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2012

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Boracay! Day 1

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Category : Beach, Boracay, It's More Fun in the Philippines 0

We went to Boracay almost a year ago, i.e., December 2011. It was my first time going there, and most of my companions were first-timers, too. Well, I wanted to touch the famed fine, white sand and to see what the fuss is about Boracay.

So, from Manila, we all boarded a Cebu Pacific plane. However, since we were a big group (around 15), we were in 2 different flights: the super early one and the afternoon one.

It was my first time, too, to board a plane smaller than the regular airbus, so I was kinda scared. I asked if I could be seated in front and my request was granted. I got seat 1, on the first row, but it was a seat facing all the other passengers! So, I felt like a flight attendant. It was an odd experience but a memorable one.

Anyway, we arrived in Caticlan where we found our transfer service awaiting for us. So while the rest of our co-passengers scurried to get tricycles to the jetty port, we got a much better service in an air-conditioned van courtesy of The Sands Hotel. Yay! Moreover, when we got to the port, The Sands' own boat picked us up. Double yay! It was so, so convenient, specially that we didn't need to carry our bags (I had a very heavy overnight bag).

Jetty Port

Transfer Service

Well, we finally reached Boracay and it proved to be what I imagined it to be: fun and full of people. However, since I'm one of those weird people who seeks tranquility while on the beach, I find Boracay crowded. Good thing we were booked at The Sands in Station 3 where there were fewer people, away from the unbearably crowded Station 2.

The sand in Boracay are powdery white, but not in this photo!

The setting sun made the sand look beige.

Indeed, the sand was powdery white, but not all Stations have the same texture of sand. Station 3 has the coarsest and it gets finer the farther you go along the beach towards Station 1. However, I observed the sand is less smelly in Station 3 than in the other 2 Stations for some unknown reasons. And really, the liveliest and most crowded place is definitely Station 2.

However, when we arrived in Boracay, most people were out boating, riding the paraw, taking refuge from the midday sun or sleeping in. So Boracay was relatively serene mid-afternoon, even in Station 2.

Starting 5pm, the crowd got thicker, and by sunset, Station 2 became a party destination. As for me, I just relished the sunset and went back to the hotel to rest, refresh myself and get ready for dinner.

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Bataan - Day 2 at the Dambana ng Kagitingan

Sunday, August 19, 2012 Category : Bataan, DIY Tour, Do and See, It's More Fun in the Philippines 0

Dambana ng Kagitingan

For our second day in Bataan, my family and I went to see the 00KM marker of the Bataan Death March, which is located nearby the NPC Village, before heading to the Dambana ng Kagitingan. I wanted my nephews and nieces to see the marker for their Philippine history studies. And seeing the marker made me sad. Thousands of people died during the Death March so remembering the hardships of those involved was really something.

Then we're off to Mt. Samat! Remember, it was a stormy day but since it was a long weekend, like the one we have now, there were still a lot of people going to the mountain. The teens and some mid-20s peeps were hiking toward the Dambana ng Kagitingan but every now and then, heavy rains would disrupt their journey. Well, there are no public transportation to the Dambana ng Kagitingan so its either hiking or driving your private car. But man, Mt. Samat is dense, a little eerie. Nonetheless, the roads are in good condition, except for some fallen leaves and branches here and there.

Finally, we reached the Dambana ng Kagitingan! There's a minimal entrance fee to be paid and you'll be given tickets with the AFP logo if I am not mistaken. Kids and senior citizens are discounted, just don't know how much. I just hope that the tickets will bear some mark that it is for the Dambana ng Kagitingan, you know, not just a generic paper ticket because tickets are souvenirs, too. Oh, well, that is what you get for paying a minimal sum to enjoy a historic site.

The weather was really wonky.

See the thick clouds obscuring the top of the cross.

And this is a colossal marble edifice.

The stained glass is just divine.

To get into the cross itself, you may use the stone-paved, ascending zig-zag walkway, or better yet, get your car and drive up on the mountain. It is, of course, I've said, the better option. Why? Well, I'm semi-afraid of heights so the only way to go down, if you didn't bring your car, is through the stone-paved, zigzag walkway. It's slippery when wet, and if you're a klutz like me, you'll probably have a hard time descending.

Now, to get inside the cross, you have to ride a very small and narrow elevator. Since it was a holiday, there were a lot of tourists and the storm didn't deter any of us to visit the Dambana ng Kagitingan. Lots of tourists mean you have to wait for your turn to use the elevator and go up to the viewing area which is the horizontal part of the cross. It couldn't accommodate much, the elevator and the viewing area both. In our case, we didn't wait that long. And we learned the reason why once we got to the viewing area. The winds were freaking scary! They were whistling! And you'll feel the cross swaying! It was pretty fun, though, to have the winds and drizzle slap on your face. And the view is amazing, and so is the viewing deck itself! You're literally in the clouds, too! Anyway, there's nothing to worry about since there are guides and some will go up and down with the tourists in the elevator in case it halts for whatever reason.

The viewing area has a goth-like, vampire's lair vibe.

The best way to scare yourself, err, I mean, to listen to the howling of the winds?

Open all the windows, of course, and sway with the force!

This is what the earth looks like from up above the clouds.

I uttered a short thanks to the Lord for this magnificent view.

And I even said to myself that Bataan is so gorgeous that I wouldn't mind living there.

No, this isn't from a horror movie.

I'm just messing up your mind and made it look creepy.

If the elevator bogs down, which happens at times, this is your way up and down.

It'll be your escape route, too.

Really, the cross is so imposing and amazing.

This is probably the best photo I took of anything, ever.

If you want to know more about the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor), you may visit the official website of the Province of Bataan, here:

http://www.bataan.gov.ph/index.php/DAMBANA-NG-KAGITINGAN.html

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Bataan - Day 1 at the Westnuk Beach Cove

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 Category : Bataan, Beach, DIY Tour, Do and See, It's More Fun in the Philippines, Philippines 0

Westnuk Beach Cove on a stormy afternoon.

Our accommodations at the NPC Village includes a free day pass to the Westnuk Beach Cove. It is located inside the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in Morong. Before, you cannot go to the Westnuk Beach unless you know someone from the National Power Corporation who could accommodate you as a guest. But not anymore! It is now open to the public, but for a minimal fee. If I'm not mistaken, entrance for day-trippers is around Php 130.00 per person, more or less, with discount for government employees..

Now that it is accessible to the general public, the secret of its beauty is now out! And it says so in its website:

Hidden away in the heart of Morong, Bataan, Westnuk Beach Resort is the perfect getaway for weary travelers looking to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Our resort is only a two and a half hour drive from Manila. Getting there is an experience in itself as the roads you travel are filled with scenic views of where the mountains and the sea meet.
Even in its simplicity, Westnuk Beach Resort features comfortable accommodations with scenic ocean views. We cater to friends, families, and even companies seeking to have fun under the sun. For larger groups and company outings we can accommodate over five hundred people at our hotel at NPC Resort Village, a twenty minute ride via our shuttle service. That’s two venues to experience in one convenient package.
Be surrounded by nature unspoiled by man. When you’re not swimming, facilities for basketball, beach volleyball and karaoke are available for you to enjoy. Come and enjoy one of the Philippines most beautiful and unspoiled beaches for a holiday you’ll never forget.

You know what? NPC got it right. The roads of Bataan to Westnuk do offer scenic views and are well-maintained; no traffic, too. And the one from NPC Village to Westnuk Beach showcases rows of fields and clean creeks or streams. It's very calming.

It is a treat to go inside the BNPP and to see the Plant itself. And then, you'll see the cove and it looks amazing. However, since there was a storm when we were there, we didn't thoroughly enjoy the beach. At first, the weather seemed fine: the sky was overcast, but no rain. Thus, we were able to wade in the water but not for long. Well, the winds started to get crazy and it affected the waves. Good thing it was a cove so the waves were not intimidating. Then, the skies suddenly grew darker and darker. And it started to rain hard.

No rain yet.

But the waves came in succession,turning sea water to foam/bubble.

Heavy rain started to pour, and the waves got a little bigger.

See the rocks in the background shrouded by the rain.

The Westnuk Beach also offers overnight accommodations, but it is almost always full. Their ocean-view two-storey guest pavillion has four air-conditioned rooms and three regular rooms able to accommodate a total of forty-two guests. If you can't get a reservation at the beach, the NPC Village and the NPC Hotel, 15-20 minutes away by car, are the alternatives.

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Bataan - Day 1 at the NPC Nuclear Power Village

Saturday, June 9, 2012 Category : DIY Tour, Do and See, Hotels and Accommodations, It's More Fun in the Philippines, Philippines 0

Since I am just a short post away from wrapping up my Macau travel adventures, I'm going to blog about my Bataan adventures since I've been itching to do it for a long time already.

If you remember, last August 2011, the Philippines had a rather extra long weekend because of several holidays. So, I was so flustered thinking about being stuck at home. I wanted to go to Baguio but my reservation was put on-hold and when it was finally okay, it was already too late to go. Anyway, my family and I ended up staying at the National Power Corporation's Nuclear Power Village in Bagac, Bataan.

It was my third time to set foot in Bataan. The first one was when I was in college; the second one was for a 2-day work-related matter. But the road we took going to Bagac was different from the one I used before, so it was like my first time going to Bataan.

Anyway, I liked Bataan. In fairness, the roads are wide and paved; there are a lot of trees and really, nature still abounds. However, there are not too many vehicles on the road and Bagac is like 2 to 2 1/2 hours away from Manila.

To reach the NPC Village, which is now open to the public for rentals of the villas, is really easy. It's after the Philippine-Japanese Friendship Tower, turn right from the gas station and you're there.

The Philippine-Japanese Friendship Tower

The Village is past its glory days. Really. The houses are sad looking and old, but for its price, its okay. I think I paid around Php 3,000 with discount, for 2 days and 1 night. However, if you need to use a ref, the tv or a gas burner, you'd have to rent it for a fee. I forgot how much, though. Anyway, they have a maximum number of guests allowed per house but don't worry, they won't make a head count. We were almost 20 in our group although the allowable people per house is just 10-12. We didn't pay extra. If you prefer, they also have a small hotel.

It's easy to know that this place has once been grand. See the helipad in front of the hotel.

Most of the amenities are non-operational. But at least, the pool remains.

But there's a fire station inside! How cool is that?

There are 4 huge rooms (or 5?). We all fit in. I requested for extra sheets and pillows and they didn't charge me for those.

These are the bungalows. So huge. Ours is across this one, but smaller.

These are the abandoned bungalows.

And bring your own food. It's difficult to find a place to eat, even at the "bayan."

There's a good thing about the NPC Village. It comes with free entrance to the West Nuk Beach at the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant. They also have lodgings at the Beach but it was fully booked so we had to settle with the village. The catch: it's about 15-25 minutes by car from the Village. But the trip is all worth it, I promise.

The NPC Village also has a swimming pool; old but clean and decent, and the compound is huge and good for a stroll or for jogging. And, there are a lot of guava trees. We just picked from the trees, with blessings from the guard (he says it'll just get rotten anyway), and the guavas we got were so delicious! Juicy and ripe! Yum. We even got to take home some.

The guavas either just fall on the ground or get eaten by birds, like this one.

And, if you don't know it, you can view from the Village, the famous Las Casas Pilipinas, a resort nearby which painstakingly restored, piece by piece, some of the historic houses, mansions and even school buildings, from around Luzon.

Las Casas Filipinas as seen from the NPC Village.

Finally, I must say that the views here are gorgeous. See the photo below where the road seems to meet the sea and the skies.

Seat Sale: Cebu Pacific's Independence Day Sale 2012

Category : Cebu Pacific, Seat Sale 0

Since we'll be celebrating Independence Day on the 12th, Cebu Pacific has a seat sale promo for January 1, 2013 to March 15, 2013. Cebu Pacific quotes their fares one-way, all in, but the final price for their Incheon flights still went over by several hundreds because checked-in baggage and country-specific taxes are not included.

Happy travel planning!

Seat Sale Promo

We’re ALL-IN this together!

Pick your favorite seat for as low as P200
Super size your baggage! Pre-book and SAVE up to 50%
Get insured with travel insurance.
Choose from available domestic and international rooms with Hotels
Get exclusive deals! Sign up for SeatSaleAlert!.

Philippine Destinations


TO ALL PHILIPPINE DESTINATIONS	P700

ALL-IN DOMESTIC fare is one way, INCLUSIVE OF: fuel surcharge, admin fee, aviation security fee, 12% VAT and 7 kg hand carry baggage allowance but exclusive of check-in baggage. Limited availability. Flight changes are permitted with Php 800 rebooking fee and Php 900 cancellation fee. CAB approved terms and conditions of carriage apply and are available online at http://www.cebupacificair.com/Pages/SeatSalePromo.aspx

Regional Destinations


Clark to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Macau or Singapore	P1,088

Manila to Bangkok, Brunei, Ho Chi Minh, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hanoi NEW! or Siem Reap NEW! Cebu to Singapore	P1,488

Manila to Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei, Shanghai or Xiamen NEW! Clark or Kalibo to Hong Kong NEW!	P1,688

Manila to Manila to Busan, Incheon or Osaka Cebu to Busan or Incheon	P2,588

Sale Period: Up to Jun. 12, 2012 or until seats last | Travel Period: Jan. 1 - Mar. 15, 2013

ALL-IN INTERNATIONAL fares are one way INCLUSIVE OF: fuel surcharge, admin fee and 7 kg hand carry baggage allowance but exclusive of country specific taxes and check-in baggage. Limited availability. Flight changes are permitted with Php 1, 800 rebooking fee and Php 2, 500 cancellation fee. Advertised fares are subject to changes due to foreign currency exchange fluctuations. CAB approved terms and conditions of carriage apply and are available online at http://www.cebupacificair.com/Pages/SeatSalePromo.aspx

Macau Adventures: Day 3 - The Venetian Hotel

Category : Hotels and Accommodations, Macau, Shopping 0

It wasn't my first time at the Venetian but I was glad to be back. I love the huge rooms and the opulence, and the fact that you can fit 6 people in the Bella Suite; more if you don't mind sleeping huddled like sardines on the bed, or sleeping on the floor.

Anyway, Venetian is such a huge hotel so it's easy to get lost. Good thing they give their guests maps for easier navigation. While there are a lot of people milling around, once you get to the hotel wings, you'll see a staff checking people out, asking which room you'll go or asking to see your key card. Security is good.

As for the room, it's plush and very large. You could do cartwheels in there. The beds are kept separate from the sunken living room with railings. There are two queen-sized beds and the sofa converts into a bed, too. Just ask for extra sheets, pillows and a comforter if you want to sleep on it. Oh, there are two tvs, too.

Of course, the bathroom is huge. The shower, toilet and bath are separate, with the dressing area taking up much of the room.

My friends and I availed of Venetian's package which includes breakfast and one-way ferry to HK for two, a photobooth picture and 200 MOP shopping credit at participating stores at the hotel.

This is the package we availed.

The room we got has an amazing view of the surrounding hotels but I think most of the rooms have equally compelling views. After all, the windows are floor to ceiling and there are no uninspiring edifice in the vicinity. At night, you'll get glittering lights from the hotels.

The Venetian is so huge we didn't even had the time to explore it in its entirety!

Like this place seen on our windows.

City of Dreams, Crown and Hard Rock.

There is another attraction at the Venetian that pulls people in, aside from its casino: shopping at the Shoppes at the Grand Canal, Shoppes at Cotai Central and Shoppes at Four Seasons. These sections are interconnected so you could go from one section to another.

ASIA'S MOST UNIQUE AND OPULENT SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Experience the romance and grandeur of Shoppes Grand canal where guests are entertained by serenading gondoliers and enjoy performances by signature Streetmosphere™ performers with colourful antics of jugglers, living statues, musicians as they wander around the colourful Venetian streetscapes. Shoppes Grand Canal is a luxurious one-million-square-foot indoor mall with more than 330 stores featuring world renowned brands and the best boutiques from New York, Paris, London and Milan. From fashion, gadgets, jewellery, accessories to over 30 restaurants and an extensive food court, there’s bound to be something for you, for that special partner to something for the family.

MACAO’S ULTIMATE LUXURY DUTY-FREE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

With its addition of nearly 100 intimate boutiques and galleries, Shoppes Cotai Central, as part of Shoppes Cotai, Macao’s Ultimate Luxury Duty Free shopping experience, joins Shoppes Grand Canal and Shoppes at Four Seasons to offer a staggering 600 stores to choose from, the most in any one single location in all of Macao! This shopper’s paradise includes some exciting new first to market brands in Macao and is set in a refreshing environment abundant in natural light, with cascading waterfalls, green vegetation and rocky cliff sides.

A REMARKABLE LUXURY MALL THAT IS BEYOND COMPARE

Shoppes Four Seasons personifies the bespoke elegance of the Four Seasons and is Macao’s first luxury mall, home to more than 160 luxury and designer brands like Audemars Piguet, Bottega Veneta, Cartier, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton. Every shop occupies a lavishly spaced area in which guests can truly enjoy the delights of shopping with bespoke service whereby guests can receive personalised attention from a shopping consultant, and rest assured that the Mall Concierge and limousine delivery service are always at the ready. For a comprehensive range of cosmetics, beauty & fragrance, DFS Beauty World, which features over 45 international cosmetic brands, to complete their new look.

Of these Shoppes, the Shoppes Grand Canal is most frequented by visitors. Why? Because there's an indoor canal with gondolas to take you around and the shoppes are Venetian-style which little arch bridges, lamp posts, and yes, the ceilings are painted with clouds.

Another reason why it's famous? Koreanovela addicts know the answer! Boys Over Flowers had location scenes shot here.