I only charge what I can pay in a month. This is to avoid paying those high interest rates that they charge.

2. Let Them Ride: Let your friends ride on your credit card, as long as they can pay you in cash. I usually ask my friends if they’re planning to buy something and I usually swipe it for them and they always pay me in cash. I immediately pay my bank to avoid incurring interest. The last quarter of the year might be the best time to do this because most people are gearing towards buying high-end items using their hard earned 13th month pay. Swipe it for them!

3. Party and Earn Miles: Do you fancy going out for dinners with your friends? Then why not pay the bill using your credit card. We usually go Dutch, collect their share and pay the entire bill using your card.

4. Be on the Lookout: One time I was browsing the net and I saw a promo from Philippine Airlines. You get to redeem a roundtrip ticket to Hongkong from Manila for only 4000 Premier Miles. Watch out for this kind of promotions and you’ll be flying in no time.

Warning: Do not follow the above instructions if you’re not in control of your finances. You might end up in debt if you don’t pay in time. Credit Card is a tool that can either help or break you. Make it help you!

Next week: Top Four Ways to Earn Miles without Flying

How to Travel the World for Free: Get Miles from your Credit Card

How to Travel the World for Free

Have you always fantasized about travelling the world but feels that you don’t have enough money to spare? Well, worry no more... I’ll be sharing tips and tricks on how to travel the world for free.

There are countless of opportunities that exist around us that we take for granted. These are things that when given an additional strategy can help us travel the world, one destination at a time.

I’ve decided to come up with this list of tips to help my friends and my fellow travellers get on the road.

Tip #1: Get Miles from your Credit Card

This will vary depending on where you are located. But for those who are in the Philippines, there are various credit card companies that have business tie ups with some airlines. Instead of earning points, you’ll earn miles.

What are the Cards that Offer Miles?

1. HSBC Mabuhay Miles: You earn one Mabuhay Mile for every P45 you charge on your credit card. You can redeem your free flights to PAL as soon as you accumulate the corresponding number of miles.

2. Standard Chartered: You earn one point for every P10 charged to your credit card. You have an option to convert your points to miles (example: 2860 points for 500 Asia Miles). You can convert to either Mabuhay Miles, Asia Miles or Kris Flyers... talk about options huh!

3. Cathay Pacific American Express Card: you earn one Asia Mile for every P42 you charge on your credit card and the miles will then be automatically transferred to your Asia Miles account every month... talk about convenience huh!

4. Go Mastercard: Use your card and earn points than can be redeemed for a Free Cebu Pacific Flight

5. BPI Skymiles: It used to be called BPI Worldperks, but to the merging of Northwest and Delta, the name has been changed to BPI Skymiles. You earn one mile for every P45 you charge on your credit card.

6. Citibank Premier Miles: This is by far my favorite miles card. It gives you the flexibility to transfer your miles to Cathay Pacific Airways, Delta Air Lines, Philippine Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways. You also earn one mile for every P45 you spend. You earn free travel insurance once you charge your ticket to this card and it will never expire.

(Note: Check out the credit cards respective websites to get more details.)

Next Week: How to Earn Miles Fast???

My Top Three Cruise Destination

I’ve been dreaming of boarding a cruise ship at least once in my life even when I was still a kid. But that seem to be a little far fetch for me during that time. I was still in school and my daily allowance is just below a dollar.

As years go by, I have never forgotten about that dream of cruising in some far flung places. I remember as I was walking along the streets of Hanoi, I noticed that most travel shops were selling some tickets for the Halong Bay cruise. I was under the impression that it would be very expensive for me until I found a shop that sold me a very cheap overnight Halong Bay cruise package. It was pretty basic considering the money that I paid for it, the boat was just ok but the experience was really amazing.

Now that I’m working (and saving of course), I’m thinking of going on a cruise adventure again. Although I still don’t know when and where, I’m just searching the internet for some information about discount cruises that I might be able to avail after a year or two.

Here are my top three picks for cruise destinations.

Scandinavia: The Fjords

Flickr Creative Commons by gorfor.

The pictures in the internet were already enough to entice me to see this majestic landscape. Now it’s just a matter of saving and getting a visa (or maybe finding a job that would send me to Scandinavia).

Amazon River

Flickr Creative Commons by L.Marcio_Ramalho.

This gigantic river is one of my top destinations in the near future. Cruising along the Amazon River is definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I’ve heard that there are a lot of boats that offer cheap cruises in the Amazon. It’s also a chance for me to see a lot of animals in their natural habitat.

Antarctic Cruise

Flickr Creative Commons by 23am.com.

I’ve told some of my friends about this idea and they said I’m crazy. They even said that there’s nothing to see there but ice (of course! and maybe some penguinsJ). Nevertheless, those comments didn’t stop me from dreaming of seeing Antarctica in the future. It seems to be a magical experience to see the southernmost part of the planet. I’m thinking of traversing the South American continent until I reach Patagonia and then hop on a boat from there to see Antarctica.

I even had a chat once with a Filipino who’s been to a cruise before in the Antarctic (and I was so envious). He told me that the easiest way to do it is to book it from a cruise company in the US, since that’s the same thing that he did. He also said that there are many discount cruises available from cruise companies in the US. After searching around for some cruise deals, I came across discountcruises . com and now I am really looking forward to planning a trip to Antarctica.

Note: This is a sponsored post but the opinion is 100% mine.

Am I Ready for Some Extreme Adventure?

I’ve travelled for sometime but never did I think of engaging into any extreme adventure. I was thinking back then of bungee jumping in Macau but then again my budget wouldn’t let me and I don’t think I have the guts to do it during that time.

The most “extreme” adventure that I had when I was backpacking was biking, yeah I know it isn’t really an extreme sport but biking side by side with huge trucks in Vietnam is.

These kinds of extreme adventure would definitely be a hell lot of fun not to mention a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something daring.

Since I’m also planning of backpacking again after a year or two, I came up with my own list of extreme adventure that I want to try when that time comes.

Hot Air Balloon Over Guillin, China

I went to Gullin last year and I just fell in love with the beautiful karsts that surrounds the area. I was just speechless as I rode a raft down the river while staring at the beautiful scenery. I saw a shop that was offering a Hot Air Balloon ride, though I didn’t bother to ask for the price since I know that I might not be able to afford it. But I will definitely go back to Guillin just to wonder at the beautiful landscape while riding the Hot Air Balloon.

Flickr Creative Commons by Alex Schwab.

Great White shark cage Diving in South Africa

I like animals and whenever I travel, I make sure that I visit the local zoo. One animal that amazes me is the Great White Shark, though I wouldn’t dare to swim near them though except if I’m in the safety of a cage. These animals are gigantic and damn scary, probably one of the greatest predator on earth and it would be such a cool experience to do that. (I’ve swam with Whale Sharks this year , though it’s definitely harmless compare to the Great Whites)

Flickr Creative Commons by hermanusbackpackers.

Skydiving in Sydney

I’ve never been to Australia before but I’m planning to visit this continent by next year and I’m thinking of doing something else aside from the usual sightseeing. There are lot of adventurous things to do in Sydney. I’m thinking of skydiving, yeah you heard me right. I want to skydive even if I’m so afraid of heights. This would probably the only activity that would give me the illusion that I’m flying. I’m sure this would be an awesome once in a lifetime experience. Check out Skydiving in Sydney if you’re interested in doing the same thing.

How about you?

Which extreme adventure are you dreaming of doing in the future?

Note: This is a sponsored post but the opinion is 100% mine.

Boracay's Jonah’s vs Starbucks

Jonah’s Fruitshakes and Restaurant has been in the island since time in memorial. I’m not a frequent visitor of Boracay but even before the first time I set my foot on the island I kept on hearing how delicious the shakes are at Jonah’s.

I remember the first time I visited Boracay last 2005, the first thing that I started to look for was Jonah’s. I did try their famous Mango Shake which I can say is very delicious and I also tried the Banana Choco Peanut that captivated my heart or rather my taste buds.

Last February 2010, I went back to the island and went to Jonah’s again for my sweet treat of Banana Choco Peanut, and as I was walking along the lit beach front of Boracay I noticed a familiar signage... “Starbucks”.

As a consumer and a big fan of sweet concoctions I got confused for awhile if I would go straight to Jonah’s or I would just stop at Starbucks. I decided to walk past Starbucks and head to Jonah’s for my day’s dose of sugar.

While sipping my shake, I couldn’t help but think on how long could Jonah’s survive the business, especially now that they have a very strong competitor when it comes to ice blended drinks.

Boracay does not only have Starbucks, but also other big and established restaurants and fastfood chains from Manila. Boracay became a small city-like island with white sand beaches. What would happen to the small enterprising locals then in the islands?

Well, it’s for us consumers to decide. Whoever you patronize will survive the competition.

My Top Ten Travel Mistakes

As travellers, we make decisions, before, during and after our trips. These decisions may or may not help us prolong and enjoy our travel more. Here’s a list of my personal travel related mistakes.

10. Drinking from Tap Water: I did this a couple of times in Kathmandu. Although it didn’t cause me any sickness, I still risked myself on being infected from any water born bacteria.

09. Travelling without Insurance: I’ve had a couple of accidents when I was travelling. I fell off a bike twice in China and broke my smallest toe (right foot) and had a bad bruise on my torso. I didn’t go to any hospital because I didn’t have money. The good thing was that the wounds never got infected. It could have been nice if I had a travel insurance that would cover the cost.

08: Spending too much Money on Cigarettes and Alcohol: I promised myself not to spend too much money on alcohol and cigarettes (especially because I have a ridiculously low budget). But promises are made to be broken anyway hehehe. But after realizing it, that money could have gone somewhere else like food and transportation.

07. Calling Friends and Family using your Home Sim: I sometimes call my friends and family back home using my Philippine sim card. The roaming charges were ridiculously high. I should have opted to buy local sim instead because the call rate is lower. Or better, I should have utilized Skype or Yahoo Messenger instead.

06. Spending too much Time with my Ipod: I should have spent it chatting with the locals or other tourists that I met. I have plenty of time to listen to music when I get back home.

05: Frequent Late Night Outs and Getting Drunk with People I don’t know: There were a few times that I got drunk with people that I don’t know and walked my way back to my hostel alone. That could be a potential risk of getting myself hurt. Luckily, nothing bad happened in any of those occasions.

04. Over-thinking: There were times that I spent a lot of time thinking about bad memories that haunted me wherever I go. Sometimes, I spend a great deal of time worrying and getting myself scared about the future. I should have spent those times enjoying the present moment instead.

03. Not Blogging while I was on the Road: I should have done this while I was on the road because now it’s hard to recall all the details that I wish I could have written.

02. Not Eating Healthy Food: I was trying to minimize the expense by eating cheaper foods and my choices back then were not good. I should have made better choices because there were many healthy options that wouldn’t cost that much. I got sick a couple of times and spent some money on medicines. I could have prevented it by eating healthier foods.

01. Being Too Shy Sometimes: There were times wherein I wanted to join a conversation but was too shy to do so. It could have been an awesome moment if I just let my wall down and enjoyed the moment with fellow travellers.

by frozenmist.

What’s the Future of the Travel Agencies?

I've read an article last week in the local newspaper about an upcoming meeting of the travel agency association here in the Philippines. They're gonna talk about the effect that the low cost carriers has on their business. They seem to be losing some money because people are now booking directly to the airline companies.

The travel agencies seem to have a lucrative business back then when airfare seemed to be out of reach and hotels were the only choice, especially before the era of the internet. But internet has revolutionized the way we purchase travel needs such as tickets and accommodation.

The internet has provided all of us all the information that we need to book everything ourselves. The airline industry also has changed with the presence of low cost carriers that serves different continents. Cheap hostels also abound now anywhere we go.

Independent travellers turned bloggers also provided information on how to travel cheaply on our own. Packaged tours seemed to be the last option for some travellers. More and more travellers seem to prefer the freedom of going to places and doing different stuff on their own pace.

The travel agencies still have their corporate accounts though to profit from. Most companies are still outsourcing their travel needs from those establishments.

But for the independent and leisure travellers, what else do we need from a travel agency?

Hopefully, they could provide more affordable packages that would surely give more value to our money.

What’re your thoughts about this?

by Kossy@FINEDAYS.

Boracay for the Cheapskates

Boracay is a world famous beach in the south of the Philippines. There may be countless websites that were made solely for Boracay. It has been the source of pride for most Filipinos as well. If you’re a foreigner coming to the Philippines, most people will definitely suggest Boracay as one of your prospective destinations.

Some facts about Boracay from Wikipedia

“The island was originally home to the Ati tribe. Boracay is part of Aklan Province, which became an independent province on April 25, 1956. Formerly undiscovered, it wasn't till the 1970s that tourism began to develop in Boracay, and the island became popular with backpackers in the 1980s.Years ago, Boracay Island was a well-guarded secret, almost possessively so that only a few knew of its existence.

It was only in the 70s when, it is said, a foreign movie crew accidentally "discovered" this island paradise. Others maintain that it was the German traveler, 'Jens Peters' book, which included rave reviews of Boracay that changed the island’s pace from that of being a quiet secret to eventually being voted as having the best beach in the world.”

uploaded by flipnomad

We arrived in Jetty Port around 5PM. This was already my third time in this infamous island and I couldn’t wait to just chill and relax but at the same time I was worried with the possible cost that we might incur. Boracay is known to be a little pricey when it comes to almost anything.

We already started paying our dues even before we landed on the shores of this island. We paid P50 for the Terminal fee and P50 for the Environmental Fee. Another P25 went for the boat ride. Wheeew! It’s already P125 even before we boarded the boat.

We were asking some tricycle drivers as soon as we got off the boat regarding some cheap lodgings that they might know. They laughed at us when we mentioned our budget for it. So we just decided to board the tricycle, get off at Station 2 and just walk around and ask around.

Fortunately, a kind, old lady boarded the same tricycle and started chatting with us. We mentioned that we’re looking for a cheap hostel and she suggested that we drop by DepEd and ask if they could accommodate us. And so we did.

We were surprised and grateful that they only asked P250 per head for the room. The room is near the roadside and it’s very clean and well maintained. The staff too were very kind and courteous.

Now that the accommodation concern has been resolved, we started walking along the roadside looking for cheap places to eat. We found a cozy, clean and most of all affordable restaurant near our lodging.

The vegetable dishes cost only P25 and the meat dishes cost around P30 and up. There’s also a nearby water refill station where we usually go to instead of buying bottled water.

Two of my other friends followed soon after a couple of days and spent the rest of the week with us. We had a grand vacation that didn’t break the bank.

I never thought that Boracay could be this affordable for cheapskates like me.

uploaded by flipnomad

You too could have a trip of a lifetime without spending too much. Just ask around and you’ll find a cheap option for almost everything anywhere in the world.

Would you like to share your cheapskate story? Just send flip an email and I’ll post your story here at www.flipnomad.com.

Guimaras and Her Famous Mangoes

On our third day in Iloilo City, we’ve decided to visit Guimaras Island. Guimaras became a household name because of its mangoes and also because of the oil spill that happened a few years back which killed a lot of the local marine and bird species. The island though has completely healed from the sad incident.

Some facts about Guimaras from Wikipedia

“Located southwest of Panay, Guimaras is separated physically from Iloilo by a narrow channel, which takes about fifteen minutes to cross by pumpboat from the Ortiz landing on Iloilo to Jordan. There are two other ways to get there, the Parola wharf in Iloilo to the municipality of Buenavista. The Parola wharf is used exclusively whenever the water is rough. There also is a roll on roll off (RORO) ferry that travels around five times a day and is used by the Iloilo bicycle clubs on Sunday to travel to Guimaras. Geologists opine that the island formed one landmass with Panay in the past. Guimaras was formerly known as Himal-us. Guimaras is also famous for its beaches. Clear blue waters, white sand and marine life rivals that of Boracay. Commonly visited ones are at Roca Encantada, Alubihod and Puerto del Mar.”

Since this trip wasn’t plan at all, we just asked our way around town and found the port that serves Guimaras.

The boat fare was very cheap, I think it was just P13 per person and the trip took just less than ten minutes.

From the pier we decided to take a jeepney going to the Trappist Monastery. I’ve heard a lot about this monastery and made my curiosity and interest grew.

The monastery was of course very serene and quiet. You could actually stay here if you want as long as you get permission prior to getting here.

After visiting the Trappist Monastery, we’ve decided to go to the Pawikan Center where they are currently taking care of two hawksbill turtle and two green sea turtle. It was my first time to see sea turtles and I was ecstatic with the experience.

The most economical way of touring around the island was to hire a tricycle for a couple of hundred pesos. Guimaras is also known for its white sand beaches but we didn’t bother of visiting them anymore because we’re heading to Boracay in a couple of days.

We were on our way back to the pier when we suddenly remembered the main reason why we went to Guimaras. We then asked the tricycle driver to take us to any fruit vendors so we could get a taste of the World Famous Guimaras mangoes.

We bought a kilo for only P50 which is unbelievably cheap. We were so excited to eat it right away but the vendor said that it would be ripe on the following day.

(Too bad we don't have the picture of the ripe ones)

We went back to our hostel in Iloilo City and left the following morning for Boracay.

Everyone’s Crazy about Ukay-Ukay

The following morning, we decided to walk around the city to look for a cheaper hostel. We found one near Robinson’s mall named Family Pension house. The double fan room only cost P450 including breakfast for two which undeniably a good value for our money.

We then explored the city by walking to different nice old churches and to my favourite place, the market.

A lot of people that I met told me that the best way to get a glimpse about the place’s culture is to visit their market. I find it odd but true. Since then I enjoyed visiting different market wherever I go.

One thing that I noticed in the dry market area was that there were a lot of shops selling second hand clothes or locally known as Ukay Ukay.

I honestly don’t know the history of Ukay Ukay, some people said it came from the word “hukay” which literally means ‘to dig”. You’ll definitely do a lot of “digging” because in the usual Ukay stores, the shops were full of heaps and heaps of used clothing, bags and shoes.

I honestly don’t know where the clothes come from. Some people said that it came from Salvation Army, some said it’s supposed to be donations to our poor country, I really don’t know.

But wherever it originated, it became a lucrative business in all parts of the archipelago. A lot of people that I know including myself enjoy finding a nice and unique piece of clothing that suits my style and budget.

I honestly think that it’s not just good for the business, it’s also good for the environment because we’re technically reusing the stuff that the previous owners perceived as not usable for them anymore.

The only worry that I have though is the hygiene. Used clothing may also be a source of some diseases that are easily spread around. I’ve bought and used a lot of shirts I got from Ukay stores and luckily I’ve never been sick though. I usually wash them right away with warm water and antibacterial laundry soap and sometimes I even boil them for a couple of minutes.

Ukay ukay or vintage clothing stores not only exist in the Philippines, but in other countries too. I’ve been to some in Japan and US and find it really interesting though not always economical. Some stores carry vintage items that are considered as collectors’ items thus making the price way higher even to some comparable brand new stuff.

Wherever you are in the Philippines, you’ll definitely find an Ukay Ukay shop near you.

by Keith Bacongco.

Are you also a fan of Ukay Ukay stores? If you know some cheap stores with good finds, kindly post it in the comment below.

Iloilo and La Paz Batchoy

En Route to Roxas City

After more than 24 hours of waiting, we finally left Masbate for Capiz. It took us around nine to ten hours of sailing thru the mildly rough sea before we reached Roxas City.

The boat stopped on some sandy shores of some small islands to pick up sacks of dried fish. I presumed that those goods were to be sold in Panay Island and maybe it would reach our kitchens sometime in the future.

This is also one thing that I enjoy about travelling. I get to observe how goods are made, transported and sold in different parts of the country and the world.

After countless hours of sailing we finally got a glimpse of Panay Island. We entered a crisscrossing waterway lined up with lush mangroves. The view was amazing because you get to see some water birds such as herons and kingfishers flying near the mangrove trees.

As soon as we reached the port, we immediately boarded a tricycle that would take us to the terminal of vans going to different parts of Panay. Upon reaching the terminal I noticed that they have a direct van going to Boracay, but we didn’t took it yet because we were keen in seeing Iloilo and Guimaras first.

Some facts about Panay Island from Wikipedia

“Panay is an island in the Philippines located in the western part of the Visayas. Politically, it is divided into five provinces: Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras, all in the Western Visayas Region. It is located southeast of the island of Mindoro and northwest of Negros, separated by the Guimaras Strait. Between Negros and Panay Islands lie the island-province of Guimaras. To the north is the Sibuyan Sea and the islands of Romblon; to the southwest is the Sulu Sea and the Panay Gulf.”

The Best La Paz Batchoy

After three or four hours on the road we then reached Iloilo City. It was a little late already and we’ve decided to take a jeep that would take us to the center so we could find a place to stay. We walked around the plaza near Nuestra Senora de Candelaria looking for a cheap hostel. Most hostels that we found were charging more than P700 per night for a double room which was way above our budget. We’ve decided to stop by Ted’s for awhile to rest (Ted's and Deco's: recommended by my Ilongga friend) and to try their La Paz Batchoy.

After a few minutes of waiting we finally got a glimpse of the famous batchoy. It’s like a feast for the senses. The smell got me really hungry and the saltiness and spices of the soup were just perfect for my taste buds.

by emzeee

(This batchoy is from Deco's, too bad we forgot to take Ted's batchoy's picture)

After the batchoy treat, we then resumed our hostel hunting activity and went to downtown for a possibility of finding a cheaper hostel, but we didn’t find any. We went back instead to the small hotel we saw along the way and got a good deal.

Vista Inn was a new hotel and their soft opening promotion was only P555 for a double airconditioned room which I thought was a good value for our money compare to the other hostels that we saw. The rooms were really clean and spacious and the staff were really nice and courteous.

One thing that I noticed as well when travelling around the islands was that it’s hard to bargain with the hostels unlike in some Southeast Asian countries I’ve been to. I don’t know why most hostel owners here would rather have an empty bed instead of a discounted bed.

After a long journey over sea and overland, we’ve decided to take some rest.

For more travel information about Iloilo, visit Gigs Ilonggo.

In Transit: Masbate Islands

I don’t know anything about Masbate except for the fact that one of our neighbours used to live there. The only reason why we’ve decided to go to the island was to take another boat that would take us to Iloilo.

Here are some facts about Masbate from Wowbicol.com.

“Like an Indian arrowhead, Masbate lies almost at the center of the Philippine archipelago with its tip pointing towards the north of Asia Gulf extending towards the China Sea. The island province sprawls with verdant rolling hills and green landscape and rich aquatic reserve. The wild wild west comes alive in the island every year. Every May, the country’s local cowboys flock to the capital town of Masbate to display their power over untamed cattle during its festival called Rodeo Filipino. In this international fair, the arena burst with fun and excitement and shouting.”

The boat ride from Pilar, Sorsogon to Masbate City took around four to five hours and cost us P200 per person. It was such a scenic and relaxing boat ride where we saw a lot of small islands with limestone cliffs and we saw some dolphins too.

We only spent one night in the city and we went straight to Kalachuchi the following morning where we would take the boat to Iloilo.

Unfortunately, there were no boats going to Estancia, Iloilo that day but there’s one that’s going to Roxas, Capiz the next day. We’ve decided to spend the night on the boat instead and wait for the Capiz trip.

The place looks like a fishing village. There were a lot of local travellers that were also bound to Iloilo that stayed on the boat like us.

Due to extreme boredom, we’ve decided to make some fishing rod out of some tree branches and some nylon strings that we just found somewhere. We didn’t find any hooks though so we ended up just throwing everything away.

I bought some bread and threw small bits into the water that attracted some fishes. I was so bored and at the same time excited for the trip to Panay Island.

I’m sure there are a lot of nice places to see in Masbate but we didn’t explore that much anymore because we were excited to do an overland trip in Panay Island to Boracay.

After more than twenty four hours of waiting, we finally left Masbate for Capiz. The boat ride was around eight to ten hours and cost us around P400.

A family traveling to Roxas from Masbate

Zip Line and Chili Ice Cream

Kuya Omar, our tour guide in Donsol is well travelled around the Bicol region and he encouraged us to go to Daraga to see the Mayon Volcano and to try the Chili Ice cream in Legazpi City. We were both inclined though in staying overnight with Kuya Rigor prior that conversation and then we changed our minds and went instead to Daraga that afternoon.

The jeepney ride from Donsol to Daraga cost us P55 per person and took an hour and a half. We were then inside the jeepney and decided to transfer on top of it. The two tourists that we met in Donsol also joined us on top of the jeepney. It was such a fun and scenic ride. We passed by some local villages, schools, and markets and after an hour we saw the majestic Mayon Volcano.

It was such a sight to behold. Me and my buddy were just speechless with how beautiful Mt. Mayon is.

We arrived in Daraga around 5PM, and started hunting some cheap hostels around town. We met a tricycle driver that took us to the nearest and cheapest hostel which cost only P250 (around $5) per room with two beds and own bathroom (what a steal right!!!).

We went straight to Lingnon Hills the following morning to catch a nice view of the volcano. We then saw Globe Quest Adventure, an outdoor activities shop offering various tourist services such as rappelling, airsoft, paintball, zip line and ATV ride near the lava flow.

We signed up for the cheapest which is the zip line which only cost P200 per person. It was my second time to do the zip line but the first one was not that high. The zip line ride was exciting and the view was awesome and the pictures were even more amazing (LOL).

After the zip line, we hiked down the hill and went to the nearby zoo to take a peek at some animals. I love seeing animals though I hate to see them in cages.

Walking under the scorching heat of the sun was really tiring. We’ve decided to try the Chili Ice cream at Colonial Grill restaurant in Gaisano Pacific Mall in Legazpi. The Ice cream is creamy and a little spicy for my taste bud. I didn’t like it that much except for its novelty.

Another place that we visited was the Embarcadero in Legazpi City. It’s the center of nightlife in Legazpi where most young people hang out to drink and dine.

Time flew so fast, we barely noticed that we already spent three days in Daraga and Legazpi. We’ve decided that it’s time to move on to another place.

We took a boat in Pilar, Sorsogon that would take us to Masbate.

Close Encounters with the Whale Sharks

I’ve been dying to do this for years but I’ve never had the guts and chance to do it. Last February 2010 one of my best buddies invited me to travel and I didn’t think twice and suggested Donsol, Sorsogon as part of our ever-changing itinerary.

En Route to Donsol

by flipnomad.

We met up at Pasay Terminal of Philtranco and bought our tickets to Donsol. The tickets cost around P900 (AC bus per person) and the bus ride from Manila to Donsol was around 12 hours.

There are different ways to get to Donsol. The first one is via Legazpi City in Albay, you could either take an hour plane ride or a ten hour bus ride. From Legazpi City you could take an hour jeep or bus ride to Donsol via Daraga. The other option is the direct bus ride from Manila to Donsol.

We arrived around five in the morning in Donsol and asked the first tricycle driver we saw for a nearby cheap hostel. Most lodging houses were still closed when we arrived, the driver was kind enough to take us to some people he knows that are renting out some of their rooms. However, the price was way over our budget. We drove around the small town looking for a cheap hostel for a few minutes when an idea popped into my head.

The Legendary Filipino Hospitality

I jokingly asked Kuya Rigor (the tricycle driver) if we could stay in his house for the night and pay him instead. He humbly said that it’s ok if we don’t mind staying in a small nipa house. We said yes and then went to his estate.

It’s a small piece of land with two nipa houses, one for Kuya Rigor and one for his sister who’s a teacher at the nearby school. He let us into his house and advised that we should rest for awhile before we go to the Tourism Visitors Center for the Whale Shark activity.

I asked him if we could only pay him P200 for the space he provided us, and to our amazement he declined and offered it for free. He went back to the bus terminal to wait for more passengers and we rested for awhile. After a couple of hours, he came back with three cups of coffee and some local rice cakes.

The Gentle Giants

Flickr Photo by Christian

We left our bags in his house and went to the Visitors Center around 8AM. The Whale Shark Interaction Tour costs around P3500 per boat. This could only accommodate six people and the price includes the tour guide, the use of life vest and the boat ride itself. You have to rent the snorkelling gears and the fins or you could bring your own if you have.

Prior to the actual activity, you will be required to watch a video about the Whale shark and the conservation effort that is being done to save this creature.

Here are some facts about the whale shark from the tourism brochure.

“The whale shark is the world’s largest fish that feeds on planktons, krill, small fish, squid and invertebrate larvae. Whale sharks or butanding appear in Donsol waters in considerable numbers between December and May, taking advantage of dense food concentration. They are known to grow great lengths of up to 18m, weigh up to 40 tons and live up to 100 years.”

After waiting an hour or two for other visitors that we could share the cost with, we finally boarded the tour boat. Kuya Omar, our tour guide briefed us for some safety measures before we left the shore.

We were all excited as we cruise for our first whale shark. The boatman pointed the direction where he saw a whale shark and we hurriedly jumped off the boat. I was such a slow swimmer and I didn’t see the first whale shark except for its tail but it was already such a grand experience for me that time.

Kuya Omar instructed me to swim close to him so he could assist me on our next sightings. The boatman pointed again the direction of the next whale shark and we all jumped back into the water. I was looking straight and I couldn’t see the whale shark then suddenly the guide made a hand sign to look below. And to my shocked I was just above the whale shark’s head maybe about just a couple of feet away. I was such a wuss and let out a scream (imagine screaming with the snorkelling thingy in your mouth LOL). It was such a huge animal, probably the biggest I’ve seen in my life.

I went back to the boat after that with a huge smile in my face. Damn!!! Luckily they are just plankton feeders. Some stupid thoughts were running in my head like what if that whale shark decided to change its diet to meat while I was swimming close to it or what if the whale shark was on the verge of evolution and became a man-eater that moment.

We stayed on the boat for another hour looking for more whale sharks and swimming with them. It was such an unforgettable and magical experience to swim with the gentle giants of Donsol.

10 Things You Should do in Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital city of Australian state Queensland and is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Australia after Sydney and Melbourne. Situated at Brisbane River and surrounded by Moreton Bay and the Great Dividing Range, Brisbane has lot of things to explore. So if you are planning to visit Brisbane and can’t take a decision about what places you should see in Brisbane then this article is for you. In this article we would highlight the top 10 must go places in Brisbane which you should not miss on your Brisbane tour.

So here we go

Lone Pine Sanctuary

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - One of the top 10 zoos on world according to AOL. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world’s largest koala sanctuary. You can cuddle a koala, feed kangaroos with your hands and explore the diverse Australian wildlife in its natural settings. The Sanctuary is just 50 minutes from Gold Coast and is easily accessible by a private taxi or a local bus.

Brisbane Forest Park

D'Aguilar National Park - D'Aguilar National Park formerly known as Brisbane Forest Park is natural forest reserve located at the doorsteps of Brisbane where you can explore the versatile Aussie Wildlife, beautiful waterways and plants in their natural conditions. The park provides with excellent bird watching and camping opportunities to the visitors.

Wheel of Brisbane

Wheel of Brisbane – Wheel of Brisbane at South Bank is one of the latest tourist attractions in Brisbane. The giant Ferris wheel was installed on the 20th anniversary of World Expo 88. The wheel contains 42 air conditioned capsules (gondolas). The wheel would take you to the height of 60 meters so that you can enjoy the spectacular view of the city. Wheel is opened seven days a week from 10 am -10 pm.

Adventure Climb on Story Bridge - Brisbane Story Bridge Adventure Climb is a unique adventure experience ideal for all level of ages. It is one of the three adventure bridge climbs available in the world. You would experience the beautiful and panoramic uninterrupted 360 degree views of the Brisbane city during this 2.5 hour adventure climb.

Botanical Gardens Brisbane – Botanical gardens located at 7 km from Brisbane in Toowong is a great way to spend some quality time away from the crowd and noise of city life. It is a great place where you can relax and forget all your tensions. Botanical gardens are open 24 hours a day and are free of charge for visitors.

Whale Watching – Brisbane is the world’s best watching area where you can enjoy the stunning views of ocean’s beautiful creature “Whales”. The whale watching tours are organized in the Moreton Bay area with guaranteed sightings of whales and other rare sea animals like dolphins, Green turtles etc.

Sumptuous Seafood – Brisbane is Famous for its sumptuous, delicious and delightful seafood buffets all across the world. Brisbane contains some of the finest seafood destinations of the world where you can enjoy the freshest and exotic Queenslander’s seafood. For your help here is the list of more popular seafood buffets in Brisbane where you can enjoy the best seafood at affordable prices.

Skydiving – Are you great fan of adventure and want to feel adrenaline rush in your blood, then you should experience the tandem skydiving in Brisbane. There is no need of prior experience of Skydiving as highly qualified and trained skydivers would be attached to your rope so that you can enjoy the panoramic views of the city while coming down safely.

Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay Tour- Moreton Bay is the largest bay on the eastern coast of Australia and is also referred as Brisbane’s aquatic playground. The bay is the home of numerous species of aquatic animals including dolphins, whales, dugong, sharks and turtles. Swimming, Surfing, feeding a dolphin or just relaxing on the sandy coast Moreton bay is a must go place for every tourist in Brisbane.

Fraser Island – Fraser Island is the largest sand island of the world with over 130 dune lakes. The fresh water lakes in Fraser Island are the world’s cleanest fresh water lakes. Rainforests in Fresher Island is a home of more than 300 species of birds including sea eagles, osprey and kites. The island contains some of the most beautiful walking tracks of the world which varies from 1 day to 11 day tours.

Pictures and Text by: Gagandeep Singh

Gagandeep Singh works for Brisbane Australia blog which provide detailed information about Brisbane Tours, Hotels, Events and Things to do in Brisbane.

The Philippines' Hidden Gem

The Visayas is often associated with beautiful beaches. The popularity of Boracay, however, sometimes over-shadow the other similarly beautiful beaches scattered in the area. Among which are the 16 hidden gems of Concepcion in the Province of Iloilo. Concepcion is just 2.5 to 3 hours away from Iloilo City, hence, a great place to visit when in Iloilo.

If taking a bus, it is best to stay overnight as the last trip in Concepcion going back to Iloilo City is at 3pm and 4pm for going to Sara (the next municipality where there are several bus trips by Ceres Liner going to the city). If bringing a private vehicle, one day of fun is do-able.

The maximum number of islands that one can visit in one day is three: Pan de Azucar, Agho Island, and Bolobadiangan Island.

Take a Leganes-bound jeepney and get off at Tagbak Terminal in Jaro. HPQ Liner has regular trips going to Concepcion daily. Take note, however, of the last trip which is at 3pm. Beyond 3pm, Sara-bound jeepneys are available and from Sara, there are numerous bus trips bound for Iloilo City.

Pan de Azucar is 40 minutes away by boat from the mainland. It is famous for Mt. Manaphag, towering at 573 meters and ideal for mountain climbing. As one approaches the island, one can already see the looming presence of the steep mountain. There are no resorts in the island. There are, however, several rest houses owned by the town's prominent residents. Unless you know them, camping is the only way to go. The beach is not really a good place to swim anymore. One could check out an interesting rock formation on one side of the island instead.

Approximately 25 minutes from Pan de Azucar, is Agho Island. Agho Island is a paradise. One can have the island for the whole day without anyone else. Besides being private, the sand is white, the scenery picturesque, the breeze heavenly, and the water crystal clear. It is noted for different kinds of shells and Tabon birds. A word of caution though, there may be sea urchins in the area depending on the season. There are no resorts in the island. Only the caretakers inhabit the island. So, if one would like to stay the night, one should bring a tent and enough food and water. Do not fret, Malangabang Island (where a sari-sari store is available) is just a kilometer away.

Bolobadiangan Island is often visited by tourists because of its long and winding white sandbar. During low-tide, the sand bar extends as far as if it almost touches the next island. Owned by the heirs of the Eusala family, accommodations is available through the Sand Bar Beach Resort situated in the island. There are simple cottages that visitors can rent, which ranges from Php500-800. One can also rent or bring their own tents and pay a minimal amount. The island resort does not have a restaurant, so one should bring their own food and drinking water. Water for bathing is for sale at Php10/gallon.

Concepcion beaches offer world-class quality beaches. It would be a shame not to visit these hidden gems, when it is so close to Iloilo City.

Contacts

Accommodations

- Junbee Recreation Center - Concepcion

Mr. Augusto "Jun" Garilva: 09209021681; 3920371; hoteljunbee@yahoo.com

- Sandbar Beach Resort - Bolobadiangan Island

Mr. Rex Eusala: 09207198042

- Agho Island: 09296089830; 09155454616

Boat

Ronnie (boatman): 09072897111

Sandbar boat operator: 09129575002

Municipal Tourism Officer - Mario Lazarito: 09085929096; mariolazarito@yahoo.com

Rates

Accommodations

Junbee accommodation: P200/pax

Sandbar accommodation (big cottage): P800

Boating

3-island tour with Ronnie: P1800

Sandbar boat operator: P2000 (back and forth only)

Island tour arrangement with Municipal Tourism Officer: P1500 (small boat), P1800 (2-island tour), P2200 (3-island tour)

Entrance Fees

Agho Island: P50/head

Bolobadiangan Island: P25/head

Bus

P120 each way/head

for more photos

for a video

Written by Lagaw

(All text and pictures in this article are original works of Lagaw)

Lagaw is a hiligaynon term, meaning to travel. The word aptly describes me. I love to take pictures and to discover the great sights and sounds of my country ... and hopefully the rest of the world. I consider my pictures as my way of promoting the Philippine Islands.

I especially enjoyed the white sand beaches of Boracay, Puerto Galera, Guimaras, Concepcion in Iloilo, Honda bay in Palawan, natural bath tub of Taal Volcano, old churches of Vigan and Iloilo, rocky road of Capones Island, exhilirating beauty of Mt. Pinatubo, mystical mountain of Zambales, freezing shower baths of Baguio, beautiful stalactite and stalagmites of the underground river of Palawan, magnificent limestone cliffs & lagoons of El Nido and Coron, the ukay-ukay (bargain shopping) of hollywood, dark alleys of New York, high rise buildings of Chicago, grand memorials of Washington D.C., old dominion charm of Charlottesville, Virginia, and the tabing ilog (river) of Calinog in Iloilo.

Are you interested in becoming a contributor? You can promote and write an article about your hometown and send it to iamflip (at)flipnomad(dot)com.