↧
hot air balloon 2013
↧
orion hotel manila
for quite a long time, there has not been a decent hotel to Manila's busiest bargain shopping area of Tutuban. thus it has been a concern for one to shop there without getting trapped in the heavy traffic.
not anymore, as one now has the option to stay in a hotel located right on one of the floors of a shopping mall. Orion Hotel Manila was opened late last year to give way for tourist and shoppers more flexibility to get around Tutuban.
i know some people who would visit Manila and do shopping for one whole day but would always find it difficult to leave their things somewhere. with a hotel set on the third floor of the Prime Block Building just beside Tutuban Centermall, one could easily take a short break and would have enough space to organize and pack their items.
all the shopping malls are walking distance from the hotel which can be accessed from the Prime Block mall itself or through its main entrance which is located along Antonio Rivera St. these cozy rooms might even tempt one for a staycation.
every accommodation comes with a complimentary breakfast meal served in the room. i chose Wanton soup with Siopao and coffee over the usual Pinoy breakfast. WIFI connection is also available on every room.
Tutuban isn't all shopping. just a short walk from the hotel is one of Manila's grandest and beautiful Buddhist Temple. a great morning walk to Seng Guan Temple after a day of shopping is highly recommended.
this busy district turns to a night market by the road when the shops starts to close. though known for having negative feedback of having many snatchers around this area, this side of the Tutuban center compound remains a safe place to dine and shop.
on our stay for an overnight, along friends and fellow travel bloggers we didn't miss the opportunity to shop hop to prove that it really is a safe place to shop. i ended up buying a shirt, an arm band, a bull cap, and some travel essentials all costing to around PHP800.
all in all, Orion Hotel Manila is a great add to this shopping district. also near this areas are historical landmarks including the old PNR Station (now Tutuban Centermall), China Town, and Binondo church.
photo above shows fellow travel bloggers Nath, Kat, Kaiye, Claire, Rem, Endette, Kenneth, Gelai and Jherson during a night food stop just beside the night market. here one can eat the usual Pinoy delicacies. Note: this is a sponsored stay courtesy of Orion Hotel Manila.
Orion Hotel Manila
3rd Floor Prime Block, Tutuban Center
C.M. Recto Aveneu, Manila Philippines
Tel: (632) 450-3007 to 09
Email: reservations@orionhotel.com.ph
Website: www.orionhotel.com.ph
Hotel Rooms:
Junior Suite
Deluxe Twin/Queen Bedroom
Superior Room
Standard Room
Room Rates:
Note: Visit their website for updated rates and promo rates.
Hotel Add-ons:
- money storage (safe) for every room
- you get a complimentary recyclable shopping bag.
- a useful guide to accessing major transportation hubs like the airport and the LRT line and even included an option on how to commute by jeep or by bus to the area.
- complimentary drink
- WIFI connectivity on each room
- postcard consignment
- mailing services
- photocopy and fax services
- function room (coming soon)
↧
↧
majestic nagsasa cove
the beach
sand is grayish on most portion of the beach but as one would look at it closely, it has a mix of crushed crystals and crushed corals. through the years, the coast has combined its original sea sand and the lahar particles which came from the eruption. a wide portion of the cove is shallow.
majority of the locals in this coast are indigenous people who are the aetas who came from the farther mountains and migrated to these coves after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption. among the caretakers of one area is Mang Ador who has seen the coast before the eruption.
the distance
most preferred access to Nagsasa cove is via the fishing village of Pundaquit in San Antonio Zambales. From Pundaquit, a typical fishing boat trip would take about an hour to reach this cove. Could be longer depending on the weather condition.
topography
the cove is surrounded by two mountain range with a large beach coast with a small estuary. the mountains and hills that surrounds it are majestic. a top spot for landscape photographers.
security
since it has a large coast and is managed by several caretakers, it would depend on which area is safer. but as of date, the entire coast remains a safe place to camp but on days where there are too many people, it is still best to safeguard your gears and packs the entire time.
recommended activities:
- beach camping
- landscape photography
- trekking
- swimming
- sunset viewing
beach coast profile:
Coast: Facing West Philippine Sea
Island: Luzon island
Province: Zambales
Region: Central Luzon
GPS Location:
14' 49" 22 N
120' 8" 15 E
how to get there:
by commuting:
From Manila to Pundaquit:
[1] Take a bus from Manila to Iba Zambales and ask the bus operator to drop you at San Antonio bus stop (4hours). From there, you can take a tricycle to Pundaquit.
[2] Take a bus from Manila to Olongapo/Subic (3hours) then from there take another bus to Iba (45mins) and ask the bus operator to drop you at San Antonio bus stop. From there you can take a tricycle to Pundaquit (10mins)
From Pundaquit:
Take a boat ride from Pundaquit to Nagsasa (1hour)
tips:
1. contact ahead Mang Vic (+639297170739) who can arrange you a boat ride from Pundaquit to Nagsasa, Anawangin, or Capones.
2. for Nagsasa, look for Mang Ador. as of this post, there is no mobile phone signal in Nagsasa Cove.
3. best to check weather condition before proceeding as water can be rough in this coast particularly during the rainy season or when a typhoon is about to hit the area.
↧
lagu towels
"where they are going this summer and why they deserve a Lagu towel?"
the two winners of Lagu towels goes to the following entries as chosen by Lagu representatives:
I plan to go in a secluded beach in Pangasinan which I rarely get to do because I'm always hiking in the mountains. I'm dying to take a Lagu towel with me because it repels sand which help preserve the beauty of the place. I share the same belief with the people behind Lagu I love and enjoy nature and I want more people to enjoy it as well so I do whatever I can to help to reduce my impact to the places I visit. - Christine Fernandez
I'm planning on a road trip this summer in Panay Island and spend more time at the beaches of Antique. The province of Antique is still largely unexplored by tourists, and I haven't seen much of this province featured in travel shows or even in travel blogs. So I thought I'd go and see for myself.
I'd be traveling light so I need a light-weight, quick-drying yet fashionable and luxurious towel like a Lagu Towel. Its linen blend is perfect for our hot and humid summer---it's cool to the skin. I love an innovative and well-thought of product like Lagu Towel...it's designed not only for its function but also for a healthier planet. Lagu Towel is for worthy eco-citizens like you and me. -Luna Miranda
im also giving three consolation prizes to the following entries, who will each receive one Dispatch mini travel journal and a postcard from Myanmar.
I, Lakbay Diva, hereby solemnly swear upon receiving the Lagu blanket, will do everything I can to help preserve the sands – sands that has decorated our beaches with all its splendor and beauty; sands that has beckoned foreigners and locals alike to bathe in the seas; sands that has brought us close together as one community.
Furthermore, that this summer would be the best summer in my entire life as I will be traipsing in the Top Recommended beaches of Cebu namely: Moalboal, Oslob, Bantayan, Malapascua, and Camotes.
So help me Lagu - Edwin
I'm planning to spend summer in south Mindanao and Puerto Princesa, Palawan! I'm excited! I think I deserve to have the Lagu towel because I love the beach so much and the scariest idea is for these beaches to be stripped off its beauty (although I don't think using an ordinary sarong would totally scrape the beaches off its sand). But, it would be a great help if the beach towel I use whenever I beach bum is beach-friendly and helps preserve the powdery white (or black in some cases) sand. - Laiza Limpin
I'm planning to spend summer in south Mindanao and Puerto Princesa, Palawan! I'm excited! I think I deserve to have the Lagu towel because I love the beach so much and the scariest idea is for these beaches to be stripped off its beauty (although I don't think using an ordinary sarong would totally scrape the beaches off its sand). But, it would be a great help if the beach towel I use whenever I beach bum is beach-friendly and helps preserve the powdery white (or black in some cases) sand. - Laiza Limpin
I really love to have this Lagu Towel! Because of its features like sand repellent, which is so cool and it fits my needs. I always bring my typical towel whenever I travel but going home is always a problem with that towel because it's so wet and baggy, also it stinks. This coming summer vacation I'll be on Bora, which is my first time. I would love to bring Lagu towel with me and flaunt it with my friends. It's perfect for this getaway and I want the experience to be perfect. I'll be in Benguet also to conquer Bakun Trio, I want to bring Lagu Towel instead of my lame old goodmorning towels which I use after taking a bath. - Mc Pol Androuse Cruz|Weekend Sidetrip
here are the other entries. thanks for joining and you will still get a Travel Notepadas a token for joining.
I will spend this summer at Ronco Resort Dolphin House on April 1-2 as my 1st team building for year 2013 with my new team mates; new boss. i deserve this towel because I'm working thru the Holy Week since we don't enjoy Philippine Holidays or US Holidays in my department and it's my birthday on MArch 23. I hope that I will get to bring this towel with me on our teambuilding. I'm happiest with my team because four of them are in their respective communities (Victory); I'm also closest with another one who has cancer; she will bring her child with her. I'm really looking forward to this occasion as my way of also building my relationship with my co-workers. - Carla Asperilla
I have been traveling to Asia and the Philippines since 2008 and I am loving it. This is one of my many wishes that came true.
Underground River is my next dream destination. I hope this time around I am bringing Lagu towel with me to cut the hassle of bringing a used, wet and bad smelling ordinary towel.
This is reason enough that I am worthy of your quick dry, allergen free and sand repellant Lagu towel. :) -Joie Ilagan
This will be one busy summer for me.
For now, I already got confirmed schedules for Puerto Galera early April for our company Outing, a trip to Zambales with family in May, and a Subic business and leisure trip with colleagues. I am still making a final plans for a Sagada Tour with my wife and kids. And I need your Lagu Towel to go with me to all these trips. - Raul (Laur) Bernal
I would spend my summer in Biri, Northern Samar, me and my friends would go there so see the incredulous "rock formations' I want a "Lagu Towel" just so i can use it in Biri. :p - Gerald Paramio
you will receive an email soon for the details of claiming the prizes.
you will receive an email soon for the details of claiming the prizes.
↧
why am i going to myanmar?
around November last year over an internet chat. Ron opened up of planning to go to Myanmar. the conversation was short and actually sounded more like a football game.
Ron: ano game?
Dong: game.
Ron: fight?
Dong: fight! fight!
going to Myanmar was not even on my bucket list but because for quite some time, i've been wanting to travel with the cool tandem travelers Ron and Monette of Fliptravels, saying yes was easy.
as days came, chat room for this trip grew adding Jerome, Robbie and Marky. who immediately booked for the same flight to Yangon. soon after, we convinced Gay and little Luna to join the trip and finally Melo, who confirmed just few weeks before the departure date.
i rarely have a deeper reason to travel. it's usually just because i want to travel. on this particular trip, i simply want to enjoy it with fellow travel bloggers and to see Myanmar.
what i know about Myanmar before the trip:
Aung San Suu Kyi
Military Junta
Ruby and Jade Stones
Hkakabo Razi
what i wanted to see in Myanmar:
Temples of Bagan
Mt. Popa
Pagodas in Yangon
what i expect to happen in Myanmar:
long fun road trip with other travelers
amazing temple views
to be little Luna's temporary dada
here begins this long eskapo series. escape and explore Myanmar.
↧
↧
mingalaba myanmar
"Mingalaba!" best way to greet the hospitable Burmese people. they will return you with the same greeting but with a genuine smile. before we share our experience of our trip, i hope that this guide will somehow help you prepare your trip to Myanmar through its main trade and transport hub, the city of Yangon.
why go to Myanmar (Burma)?
as it is now an open country, take advantage of exploring Myanmar as it is continuously growing yet has preserved its rich cultural heritage and natural resources. among its most important landmarks includes the temples and pagodas of Bagan and Shwedagon Pagoda. a country of hospitable people and in some ways unique even to its neighboring Southeast Asian nations. something you will discover when you'll be there and that there's still a lot to discover.
why go to Yangon?
the country's most sacred Buddhist site, Shwedagon Paya (Pagoda) lies on top of Singuttara Hill just within the city. i should say is also the most impressive landmark. though dominated by Buddhism, Hindu temples and Islamic mosque can be found around the city. it is also believed that Yangon has the most number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia.
what to see in Yangon?
Shwedagon Pagoda*- most sacred and the grandest Buddhist Pagoda in Myanmar
Sule Pagoda* - most accessible pagoda right at the city center is of political importance
Karaweik Hall Barge* - palace barge now a restaurant
Kandawgyi Nature Lake Park - a beautiful nature park where the Karaweik Hall is located
General Aung San Monument
National Museum of Myanmar
Yangon City Hall
Independence Monument
Mahabandoola Garden Park
Bogyoke Market
Old High Court Building*
St Mary's Cathedral
Rakine Jame Mosque
Mogul Shiah Jamay Mosque
Central Railway Station
*highly recommended sites when in Yangon (walking around Yangon will be posted soon)
when to go to Yangon?
not so different with Manila, dry season from November to May rainy season from June to October. special festivals:
March - Tabaung Festival (Nationwide Pagoda Festivals) including Shwedagon Festival
April - Burmese New Year
how to go to Yangon (by plane)?
most usual route are via the following regions and airlines:
Malaysia* - AirAsia
Singapore* - Silkair, Singapore Airlines
Bangkok - Thai Airways
Ho Chi Minh - Vietnam Airlines
*most preferred routes if coming from the Philippines via these countries
going around Yangon:
most preferred way for tourists to go around the city would be by taxi. there are no standard rates so the payment will be agreed prior to reaching your destination. going around within the city with a taxi would range from 3,500-5,000kyats (PHP150-250) there are no motorcycles within the city but bike is allowed.
how to get a visa?
for Filipinos it is required to get a visa to enter Myanmar with one month validity. no appointment required to go to Myanmar Embassy in Makati. visa processing is 3days.
requirements:
1. passport
2. one photocopy each of two valid IDs. passport can be counted as one valid ID.
3. 2 passport photos 4x6cm (hard copy to be attached in the visa form) and a soft copy placed in a CD.
4. travel itinerary
5. visa application form (to be provided at the embassy)
6. entry waiver (to be provided at the embassy)
7. PHP1,100 visa fee
Myanmar Embassy (Philippines)
8th Flr Gervasia Building
Amorsolo St., Makati City
Tel: 02-8931944
-This is just right across Makati Cinema Square along Amorsolo St.
visa application tips:
1. best to have the passport photo and soft copy taken at Kodak (Makati Cinema Square branch) since they already know the Myanmar visa requirements. the shop opens at 10:00am but the photo can only be processed after an hour. after you get the photo, proceed to the embassy immediately so you can submit requirements before noon time.
2. one portion of the visa form will require your hostel/hotel address in Myanmar.
where to stay in Yangon?
high end: The Strand Hotel, Traders Hotel, Chatrium Hotel, Inya Lake, Park Royal Hotel, Sedona Hotel
mid: Green Hill Hotel, Clover City Center Hotel, Panda, May Shan Hotel
budget: Motherland Inn, YMCA Yangon, Ocean Pearl Inn
other essential information:
currency: Myanmar Kyat or MMK (pronounced as chiyat)
estimated equivalent: USD1 = MMK870 = PHP42
plug type: European Plug, Schuko Type
power supply: 220-240V (same with Philippines)
drive: majority of the vehicles are left-side drive but road follows right-side traffic
important tips:
1. majority of the money changing booth and banks would only accept crisp, stamp-free and no fold USD bills. preferably USD100 bills to get a better exchange rate while smaller bills might be changed but with a lower equivalent.
2. it is best that you find these crisp, stamp-free and no fold US bills while you're in the Philippines. i recommend Czarina Foreign Exchange over Sanry's Foreign Exchange. if in case you're already in transit, you can check Forex shops in the airports of Malaysia and Singapore.
3. money exchange booth at the airport are reliable. as of our visit there were three and just pick with the ones that offer the better rate.
4. don't change all your money to Kyat (MMK) as hotels and some establishments would still require USD. for souvenirs, local restaurants and transport, Kyat (MMK) is still preferred but USD is also accepted.
i hope that this will help you plan your trip to Yangon. up next, our experience of going around Myanmar.
↧
first day in yangon
forget ice cream. forget taxis with air-condition. forget fast internet connection. for now, Yangon may lag in many aspects but the way this country is changing in the past months would make our experience different when one comes in the coming years.
on our first day in Yangon coming from a flight via Kuala Lumpur, we managed to get a van that would bring us around the city before heading far North to the historical site of Bagan. our goal for day one was:
- to get some of our US Dollar bills converted to Myanmar Kyat.
- to buy longyi and htamein - traditional Burmese under garment
- to buy souvenirs as we might miss out dropping by these shops on our way back
- to make a quick stop at some tourist spots within the city.
we made three quick stops. a pagoda, a local food shop and a bazaar.
Kaba Aye Pagoda
built in commemoration to the 2,500th year of Buddha's nirvana in 1952, this pagoda remains a solemn place for worshipers. from a small parking area it leads to a long walkway of shops. like all the pagoda's in Myanmar, one has to walk barefoot when entering the walkway.
the pagoda is composed of an outer and inner area for worship. the outer area has Buddhas on its corners with tables for offerings and donation glass box. the inner area is a more solemn area where a neon-lighted Buddha halo becomes the center of meditation.
Kaba Aye Pagoda
location: Kaba Aye Road, Mayangon township, Yangon
GPS: 16' 51" 24 N, 96' 9" 16 E
height: 111 feet
date built: 1952
recommendation:
this is in between the airport and the city. so you can make a quick stop to this pagoda. might not be as grand as Shwedagon Pagoda but the place is solemn. though taking photos is allowed, please respect the worshipers by turning off the flash option of your camera.
Hla Myanmar (Shwe Ba) Restaurant
after a walk around Kaba Aye pagoda, we had to stop for lunch and we requested for good local food. our guide recommended us this somewhat isolated food shop but was full of locals.
our guide though got us a semi-private area reserved when we got to there. the place looked like a typical carenderia in the Philippines where one would order from pre-cooked meals.
when served, a large vegetable salad comes first with condiments. since i'm not really into the kind of vegetables served, just few bites was fine. i picked this sweetened corn in tandem with spicy meat balls which turned out a good choice.
Hla Myanmar (Shwe Ba) Restaurant
location: No 27, 5th Street, West Shwegonedine, Bahan Township, Yangon
GPS: 16' 48" 13 N, 96' 8" 44 E
specialty: local food
recommendation:
ice cold Myanmar beer was good. also dont forget to try those fermented fish sauces. most meals comes with overflowing oil and less spice.
Bogyoke Market
reminded us so much of Ho Chi Minh's Ben Thanh Market where tourists would spend an hour or more moving around bargaining for souvenirs and antique items. a tourist landmark of the city of Yangon which name comes from the former general Aung San. formerly known as Scott's Market.
going around was easy with a main hallway from the main entrance which leads to several clusters of shops. the preferred currency is its local Myanmar Kyat (MMK) when buying items but most shops would also accept it in US Dollars (USD).
the closest resemblance to this market in the Philippines would be the Zamboanga City barter shops. including the way one would bargain for the items. the famous local longyi and htamein would remind us of malongs.
Burmese jade bracelets, rings and small figurines are among the most famous buys as these stones are considered precious and known as Myanmar gems. apart from these, the usual ref magnet, t-shirts, postcards and paintings are also available. so it's worth dropping by this market when you're in Yangon.
Bogyoke Aug San Market
location: Bogyoke Aung San Road, Pabedan Township, Yangon
GPS: 16' 46" 49 N, 96' 9" 20 E
date built: 1926
recommendation:
Bogyoke market is closed during Mondays. among the best items to buy here are longyis and htamein, jade items, lacquerwares and souvenirs. we bought really cheap items at this shop whose owner can speak a little of Tagalog: Heyday Gems and Jewellery Shop. it's at the inner portion of the market.
even a half day in Yangon can bring you to interesting spots. we did all these on less than 8hours. after buying items in Bogyoke market on our first day, around 3pm we started our trip North of Yangon to the historical site of Bagan. coming up next.
other helpful posts:
↧
el encuentro: paul y flip
"el encuentro"
paul xymon garcia blogger flip nomad
walkflypinoy blog flipnomad
beijing, china farthest north beijing, china
singapore farthest south bali, indonesia
bukidnon, philippines farthest east tennessee, usa
india-pakistan border farthest west paris, france
mui ne to hoi an, vietnam longest road trip beijing, china to hanoi vietnam
paracale to calaguas, camnorte longest boat trip manila to caticlan
kuala lumpur to delhi longest plane trip manila to usa
varanasi to delhi, india longest train trip udaipur to chennai
annapurna base camp, nepal highest point khardung la
el nido, palawan deepest swim kayangan lake, palawan
annapurna sanctuary trek, nepal longest trek mt banahaw traverse
annapurna sanctuary trek, nepal hardest trek klbber to ki
umbrella, lost 4 so far item/s lost in a trip belt, money, credit card, atm
tibetan prayer flags item given on a trip traded a watch for a metal bracelet
tiny silk worms and crickets worst food eaten crocodile, snake and grasshopper
travel feature questions:
dong ho: An unexpected travel experience where you thought would be a bad day but turned out to be a great experience.
paul: We waited for our train to Jaisalmer in the New Delhi Railway Station by queuing to buy all our other train tickets in India that we would need. Twenty minutes before the train departs, train station porters informed us that trains to Jaisalmer leaves not from New Delhi Railway Station, but rather from Old Delhi Railway Station, a few kilometers away.
We had 15 minutes to get there and it was evening rush hour in the fourth most populous city in the world. Our Indian host drove us as far as a few blocks outside Old Delhi Station. We strapped on our bags and ran through Delhi's chaos only to find the train has already left and we were 15 minutes behind it.
Contingency plans made and we headed up to Dharamsala, the Tibetan enclave in the Indian Himalayas where his holiness the 14th Dalai Lama fled 50 or so years ago to escape Mao's persecution. We discovered that his holiness, who for the better part of the year travels the world keeping a candle burning for the Tibetan cause, was actually in town and he was giving a lecture open to the public.
It was his holiness after all who said in his writings, “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck." He is right.
flip: An unexpected travel experience where you thought would be a bad day but turned out to be a great experience. My trip to Nubra Valley, I was so grumpy because I got dizzy and sick sitting at the back of the car but it was one of the most amazing places I've ever been to.
dong ho: Why people should go beyond the usual path/route/trails?
paul: It is because the real magic of travel happens not in the places you mapped out in your itinerary. What leaves a lasting impression on you are those you discover along the way. It all has to do with the limitless possibilities being on the road offers. Knowing that tomorrow is going to be a lot different from today should be reason enough. It is for me.
flip: A lot of off the beaten path destinations are cleaner, cheaper, less touristy but at the same time less convenient because of the lack of facility that caters to visitors. It's both challenging and rewarding to go to an unpopular destination, but it's always worth it.
note:
1. farthest places reached are referenced from Manila (with Manila to Europe as West and Manila to Guam as East).
2. records here are subject to update. as we know travelers break their records from time to time. records here are updated as of this posting
previously featured:
lois yasay and monette fernandezjerome baluyot and marky ramone
↧
on the road from yangon to bagan
first stop
we only had two stops on this 11-hour road trip, first stop was in search for a quick snack stop over at a seemingly isolated gas station with just a mini store selling fruits and the usual sari-sari store one would see in the Philippines.
still full from our lunch, we had our second stopover to take light meal but ended up ordering for salad. this little town in Taungoo is rustic and in contrast to Yangon, here motorcycles are allowed. i saw several motorized industrial carts which looked like the kuligligs in the Philippines. from here, we had slept almost the last remaining hours to Bagan.
we thought that this trip would bring us to Bagan early morning, but our driver said that we will most likely be there by around two in the morning. so we had to find a sleepover accommodation. something good enough for a sleepover. our guide recommended Bagan Central Hotel.
plane: daily flights are available from Yangon to Bagan (Nyaung U) via Mandalay Air (1hr 20mins) or one can also fly from Yangon to Mandalay (1hr 30mins) then bus trip to Bagan (2hours).
bus: there are several available bus liner that serves this route.
van: you can find van options at the airport through travel agencies. you can negotiate from there. make sure to check the van capacity and assure air-condition is good. (8-9hrs)
train: has daily scheduled trips (16h-18rs)
Myanmar related posts:
First Day in Yangon
Travel Guide to Myanmar
Why am i going to Myanmar?
↧
↧
my 2013 top 15 pinoy travel blogs
i thought listing down 15 Top Pinoy Travel Blogs for 2013 would be easy. i thought 15 was a lot but not when you find many interesting emerging travel blogs. since this is for 2013, i based it on 2013 posts and considered less of the format and design but more on the information that these blogs has been useful to me.
amazing photos matched with amazing stories of places and people often times missed out by many. two blogs that i'ven been following since i started blogging ironwulf and lagalog retained it as my top favorite blog. lantaw's focus on outdoor brings out the best in landscape.
fun read for seemingly endless travels of pinaytraveljunkie with little Luna as the highlight. tandem travel blog fliptravels has been a source of funny travel stories on the road. while flipnomad brings out the best of what is beyond Philippines including features of world travelers.
the lakwatsero and thepinaysolobackpacker has been a great source for travel informations and recommendations. a personal favorite would also be lakas ng trip that covers an extensive information of Palawan, may it be North, South or Central.
journeyingjames and pinoyadventurista moves around the Philippines for new spots and activities. one day you'll find them by the beach the next day they're in Manila. when it comes to updated and consistent trekking info pinoymountaineer and ivanlakwatsero would definitely stand out on my list.
in finding new hotels i find chyngreyes and justwandering useful. their blogs comes in photos that entice travelers to try out something new. something lux.
my top travel blog list for 2013:
ironwulf
lagalog
lantaw
pinaytraveljunkie
fliptravels
flipnomad
thelakwatsero
thepinaysolobackpacker
lakas ng trip
pinoyadventurista
journeyingjames
pinoymountaineer
ivanlakwatsero
chyngreyes
justwandering
i can extend the list to another 15 or maybe even 30 to list down my other favorite blogs but this for now will do for Out of Town blog's Poll for 2013.
↧
the charm of new bagan
though its name might give an impression of a modern town or a city, New Bagan remains laid back and rustic. apart from the number of temple ruins, New Bagan is not so different from Old Bagan.
houses have big lawns but does not go higher than two floors. roads are cemented but overlapped by thick dust. sacred shrines and spacious halls around town but seemed empty. old cars and trucks deprived by time moves the city life but it still takes a major role for commerce.
like a grotto in provincial towns in the Philippines, Buddhist pagodas serves as shrines for prayer and offerings. lauded through flowers and incense in the hopes of enlightenment and samsara. this gave us a glimpse of why pagodas and temples were built in great numbers around Bagan.
coming out of the pagoda's small plaza, kids with all their smiles and thanaka approached us asking where we are from. what i noticed around town, every time we would mention Philippines, they would show us a look something like trying to figure out where that is but in the end will give a sudden surprise reply "oh Philippines!".
these kids roam around this little town when there's no class. selling postcards and personal art piece of daily life and depictions of temples to tourists. all for the reason to earn "lucky money" ,as they would call it, taking advantage of the growing tourist influx.
the little that they get from these might be too small to help the family but is way better than begging. i hope that at least one day, i'll be able to return to this community. in a longer span for volunteerism that those smiles deserve.
as we head back to our hotel, we found a restaurant that had a sign "Free WIFI". an unusual signage to this side of town of which even our hotel does not have. ordered a local soup and coffee to match this short time to update friends and family of our location after more than a day without internet.
plane: daily flights are available from Yangon to Bagan (Nyaung U) via Mandalay Air (1hr 20mins) or one can also fly from Yangon to Mandalay (1hr 30mins) then bus trip to Bagan (2hours).
bus: there are several available bus liner that serves this route.
van: you can find van options at the airport through travel agencies. you can negotiate from there. make sure to check the van capacity and assure air-condition is good. (8-9hrs)
train: has daily scheduled trips (16h-18rs)
First Day in Yangon
Travel Guide to Myanmar
Why am i going to Myanmar?
On the road from Yangon to Bagan
↧
bagan central hotel
good points for this hotel:
- spacious rooms with TV, air-condition and each rooms have toilet
- spacious and relaxing open dining area
- safe area and is just along the main road
- hotel can arrange van for tour or as transpo within Bagan
Bagan Central Hotel
No 15&16 Khayay St., New Bagan
Mandalay Region, Myanmar
Tel:061-65057/65265yangon to bagan options:
by plane:daily flights are available from Yangon to Bagan (Nyaung U) via Mandalay Air (1hr20mins) or one an also fly from Yangon to Mandalay (1hr 30mins) then bus trip to Bagan (2hours).
by bus: there are several available bus liner that serves this route.
by train: has daily scheduled trips (16h-18rs)
First Day in Yangon
Travel Guide to Myanmar
Why am i going to Myanmar?
On the road from Yangon to Bagan
The Charm of New Bagan
↧
choose philippines
everyone's listing down the best of Philippines. amazing reasons from food to unexploited white sand beaches out of the 7,107 islands in the archipelago. beginning July 9 this year, the new Choose Philippines will give you more reasons by making it more specific and user friendly categorized travel spots.
where to go
islands and beaches
mountains and volcanoes
trails and caves
heritage sites
what to do
festivals
adventures and sports
history and culture
nigthlife
shopping
events
where to eat
restaurants
local flavors
exotic
recipes
where to stay
hotels
resorts
hostels and inns
relaxation and wellness
each feature posted by travel insiders are categorized with these. definitely one of the easiest way to find and navigate places through these options in one website. one with other travel insiders, check out some of my post soon in the new Choose Philippines.
let's begin to find, discover and share.
the countdown began last July 2 and featured travel bloggers including me.
↧
↧
loreland farm resort
we wanted a place where we would just watch a movie over a cornik not expecting that there was so much more with this place.
what i did not expect:
- it has a total area of eight hectares.
- it has one side beside a cliff.
- it has nine swimming pools.
- it has one of the first zipline in the metro.
so we decided to give up the movie night and instead maximize our stay trying out the resort's amenities. the central area is the in-house restaurant Verde which serves Filipino dishes and not missing out what Antipolo is best known for. suman and cashew.
massage and spa service
tropical-themed lounge
infinity pool
panoramic view
family-friendly area
Loreland Farm Resort also offers the following:
Team Building Park
Zipline
Jogging Area
Function Rooms
Events Venu
Stations of the Cross
Chapel
Laundry Service
Convenience Store
for updates and promos check out:
Loreland Farm Resort
Address: Sitio Loreland, Brgy San Roque, Antipolo City
Tel: +632696-0101 to 03
Fax: +632696-0106
Email: inquiry@loreland.com.ph
website: http://www.loreland.com.ph
facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lorelandfanpage
↧
bikeph maarat trail
one of the best thing about adventure in the Philippines is we get a variety of recreational activities no matter the season. the bike trail of Maarat Rizal comes best even over a rainy season. the rough muddy trails, i believe is a great add to this particular trail.
the orientation covers the basics of mountain biking:
- familiarizing the bike parts- knowing the difference between an ordinary bike and a mountain bike
- changing gear/crank
- proper way of mounting and dismounting a bike
- proper way of stopping and setting down the bike
each participant are the provided the following:
- mountain bike
- the head gear
- mineral water
recommended gears for this activity:
- trail/bike shoes or sandals
- shorts (not too loose)
- arm warmer
- shades
the trail began with a warm up swift descend along a paved road with lined pine trees. reminded me so much of Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros. not far and we started to hit the rough road with a slow ascend.
it was a sunny day but the day before this rained hard making portions of the trail slippery but good enough to make the trail exciting. with a mountain bike, even on a descend with a right gear setting, one can actually go fast but safety should be kept in mind.
the great mix of trail types on this route made me love this activity and the province of Rizal. there's just too many to explore. something i'm looking forward as Travel Factor offers more trails soon.
 |
| photo above from: www.facebook.com/bikeph |
the Bike Maarat highlights:
- the great mix of trail types of Maarat-Timberland
- the level of the trail is just right. the only requirement is you know how to bike
- the view that comes along with the bike trail
- the company of other bikers
on trail with:
cool radio DJs Chloe and Ingrid of Mellow 94.7 had a great time. they gave two thumbs up to Bike Maarat and definitely wanted to do it again. their favorite part of the trail are the downhill swift and the rocky portions of the trail.
check out their regular from Mondays to Fridays 10:00am to 2:00pm. plus the weekly special Travel Factor Thursdays as Cedric Valera joins the tandem for travel stories and discussions from 12:00nn-1:00pm.
BIKEPH is a great add to the long list of active and adventure trips Travel Factor is offering. it offers both urban and adventure bike trails. as month comes more bike trails will be added including Ifugao and soon on the Southern areas.
upcoming BIKEPH activites:
Aug 10: Bike Nuvali (Sta Rosa, Laguna)
Aug 11: Bike UP (Diliman, QC)
Aug 25: Bike Maarat (San Mateo, Rizal)
Sep 15: Bike Maarat (San Mateo, Rizal)
Oct 5-6: Bike Ifugao (Banaue, Ifugao)
for more updates connect through:
TRAVELFACTOR BIKEPH
FACEBOOK/BIKEPH
↧
Targus Sports 26L Backpack - Backpack Review
[1] a special audio cord on its shoulder strap
usual gadget-friendly backpack would just provide a audio cord inlet on its top portion but with this, Targus included a special cord on its right shoulder strap. this eliminates the cord being tangled. this for me is one of my favorite add-on feature to backpacks. 
in line with the special audio cord, this backpack has a gadget pouch. this helps you easily find your gadget and at the same time provides a good support instead of the gadget being anywhere inside the bag. the pouch can hold Apple IPhones, IPod Touch, Samsung Galaxy S4, Galaxy S3 Mini or MP3 players.
again the usual backpack would include a laptop compartment but the Sports 26L included a dedicated tablet compartment. this minimizes vibration of the tablet and at the same time a more organized way in storing your tablet.
the inner compartments holds the larger gadgets while the outer compartment includes small pockets and pouches. here, i would usually place my business cards, camera accessories, and other smaller items. the larger pocket comes with a zipper.
with some gadgets and books being heavy, it is important that the back portion is padded to make it comfortable and breathable. equally, the shoulder straps are also padded. this also reduces vibration.
other features includes:
- designed to fit 16" laptop
- two bottle mesh compartments on two sides
- compartment strap lock
- key holder on the outer compartment
- foam top hand grip
for more Targus product updates check and connect with them through:
www.targus.com
https://www.facebook.com/TargusPhilippines
https://twitter.com/TargusPhl
↧
BPI Get Out More
BPI brings back the "Get Out More" promo for the second time. this time a chance to find something Whoa! in Boracay, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea and China through BPI online transactions. i believe banking can't be more exciting than this.
beyond the benefit of 24/7 access online, hassle-free, no queues, and efficient secured online banking transactions, BPI gives that chance for a trip for two with allowance to these exciting destinations.
all you have to do is to follow these three easy steps:
1. Enroll your existing BPI account to BPI Express Online 24/7. just click here.
2. Start your online/mobile transactions. just click here.
3. Gain more electronic raffle entries. know how to earn more here.
the more transaction, the more chances of getting that Whoa! experience. to make it more exciting, BPI has launched a dedicated Get Out More site, where one can soon share your own Whoa! experience.
Rewards/Raffle Prizes:
- One trip for two to Boracay, Philippines. includes round trip airfare care of Air Asia, 3days/2nights stay at The Pearl of the Pacific and pocketmoney of P24,700.
- One trip for two to Seoul, Korea. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The MBiz and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: September 30, 2013; Raffle Draw: October 14, 2013)
- One trip for two to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The Ibiz Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
- One trip for two to Shanghai, China. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The Kai Bojia Hao Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: October 31, 2013; Raffle Draw: November 12, 2013)
- Three trips for two to Hong Kong, Hong Kong. includes round trip airfare care of Air Asia, 2nights stay at The Regal Oriental Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: November 30, 2013; Raffle Draw: December 12, 2013)
Travel period for the raffle prizes is January 1, 2014- June 30, 2014. Cash prize (pocket money) will be credited to winner's account number upon awarding of the raffle prizes.
![]()
![]()
Take complete control over your finances and transactions with just few clicks through BPI Express Online. what you can do over a BPI branch can be done online 24/7.
beyond the benefit of 24/7 access online, hassle-free, no queues, and efficient secured online banking transactions, BPI gives that chance for a trip for two with allowance to these exciting destinations.
all you have to do is to follow these three easy steps:
1. Enroll your existing BPI account to BPI Express Online 24/7. just click here.
2. Start your online/mobile transactions. just click here.
3. Gain more electronic raffle entries. know how to earn more here.
the more transaction, the more chances of getting that Whoa! experience. to make it more exciting, BPI has launched a dedicated Get Out More site, where one can soon share your own Whoa! experience.
Rewards/Raffle Prizes:
- One trip for two to Boracay, Philippines. includes round trip airfare care of Air Asia, 3days/2nights stay at The Pearl of the Pacific and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: August 31, 2013; Raffle Draw: September 12, 2013)
(Bill Payment Cut-off: September 30, 2013; Raffle Draw: October 14, 2013)
- One trip for two to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The Ibiz Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
- One trip for two to Shanghai, China. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The Kai Bojia Hao Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: October 31, 2013; Raffle Draw: November 12, 2013)
- Three trips for two to Hong Kong, Hong Kong. includes round trip airfare care of Air Asia, 2nights stay at The Regal Oriental Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: November 30, 2013; Raffle Draw: December 12, 2013)
Travel period for the raffle prizes is January 1, 2014- June 30, 2014. Cash prize (pocket money) will be credited to winner's account number upon awarding of the raffle prizes.
Take complete control over your finances and transactions with just few clicks through BPI Express Online. what you can do over a BPI branch can be done online 24/7.
↧
↧
find something whoa!
my own recent experience of traveling with eight friends and a little girl in Myanmar got ourselves to tons of photos of that whoa! experience. from the seemingly endless bike ride to the culture shock of wearing longyi while moving around Shwedagon Pagoda.
1. Enroll your existing BPI account to BPI Express Online 24/7. just click here.
2. Start your online/mobile transactions. just click here.
3. Gain more electronic raffle entries. know how to earn more here.
the more transaction, the more chances of getting that Whoa! experience. to make it more exciting, BPI has launched a dedicated Get Out More site, where one can soon share your own Whoa! experience.
Rewards/Raffle Prizes:
- One trip for two to Seoul, Korea. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The MBiz and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: September 30, 2013; Raffle Draw: October 14, 2013)
- One trip for two to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The Ibiz Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
- One trip for two to Shanghai, China. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The Kai Bojia Hao Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: October 31, 2013; Raffle Draw: November 12, 2013)
- Three trips for two to Hong Kong, Hong Kong. includes round trip airfare care of Air Asia, 2nights stay at The Regal Oriental Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: November 30, 2013; Raffle Draw: December 12, 2013)
Travel period for the raffle prizes is January 1, 2014- June 30, 2014. Cash prize (pocket money) will be credited to winner's account number upon awarding of the raffle prizes.
Take complete control over your finances and transactions with just few clicks through BPI Express Online. what you can do over a BPI branch can be done online 24/7.
↧
thatbyinnyu temple and around
temple name: Thatbyinnyu Temple
built: mid 12th century
height: 201ft (tallest temple in Bagan)
type: Gawdawpalin Style
king during that time: King Alaungsithu
area profile:
country: Myanmar (Burma)
island: Greater Eurasia
region: Mandalay
city: Bagan
GPS location:
21' 10" 15N
94' 51" 57E
temple/pagoda complex access fee:
entrance to the entire complex is standardized at USD10 per person for the entire time that you'll be in the area. keep the ticket as some temples have inspectors checking for your pass.
touring around:
Bagan temple complex is huge and your option of renting a van, a cart or a bike will depend greatly on the time that you have to explore the temples and your resistance to heat. some temples can be as far 25kilometers while you can find some stupas almost on every corner.
bus/van/car: comfort and you save time moving from one temple to another.
horse/cow cart: slow but a good experience of old local mode of transportation.
bike: active, fast and flexible but consumes a lot of energy. cheapest way to temple hop.
cost for the van/car/cart will vary on the temples that you plan to visit.
cost for bike: USD2-3per person per day. most hotels or inn offer this service.
how to get there:
by plane: there are regular daily flight from Yangon to Nyaung-U. the closest airport is Nyaung-U Airport which is just around 15mins away from the Old Bagan temple and pagoda area. Airlines with regular flights includes: Air Mandalay, Air Bagan, Yangon Airways
by bus:
from Mandalay: daily bus trips are available to Bagan. duration: 6-8hours (estimate: USD10-15)
from Yangon: daily bus trips are available to Bagan. duration: 10-12hours (estimate: USD15-22)
from Nyay Pyi Taw: daily bus trips available to Bagan. duration: 5-7hours (estimate: USD10-15)
by train:
daily trips from Mandalay and Yangon are available but the trip time may vary depending on the train stop duration.
eskapo recommends:
1. if you have limited time, don't take the train as trip duration can change from Yangon or Mandalay to Bagan.
2. maximize time exploring the temples by choosing particular temples which are in the same direction or area. so find a map, which is usually available on hotels, inns and hostel. despite the large area, the most notable temples and pagodas can easily be navigated with a map.
3. make sure to bring enough water when exploring the temples and pagodas. very few temples have people selling water and food.
4. not all temples can be accessed and some holy sites should be respected. foot wears are not allowed when entering or climbing pagodas and temples.
country: Myanmar (Burma)
island: Greater Eurasia
region: Mandalay
city: Bagan
GPS location:
21' 10" 15N
94' 51" 57E
temple/pagoda complex access fee:
entrance to the entire complex is standardized at USD10 per person for the entire time that you'll be in the area. keep the ticket as some temples have inspectors checking for your pass.
touring around:
Bagan temple complex is huge and your option of renting a van, a cart or a bike will depend greatly on the time that you have to explore the temples and your resistance to heat. some temples can be as far 25kilometers while you can find some stupas almost on every corner.
bus/van/car: comfort and you save time moving from one temple to another.
horse/cow cart: slow but a good experience of old local mode of transportation.
bike: active, fast and flexible but consumes a lot of energy. cheapest way to temple hop.
cost for the van/car/cart will vary on the temples that you plan to visit.
cost for bike: USD2-3per person per day. most hotels or inn offer this service.
how to get there:
by plane: there are regular daily flight from Yangon to Nyaung-U. the closest airport is Nyaung-U Airport which is just around 15mins away from the Old Bagan temple and pagoda area. Airlines with regular flights includes: Air Mandalay, Air Bagan, Yangon Airways
by bus:
from Mandalay: daily bus trips are available to Bagan. duration: 6-8hours (estimate: USD10-15)
from Yangon: daily bus trips are available to Bagan. duration: 10-12hours (estimate: USD15-22)
from Nyay Pyi Taw: daily bus trips available to Bagan. duration: 5-7hours (estimate: USD10-15)
by train:
daily trips from Mandalay and Yangon are available but the trip time may vary depending on the train stop duration.
eskapo recommends:
1. if you have limited time, don't take the train as trip duration can change from Yangon or Mandalay to Bagan.
2. maximize time exploring the temples by choosing particular temples which are in the same direction or area. so find a map, which is usually available on hotels, inns and hostel. despite the large area, the most notable temples and pagodas can easily be navigated with a map.
3. make sure to bring enough water when exploring the temples and pagodas. very few temples have people selling water and food.
4. not all temples can be accessed and some holy sites should be respected. foot wears are not allowed when entering or climbing pagodas and temples.
↧
BPI Get Out More
- One trip for two to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The Ibiz Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
- One trip for two to Shanghai, China. includes round trip airfare care of Zest Air, 2nights stay at The Kai Bojia Hao Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: October 31, 2013; Raffle Draw: November 12, 2013)
two destinations known for food trip and urban photo walks. the skyline of Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai has some of the tallest towers in Asia including the Petronas twin tower and China's tallest tower Shanghai World Financial Center.
1. Enroll your existing BPI account to BPI Express Online 24/7. just click here.
2. Start your online/mobile transactions. just click here.
3. Gain more electronic raffle entries. know how to earn more here.
the more transaction, the more chances of getting that Whoa! experience. to make it more exciting, BPI has launched a dedicated Get Out More site, where one can soon share your own Whoa! experience.
Rewards/Raffle Prizes:
- Three trips for two to Hong Kong, Hong Kong. includes round trip airfare care of Air Asia, 2nights stay at The Regal Oriental Hotel and pocketmoney of P24,700.
(Bill Payment Cut-off: November 30, 2013; Raffle Draw: December 12, 2013)
Travel period for the raffle prizes is January 1, 2014- June 30, 2014. Cash prize (pocket money) will be credited to winner's account number upon awarding of the raffle prizes.
Take complete control over your finances and transactions with just few clicks through BPI Express Online. what you can do over a BPI branch can be done online 24/7.
↧
