Posts tagged: travel
Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines…
went there in 2011..
It was a fortuitous trip … but not so. You see, my 2 best friends, Jannica and Behn wanted to go some place far away for a while because of some turn of events… just to think or unwind… and when I say “far away” they meant someplace as far as Thailand. But seeing as that is highly unlikely considering that it’s out of budget, I impetuously told them “Let’s just go to Nuvali”.
Since it was abrupt, we first decided to go with just the three of us. (Yes we are emo like that) and as the hours went by, we ditched the original plan and in its place, invited others and boy was it fun. (Although we were really looking forward to the no-talking-just-reflecting activity…perhaps next time)
Prior to this, even with its nearness to where I live, I’ve only been to Nuvali, once and it was almost midnight so I didn’t get the chance to see the view. This time around, we went there at 4pm. It was what I’ve ever hoped for, ultimately amazing.
The combination of nature, people and technology is so well-balanced that you just can’t help but wish that it was a walking distance away from home… it’s a nice depart from the busy streets of Manila and the suburban San Pedro, Laguna. Fresh air? Nuvali is the way to go. Everything that is supportive to environmental sustainability is a good to go for me. From its fresh air, to amazing architectures and advanced technologies, I could work here.
Although it is far from complete, it does its job in providing the best of what it offers to the people who visits the place. I’m definitely going back. If you want to go shopping or anything, you can just walk a little and you’ll arrive at Solenad 1.
Got this picture here
Anyways, you have to experience and see it for yourself to capture what Nuvali is really about. So go and try to visit it asap. Plus it’s the season where the temperature is nearly cold. So it’s super nice :)) Now forgive us for camwhoring there.
Eaii
JanniBok. Aren’t they the cutest couple - er- dating -er- friends? Whatever-relationship-this-two-have?
(L-R Eaii. Dannie. YT. Behn. Jannica)
You could also drive a little more and you’ll arrive in Paseo de Sta. Rosa. Kind of a mall-bar-fastfood-ish type of place. And that’s where we ate. :) At a place called Kanin Club. It was famous for its adobo but we chose something different which was disenchanting but their Sinigang sa Miso is to die for.
After that, we headed home… I was very tired considering that a. I was the driver; b. We walked for hours; c. searching for a good resto was tiring and d. Jason Mraz’s concert is happening the day after (details soon after) as well but it was all worth it. I went home with a happy sigh and good vibes that lasted till the next day. Yey. Go to Nuvali and experience Ecoliving. :)
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Also, you can have a 15-minute boat ride around the man-made lake. :)
Continuation of Part 1 (link)
Part 2 of our Singapore trip. Another day spent at Sentosa.
Because there are tons to do here, it’s definitely Asia’s Favorite Playground.Universal Studios, Beaches, Spa, Nature, Golf and a whole lot more!
You get to ride the Tiger sky tower where you’ll see the overlooking view of Sentosa and the city. I forgot if I enjoyed this haha all I remembered was that I was dizzy because it was turning around non-stop (literally) going up and even when you’re already at the top. :))
Youll also enjoy the Skyline Luge. Part go-cart, part toboggan, the Luge offers a truly unique outdoor experience suitable for all ages that is not found anywhere else in Singapore or Southeast Asia.
Sorry we just had to! :))
Seeking advice thru a fortune teller. :))
There will also be a tour about the history of Singapore and the different images of SG. It’s a cool museum though not the kind we have here in the Philippines. But Ill leave it for you to discover.
Of course, Underwater world and dolphin lagoon.
The eco friendly ride! I had fun but I’m a loser. It took me a while before I could finish the whole route. :| But I want to ride this again
We also watched The Songs of the Sea. I loved it. It was like Manila Ocean Park’s Fountain show, but with a different twist. :) Projector via seawater :))
Amazing right!?? :)
And finally, we went to Jurong Bird Park and Singapore Zoo!
After that you head on to the Night Safari. You can choose either to walk or ride the jeep. We chose to walk the whole route and it started to rain, so they gave us raincoats! Thank God for the free raincoats too because whenever I go to concerts here in Manila now, I always bring them :)
Most animals here are hard to find they’re nocturnal of course but because there’s not much light there and because it was raining that night. also, flash photography isnt allowed.
I will definitely go back to SG soon! :) It is a very fine city. and by fine it also means that they put a fine on everything. Spitting, Loitering and the like. That’s why it’s very clean!
I love SG. Their Prime Minister is one of the people I look up to. He’s brilliant. Singapore got its name from ‘Singa Pura’ which means Lion City. It is also known as the Garden City because there are MANY trees surrounding the City. The trees there needs to be in order and are of the same height.
Outside the Airport. Singapore is another city that has had phenomenal financial growth. Its good fortune has been attributed to the persistent practice of Feng Shui. I swear everything here has something to do with Feng Shui
Sinapore is likened to a crab because when it’s alive, its color is green. Singapore is alive ergo, it’s green.
Thank God my father’s company lent us a room during our stay there (despite the fact that my dad works in Middle East and not SG. cool company right!) or else, I think accommodation there wouldve been expensive.
SMRT. Even their MRT is based on Feng Shui. SMRT is Singapore’s premier multi-modal transport provider from buses, trains and taxis. You just call for a cab, and the next 5 minutes, there is one in front of you. :D
Singapore Flyer. It is the largest observation wheel in the world. You can dine here or even get married (while we were riding this, someone was getting married). It gives you a chance to see the diversified images of the city and it also explains the Feng Shui behind the buildings and landscapes of the city.
Who would miss the Merlion, Singapore’s mythical beast? :) The lionhead represents the lion spotted by Prince Sang Nila Utama when he rediscovered SG and the fishtail symbolizes the ancient city Temasek meaning “sea”. As a whole it represents the humble beginnings of SG as a fishing village.
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is a waterside building purpose-built to be the centre for performing arts.
Did you know: Water is SOOOO expensive here and locals don’t actually drink water. If you are at a resto and you are drinking water, it means you’re a foreigner. They either drink tea, or the soup provided with the meal.
The next day we went to SENTOSA. There are lots of stuffs you can do here like:
Go to Universal Studios Singapore! :D Ha! We forgot to bring our tripod so what did we do? Most of the shots, we used self timer and put it in sturdy places like benches and the most extreme, Garbage Cans! :))
Madagascar Theme Park
Shrek Theme Park
Jurassic Park. I love the theme parks here! Scary!!!! Another scary ride lies in the
The Return of the Mummy! Just walking inside the pyramid waiting for your turn makes you want to back out already. I hate the part where they stop the train and… youll have to find out for yourself :P
Battlestar Galactica. Too bad it wasn’t ready when we went there. :(
Woot! Hollywood! Even the temperature in this part of the park is cold! :D
Broadway. These guys are actually Filipinos. !!! :)
My advice to those who’ll go to Universal Studios is to have enough rest before going there. There will be tons of walking, and walking, and walking towards every rides and attractions but it’s worth it. There’s a lot more in stored for you aside from what I’ve listed here like 4d theaters, movie simulations and other stuffs that in you’ll get tired …really. Plus the long lines to ride, but of course it’ll be worth it. :)
Wait for the Part 2 for another Sentosa adventure :)
Ive been to DC twice. The first one was with my friends and the next is when my relatives gave me a tour. When I went with my friends we were wearing jackets and all believing that it will be as cold as when we went to the Statue of Liberty but it wasnt. It was nearly as hot as in Manila so when I went to DC with my relatives, I wore light clothes, but it rained that day so it was freaking cold. Bummer :))
We went to: Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery = hallowed grounds. It is the Nation’s most sacred shrine. It is divided for the soldiers that died in the war, nurses during the war, and tomb of the unknown (soldiers).
This is where you’ll find JFK and WHT’s grave together with their respective wives.
Taft is close to my heart. Did you know that in the Philippines we have an avenue named after him? Taft Avenue, Manila and somewhere along that place is where I studied. :)
Lucky for us we were able to witness the changing of soldiers who will watch the memorial.
Rain or shine, snow or what not, as long as it was your turn to watch, you dont leave your spot. Then we went to: Botanic Garden Conservatory
The Botanic Garden is supervised by the Congress. It is one of the oldest Botanic Garden in the US. Youll also find plants like this:
Now that I’ve mentioned the Congress, we went to the US Capitol and the Library of Congress as well. Just like in the movies, it’s amazing :)
This is kinda like the House of Representatives in Philippines.
I want a library like this! Even the ceiling is just so amazing. I can stare at it the whole day. :)) but you know, I had my fair share of starstruck when we went to: THE Lincoln Memorial
In this temple, as in the hearts of the people whom he saved the union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever. I just see this in movies! I cant believe that Ill actually see it IN REAL LIFE!!! I was nearly in tears. Outside the memorial, you can see the Washington Monument
Also known as
The Pencil:) we also went to the National Archives Gallery where you’ll find even find
We also went to the Union Station and
Sorry. We just had to.! :))
and last but definitely NOT the least
Need I say more :)
New York Trip. I only stayed in NY for 10 days but I loved every minute of it. When we arrived at JFK, we were disappointed that it wasn’t as cold as we thought it would be, but the moment we left the airport, lo and behold, define freezing! We immediately wore our trenchcoats, jackets, and the like. (I love talking though and the smoke coming out of your mouth =D)
Times Square. No wonder they call it the City that never sleeps.
Our first night there, we just went out to tour the City. We went to Rockefeller, Times Square, China Town and the like.
But actually, I felt like I was in Quiapo only colder and there were too many amazing ads and lights everywhere.
Did you know: They are strict when it comes to buying liquor and cigarette. They wont sell you unless you’re 21 above. (Not that I mind because I dont do both) but my friends did so it was hard for them. Also, they dont sell liquor every Sundays because it’s God’s Day.
However my friend here in Tumblr told me that they do sell to minors. Haha I dont know. Maybe it varies from one customer to another? Try your luck once you visit the place :)
Tip: If you want to shop, well, the prices in NY are expensive because of the taxes. When I went to US, I shopped only in Maryland (4-5%) and in Delaware (0%tax!)
We went and visited the Philippine Consulate in NY and saw H.E. Hilario Davide. (DFA wait for me)
Mcdonald’s of course! Did you know, the servings of burgers, fries and drinks there are a ton lot bigger than here in the Philippines? a whole lot to the point that when we bought burgers there, we ate half at lunch and half at dinner. THAT HUGE.
We ate lots of food there most of time, pastas, pizzas and the like. Dont get me wrong it was good but I missed rice though. But when I went back to Philippines, my mom said I gained a lot of weight.
Loser @ Broadway! Haha. :)) I was too tired from walking that if you look closely Im already wearing flipflops. And it was freaking cold! XD
Went to World Trade Center. Ground Zero (used to be) as well.
Taxi cabs have television :) And you can pay via credit card. XD However the cooler part was:
I got to participate at the United Nations General Assembly and represent the Philippines! But the coolest part was
My partner and I got nominated as Outstanding Delegation at the ECOSOC Council! Yeah!
Haha. I love New York. Its been a while but I promised myself I wont go back if Im not with my family. They should experience it too. And you pips should too! :) Youll love that you can go outside, buy food at Mcdonalds wearing your pajamas and slippers and no one would care (We did!) But I was really at awe with Washington DC. Ill post some soon :D Toodles
Oh! I almost forgot! We went to Ellis Island where the Statue of Liberty is situated. The statue is a gift of the people of France to the US.
To get to the Statue of Liberty, you need to ride a ferry. A thirty minute ride to get to the Statue. Btw, it’s colder here. It must be the water! :)) I actually thought that the Statue’s color is gray. Whenever I see it from films and the like, I think it’s gray. So when we went there and I saw that it’s actually green, I was shocked! :)) They say the temperature must’ve something to do with it.
The statue conveys its message of freedom thru the symbols in the statue. The broken shackles at her feet symbolizes escape from tyranny. A tablet of law written in Roman the date of Declaration of Independence of US. The Crown has seven rays suggesting the 7 seas and 7 continents. And more importantly, the torch and flame symbolizes the truth and justice enlightening the world. :)
One of the perks of living in the South is we live near: Enchanted Kingdom, Splash Island (its kind of a walking distance if you will), Nuvali, an hour or less trip to Manila if there is no traffic (which now isnt rare) and an hour to Tagaytay as well. Sigh Laguna I love you.
However this could be a pitfall as well considering that you have friends from other towns, cities that only go to these places rare few times. Ive been to EK for as long as I could remember from school fieldtrips to what not and its starting to not make me feel excited going there. But still the rides are cool! :)
Grand Carousel
Up, up and away! (I rarely ride this one. Dizzy mode afterwards. Believe me)
Roller Skater
Jungle Log Jam
Space Shuttle Max and the Priceless faces.
Wheel of Fate
Anchors Away
Flying Fiesta
Go Karting
Zorb Balls
My favorite, Rio Grande :) and finally their new addition to the family
EKstreme. (I love this new baby.)
I have to say, for what its worth, the fun memories, bondings is what you really take home with you whether with family, friends, neighbors, classmates, colleagues. I think that, that is really the “magic” that stays with you.
Pruno. Largest python in captivity. It was actually changing its skin when we got there. You can’t hold a snake when they are changing their skin because it hurts them
Man-made forest. Made from Mahogany Trees
Hanging Bridge.
Floating Restaurant. River Cruise at Loboc River. Buffet Style.
Tarsier :) They can’t be domesticated. Once taken away from their habitat and family, they will bang their heads till they die or they’ll stop their breathing.
Spicy Flower Salad. Must try. Its good. But I think it’s overpriced.
Hinagdanan Cave. Contrary to popular belief, this cave is not a bat’s cave but a Bird’s cave. (Bat’s aren’t birds. FYI ^_^)
This cave was actually discovered by a farmer who was trying to dig the above soil but then he saw a hole he threw a rock and heard water… and poof, he saw a bird’s cave. There are a lot of cave swifts there that produces birds nests from saliva but the Boholanos are preserving it instead of selling it for a high price. Cool
Panglao Island
Virgin Islands.
I am at awe with Bohol and Boholanos. They are very warm, hospitable and contented. They actually do everything to preserve the old, the history. As long as they get to eat thrice a day, they’ll be fine. They don’t aim to get very rich or to have huge houses, that’s why most houses there are ancestral houses. Whenever there are feasts, fiesta, even if you dont know the person, you are welcomed in their house. Bohol rarely get floods or whatever because there are many trees everywhere and there is low to zero chance of storm because it is surrounded by mountains and finally, my favorite, low to zero crime rate.
Views from the top :)
Corregidor Trip. See? We have our “Jumbo Kingdom” in Manila like what I’ve said in my HK Trip
To get to Corregidor, you need to ride a ferry that docks in Manila Bay (near Sofitel) it’s an hour trip. When you arrive in Corregidor, the first thing you’ll be doing is … eat lunch! :)
During World War II, Corregidor played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces.
General Douglas McArthur used to have a headquarters in Corregidor as well.
Iba ang tour ng mga banyaga medyo ibang version ung kanila
Cute Baby!
What is left of the once headquarters while the picture below is the actual canyons used in the war.
This Buddhist Statue is part of the Japanese Memorial. For the finale of the tour, we went to:
Malinta Tunnel. They called it “Malinta” because once upon a time, the island is full of leeches and in Filipino we call Leeches, “Linta”. It was initially used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker, but was later equipped as a 1,000-bed hospital.
Before, soldiers inside the tunnel have no sense of time. They dont know if its morning or evening. It was terribly dark inside as well. There were no electricity for lights and when our tour guide made us turn off our flashlights, it was very dark. A big no-no for claustrophobics like me. Now, Malinta Tunnel serves as a Visual Presentation of events that occurred during World War II. For overnighters, they will experience a different feel of it though :)) That I will leave for you to find out.
I love Corregidor! It gives us a feeling of what it meant to have lived before and a deeper knowledge of our history. You should definitely go here.
I’ve been to Manila Ocean Park thrice already. The first time was went it opened. The second one was last December with my friends and the last on was this February when my Aunt from Canada visited the country. (This is kind of my second EK with regards to how many times Ive been there)
Compared to the past that Ive been there, there’s been a lot of changes. Structure wise, when we first went there, there were a lot of places and floors that were not yet done in construction. Now, it’s almost complete. And I have to honestly say, though I’ve been there a lot of times already, I still am fascinated with the creatures underwater (and I still dont know their names…most of them)
Im sorry I forgot this fish’s name. But I remember it’s cool because it can change its color and at the same time, its gender! (If you happen to know its name, you can tell me)
Stonefishies! . It is believed to be the deadliest fish in the world. *gulps!*
Feeding time
Blue Tang a.k.a Dangit in Filipino famously known as “Dory” in Finding Nemo :)
Jellyfishes! So calming.
You also have the option of watching the fountain show.
And my favorite Fish Spa.! These fishes are called Nibble Fish (Note: The baby fishes at the other side of the pool are more ticklish) I like the big ones more. They eat your dead skin cells away. Cool.
Laoag Trip. Ilocos Norte. It was my cousin’s wedding and it will be held there because his wife’s family and friends were all there. However the night before we went there, typhoon came. Our flight was scheduled 1130am the next day and flights were being cancelled here and there. My mom and I made up our mind not go but literally an hour before the flight, Cebu Pacific, tweeted me that the flight will push thru.
In a span of ten minutes, we packed everything we could! Just got a few clothes, and went to the airport. The doors were already closing when they still let us in. whew. to our relief, it was actually not as bad as we expected (media sometimes can be too exaggerated)
We only have one day to tour the place so we only went to a few.
Drivers in Laoag are very disciplined from tricycles to jeepneys. Cool!
Apparently, they still use kalesas there not as a form of something to do for tourists, but as a means of tranportation
They are also known for pottery makings that even kids know how to do the art of pottery making. Like this one :
He actually made the middle vase. How cool is that!
We also went to Fort Ilocandia but unfortunately, since there’s still a typhoon, the wind was too strong that the sand is kind of forming circles and the waves were literally huge!
So we just went back to our Hotel, Palacio de Laoag, and take a dip at the pool there with my relatives
Me, Ate Len, Auntie Vic and Mama
and finally, just before we leave, we went to buy their famous Biscocho
Judging by the look on Mama’s face, it tastes good :)
It was such a short time actually. The first day there, we went to rest, waited for our relatives to arrive (they took the long route which is drive their way to Ilocos 14hours drive?) while we took the plane (2hrs) The second day is the wedding.And the day of our flight, we toured for a while.Cool though! I wish my Papa and my brother were there with us.
Hongkong Trip. Jumbo Floating Restaurant. We have one in Manila as well
Buddhist Palace
Window of the World. This was actually in Zhenzen, China but it’s too near HK so we went there as well. As the name says, you’ll see stuffs like:
“Eiffel Tower”
Pyramid of Egypt
Thailand’s Palaces
Feel of Japan and their Cherry Blossoms to name a few. :) and then headed of to:
Need I say more? Hongkong Disneyland! :)
Papa and Mickey :)
Fireworks. :)
And for our last stop:
Ocean Park! This I must say is kind of for adults than HKD because the rides here are more extreme if you will.
Cable Car
Too bad the Panda bear’s place was under construction so we didnt see it. All in all I would have to say that Hongkong was my first taste of culture shock. (compared even to US!) it was hard to communicate. I remember our first night when we had to eat seaweeds, shrimp, noodles, beef in one bowl because we just point at everything at the menu (it wasnt good). But after a while we got the hang of it. Ill definitely visit this place again :)
