Top Three Places to Visit this Holy Week
Most people are anticipating their much awaited vacation this Holy Week. For some, they’ve been planning this out since last year because Holy Week would probably be one of the longest holidays that we have here in the Philippines. For those who aren’t staying in their respective houses here’s my top three best destinations in the country.
Sagada: For those who love mountains and the outdoors
Sagada is one of my most favourite destinations in the world. The place is so peaceful and the scene is simply breathtaking. I always like the weather in Sagada especially at this time of the year. It’s cool yet sunny, perfect for those who want to walk around without sweating too much.
My suggested route would be Manila-Banaue-Sagada-Baguio-Manila. This would be a perfect roadtrip where you could stop by the world famous Banaue Rice Terraces and make some last minute shopping in Baguio City.
Sagada is also famous for its “hanging coffins”, which was the traditional way of burying people which is not being done anymore. List of activities in the area includes: spelunking, trekking, hiking, visiting waterfalls and rice terraces, picnic, rappelling and maybe you could participate in a tribal ritual as well.
I’ve never been to the islands of Caramoan yet. Me and my friends are still planning but we’re still not sure. Caramoan Islands have become world famous after numerous shoots of Survivor (the TV series). The place seems to be unknown for a long period of time and now it’s an open secret waiting to be explored.
Some facts about Caramoan by Wikipedia
“The Caramoan Peninsula has gained tourism popularity in recent years. After the place has been featured in the news and local television programs, local and foreign travelers started to explore the beaches of the peninsula. Caramoan is one of the National Parks of the Philippines. Popular tourist destinations are the Caramoan National Park, the Centro, and Gota Beach, and popular activities include diving, swimming, snorkeling and spelunking.
The 8th season of Koh-Lanta (French edition of Survivor), was shot entirely in Caramoan. TV director Corinne Vaillant, stated that "the powdery sand, the coconuts on Gota beach and the neighboring islets are a 'dream' for the French people. We chose Caramoan because it’s really wild. It’s necessary that contestants don’t see anything other than nature for them to believe that they’re really lost in the wilds.”
Manila: For those who love the city (I personally love walking around Manila)
Yeah you’re not mistaken. I really wrote Metro Manila as one of the top destination this holy week. Especially for those who don’t have much time and budget, Manila offers a lot of attractions within the city itself. For one, you and your friends can just do the Bisita Iglesia and visit some of the nicest churches of our country. Here are some of must see churches in Metro Manila.
1. San Agustin Church (Manila)
Some facts from Wikipedia
“San Agustin Church is a Roman Catholic church under the auspices of The Order of St. Augustine, located inside the historic walled city of Intramuros in Manila. Completed by 1607,[1] it is the oldest church still standing in the Philippines.[2] No other surviving building in the Philippines has been claimed to pre-date San Agustin Church.
In 1993, San Agustin Church was one of four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period designated by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, under the classification "Baroque Churches of the Philippines". It had been named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976.”
2. Bamboo Organ Church
Some facts from Wikipedia
"The Las Piñas Bamboo Organ, in the Parish Church of St Joseph in Las Piñas City, Philippines, is a nineteenth-century church organ made almost entirely from bamboo: only the trumpet stops are made from metal.
The organ, the church and the surrounding buildings have been restored to their 19th century state by Architect Francisco "Bobby" Mañosa and partner Ludwig Alvarez, making a trip to the site a popular excursion for Filipinos and foreign visitors alike."
3. San Sebastian Church
Some facts from Wikipedia
"The Basilica Minore de San Sebastián, better known as San Sebastián Church, is a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Manila, the Philippines. It is the seat of the Parish of San Sebastian and the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.
Completed in 1891, San Sebastián Church is noted for its architectural features. An example of the revival of Gothic architecture in the Philippines, it is the only all-steel church or basilica in Asia.[1] It has also been implausibly reputed to be the first prefabricated building in the world,[2] and more plausibly claimed as the only prefabricated steel church in the world.[3] In 2006, San Sebastian Church was included in the Tentative List for possible designation as a World Heritage Site. It was designated as a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1973."
Where will you be this Holy Week?
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Four Things to do when you're Broke
After travelling for a long period of time, some of us go home broke and penniless, even if we did not intend to go thru that situation. A lot of backpackers that I met were travelling until they ran out of money.
Here are some things that I’m doing to address that.
1. Seek Employment: This would probably be the most popular way of getting back on track (financially). As soon as you get back, take some rest and soak up the remaining spirit of your recent adventure for a couple of weeks and then start job hunting. Start by updating your resume and register to any jobs websites available in your country. It may also help if you check the classified ads of your local newspaper. You might find a job that would suit your interest.
2. Sell Stuff: If you have some stuff that you’re not using anymore, it might help if you sell them to anyone interested. Even though you might not get the amount that you paid for that particular item, you would still get some bucks back. You may also buy and sell stuff if you have some cash to spare.
3. Use your Talent: If you are artistically inclined, you might try profiting from your talent. Some people write about their experiences and sell their articles to other bloggers or newspaper and magazine agencies. Profit from your creativity.
4. Take Advantage of Online Sources of Income: There seems to be a lot of opportunities in the World Wide Web. My aunt’s sister in law is actually earning some money by doing freelance SEO stuff. Some people are blogging to earn money (including me). Try browsing the internet and you might find an opportunity to earn. Who knows, you might be able to sustain your wanderlust with your online stint.
If everything fails, you may try reaching out to your family and friends. Make a loan while looking for a more stable source of income. There’s nothing wrong in asking for help, especially if you really need one. I’m sure they’ll be happy to support you in your current situation. And also, don’t forget to pay them back.
by Alex E. Proimos.
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Cosplay at Robinson's Mall Ermita
I got surprised when I went to Robinson's Mall Ermita today with the ongoing event. It was the 3rd Philippine Cosplay Convention and it was my first time to see a big number of costume players in my life. It was an energetic and fun filled day for anime and cosplay enthusiast alike (including myself).
Here's some information about cosplay from Wikipedia.
"Cosplay, short for "costume play", is type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan. Favorite sources include manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies. Role play includes portrayals of J-pop and J-rock stars, Taiwanese puppet characters, science fiction characters, characters from musical stories, classic novels, and entertainment software. Any entity from the real or virtual world that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject. Inanimate objects are given anthropomorphic forms and it is not unusual to see genders switched, with women playing male roles and vice versa."
The world famous place to find cosplayers would probably be Harajuku Street in Japan where you could see some people dressing up as their favorite manga character.
Here are some of the costume players.
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How to Become a Tourist in your Own Backyard
Travelling is often associated with going to a totally different place. Our destination is usually a bit far from where we live. We usually take a bus, plane or boat to get to our tourist destination. What if I tell you that you can be a tourist in your own backyard.
I’ve never thought of this when I was still working before. I usually plan my trips outside my city or my country. But now that I’m dead broke and still craving to see something new, I’ve decided to explore my own backyard.
Here’s how you can be a tourist in your own city:
1. Book and Sleep in a Local Hostel: If you want to reminisce how it feels like to travel and sleep in a hostel, this is a good chance to do it. There are lots of cheap hostels that surround most cities and towns. Spend most of your time hanging out in the common area and interact with the tourists and staff.
2. Visit Local Markets: There’s a huge chance that you’ll see something unusual or unique when you go to the markets. Try visiting markets that have an array of local and ethnic goods. Get a good feel of how your fellow locals are shopping.
3. Visit Your Local Historic Places: Most of us take for granted the historical places around our city. Maybe because there’s no novelty in seeing them if you live close by. Prior to visiting the place, read some articles about it. It will surely give you a refreshing view about that place.
4. Walk Around: This is the best way to explore your own city. Go to your target area and then start walking. You’ll definitely see some unusual corners that you’ve never seen before.
5. Try the Street Foods: If you’re a big fan of some culinary treats, this is one of the best ways to enjoy it. Walk around and try some local snacks that are being sold on the streets.
6. Stop by a Local Cafe: This is a nice way of getting some rest and at the same time treating yourself with some people watching activity.
7. Take Pictures: Some places look entirely different in pictures. Try to capture the best possible angle that would highlight the beauty of a particular place or structure. Show it off to your family and friends or post them on your favourite social networking sites.
8. Volunteer: If you have a lot of spare time, this is a nice way of spending it. I’ve volunteered in different places that I’ve been to but I’ve never tried doing it here yet. I might do this one of these days.
9. Try the Different Public Utility Vehicles: This is a nice way of interacting with other locals in your own city.
10. Travel and Explore with an Open Mind: Travelling won’t be fun if we stay trapped in our own prejudices. Wherever you go, this would make any trip enjoyable.
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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.
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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.
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The Day I Thought I'm Gonna Die
I was browsing through my email trying to free up some space by deleting old messages when I came across this email that I sent to my family and friends last August 2010.
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August 10, 2009
Chengdu, China
I almost had a freak accident two days ago in the mountains of Sichuan . I was riding this bus from Xiangcheng to Kanding, up and down the mountain slopes and then we came across another truck. It’s a little misty and visibility is not 100%.
The driver of our bus tried to steer away, the same as the driver of that truck. I thought both of us will fall off the cliff… it happened very fast.
I closed my eyes, I hold my breath and I told myself… “It might hurt a bit and then it will be over, don’t worry.” I felt peaceful after I gave up holding on to my dear life. I felt that life and death were embracing each other, looking me straight in the eye.
Life and death were together like Yin and Yang, they have always been part of each other. They don’t despise one another, it’s just only us that separate them. Death completes the cycle of life and so on.
I opened my eyes, and I was surprised… I am still alive!
To my family and friends, I may not be the best son, brother or friend because I cannot express it in words and sometimes I have a weird way of expressing it in actions. And also sometimes I act without thinking or act with too much thinking. But I sincerely like all of you. We may have had some misunderstandings in the past, maybe sometimes due to my fault, please forgive me and let’s all forget about it and move on with our lives.
Life moves on same as when the sun rises on the east. It doesn’t care what we keep in our thoughts or memories. When death kisses you gently on your cheek, you would understand what I mean.
I will continue my journey and hope to see you again in this lifetime… or perhaps on our second lifetime (who would know right?)
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For all of the people who are still on the road... Take care and keep on doing what you're doing. We only have one shot in this thing called 'life'. We might as well enjoy it and live it to the fullest. :-)
-Flip
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Reintegrating Myself
It’s been six months already since I got back from my backpacking trip and yet, it seems that the trip was just yesterday. I didn’t bother to do anything on my first two months.
I started making this blog last October and I also started sending out resumes around the same time. I also tried applying online for some job even if I wasn’t really seriously looking.
Today is March 18, 2010, I’ve been officially bumming for a year! Oh yeah, one year. I left my last job last March 2009 and I’m not missing it at all aside from the very nice people that I met there and of course I miss my salary (because I’m dead broke right now lol).
What have I learned so far?
I’ve learned that I don’t want to put up with difficult people. I’d like to just stay around people with positive attitude (as much as I can).
I’ve learned that reality may sometimes be harsh but its reality and I should deal with it.
I’ve learned to trust my gut feel a lot.
I’ve learned that my mistakes and my achievements don’t define me as a person.
I’ve learned that security cannot be given to you by anyone or anything. You have to give it to yourself.
I’ve learned that life is just an experience that I have to go thru.
I’ve learned that difficult situations don’t really improve your character. But rather it brings out your true character.
I’ve learned that even if I hate money and the idea of money, I still need money.
I’ve learned that success is a decision and not a product of any external circumstances.
Now that I’ve fully decided to work and be part of the labor force again, I’m quite excited with how I will react with the same stuff again.
In a couple of days, or maybe weeks, I’ll be wearing my long sleeve shirt and sit in front of the computer for hours again.
Life’s journey seems to be not all about moving from one place to another. Maybe it’s also about the decisions that we’ve been making and the actions that we’re taking that lead us to another chapter in our lives.
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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.”
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.
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.
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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.
“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.”
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)
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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.
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.
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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.
(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 .
For more travel information about Iloilo, visit .
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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
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Zip Line and Chili Ice Cream
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.
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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
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.
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