Baler: Beyond Coppola's Apocalypse Now Part 2

By now we were starving. It had taken us a little over five hours to get from Manila to Baler, and we had already gone on a tour of the city. We needed some nourishment and libations to sustain us for the rest of the day. My mom suggested that we go eat at Jerry Shan, an all-you-can-eat restaurant not that far from Mrs. Quezon's childhood home.

When we got there, the place was packed with patrons who seemed even hungrier than we were. We saw the long queue, which was disheartening. But we were already there, and we were so hungry. One of the servers found an unoccupied table for us. My dad who never queued to get food in his life, asked me and my mom to get some food for him. It was a bit of a challenge, holding two plates, but Pete, my husband helped a lot.

After lunch, we went back to the hotel.My parents and I had coffee, while Pete had a beer at Beach House, Costa Pacifica's restaurant. At around 2 pm, someone from the front desk informed us that my parents' room was ready. We stayed there for over an hour until we got the call that our room was ready as well.

The room I shared with my hubby.

I spent the rest of the day taking pictures.

People enjoying the cool breeze.

The beach wouldn't be complete without a boy digging.

Our hotel

Surfboards and people chillin'

Fish and chips

Cheeseburger and fries.

Read Part 1 here.

Costa Pacifica in Baler

I had a fun, relaxing stay at Costa Pacifica in Baler. One thing I love about what I do, is I can work as long as I have my laptop and an internet connection. Hehe. Paying just over $10 a month to have internet on my phone is soooo worth it. Can't wait to go to my next destination. Please watch out for my blog entry about my stay in Baler. I'm going to post some really cool pictures! Ciao!

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Beautiful Camiguin

Camiguin is a province located in the Bohol Sea 10 kilometers off the northern coast of Mindanao. The island seen here is not part of the main island of Camiguin but is part of the province. It is a tiny island with no structures apart from a makeshift tarpaulin tent. I have visited this island twice, and I look forward to visiting it for a third time. If you ever find yourself in Camiguin, don't forget to ask about this little island. 

How to get there: Fly directly from Manila to Camiguin via Cebu Pacific. If you're coming from Cagayan, take a taxi to the bus terminal located at the Agora Market to get on a bus for Balingoan, a town 88 kilometers outside the city. At Balingoan, take a ferry bound for Camiguin Island. The ferry ride takes about an hour.

Where to stay: During my visits to the island I stayed at Paras Beach Resort and I must say that I was very much satisfied both times. The resort had a very relaxed ambiance, and the rooms were clean, and of a decent size.

Wooden Masks from Palawan

I took a picture of these masks which were being sold at the LRC 908 Market Mall in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. My mother and I booked an overnight shopping trip there in August 2013. It is one of my most favorite cities in the world. It has so much to offer all kinds of travelers. The locals are very disciplined and trustworthy, and it is very easy to get around what with all the tricycles in the area. I have to admit I often check budget airline websites for promo fares to Puerto Princesa. 

If you are into pearls, Puerto Princesa is an ideal place to go. Countless shops offer high quality pearls (cultured, rice, South Sea) at reasonable prices. My friend had asked me to buy her a pair of pearl earrings and I found the perfect pair at 14 mm for only USD 101 (Php 4,500). Just thinking about it makes me want to book another trip to the Greenest City in the Philippines.

"Puerto Princesa is the seat of the provincial government of Palawan, although it is considered an independent city which means it is not controlled by the province in which it is geographically located, and is therefore an independent area located within Palawan." (Wikipedia)

View from Cafe Sabel

 

View from Cafe Sabel located on the ground floor of the Bencab Museum in Baguio City, Philippines. 

Discover Palawan

I visited Puerto Princesa, Palawan for the first time in 2012. It was such a beautiful island, that I vowed, right after setting foot on it, that I would one day explore the other parts of Palawan. It will require a little bit of saving on my part, as I heard some of the resorts could set one back quite a bit. I will definitely go to El Nido and Coron sometime in the future. For now, let me relive the memories I have of Puerto Princesa. 

Three girls and a boat basking in the oriental sun.

The serenity of island living.

Perfect temperature for a swim.

Just you and your thoughts.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

 

Gorgeous sunset at Las Casas de Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan

 

One of the old houses reconstructed[/caption]

 

Children playing

 

Children and their secrets

Las Casas de Filipinas de Acuzar,  a hotel located in Bagac, Bataan, Philippines, is a hotel like no other. What sets it apart is its main attraction: a collection of old, restored ancestral houses, strategically placed within the compound. It is like no other place I've ever been. And as you can see, the sunset is breathtaking!

How To Travel Cheap

Everyone wants to travel. Everyone wants to see the world. To ride an elephant in Thailand, or be one with nature in South Africa, or scour the countless shops and outlets in America. Some travel to eat, some travel to shop, some travel to relax, while others travel just to bombard their Facebook friends’ news feeds with pictures taken in exotic and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

While the concept of travel is very appealing, we oftentimes find it at the bottom of our to-do list. Sure, we daydream about seeing the Eiffel Tower at least once in our lifetime, or sipping wine at a vineyard in Napa Valley, or participating in the annual Running of the Bulls fiesta (Los Sanfermines) in beautiful Pamplona. But before we could do any of these, there are many, many other things that warrant our attention so much more than travel. We have an assortment of bills to pay, children to feed, clothe, and send to school. We have extended family to support and a coffee addiction to satisfy. We also have to consider the depth of our savings. If I went on this trip, would I come back broke? Well not if you plan ahead, and plan carefully.

Just a few minutes ago, as I was checking my Facebook news feed, I saw a post from Skyscanner Philippines announcing the cheapest roundtrip airfare from Manila to Paris for the month of February. It’s Php 31,245 or USD 689.46. I immediately went to their website and checked the rates, and found out it’s even cheaper if you fly via Saudia Airlines in July. You just have to check the calendar to see the lowest rates.

A couple of days ago, I booked a flight for my husband and me on cebupacific.com. I already mentioned this in a previous blog, but I think it’s worth mentioning it again here. I saw (again on my Facebook news feed) a post from Cebu Pacific announcing their Chinese New Year sale – All domestic destinations for Php8 (plus taxes and surcharges), and Php88 (plus taxes and surcharges) for international destinations.

I have always wanted to go to Japan but have steered clear of one of the most expensive countries in the world, thinking “Okay, if I actually get there, then what? Starve to death?”. Everyone who hasn’t been to Japan (like me) has this idea that Japan is not within reach of ordinary people; that you would have to pay Php500 for corn on the cob, and maybe more for diet soda. But when the opportunity to actually go there presented itself, I grabbed it, thinking I could just save some more later so I would have spending money, without touching my savings.

While on the website, it didn’t take me long to find the promo fare. I chose the dates May 19 to 23, and voila! The promo fare is still available on those dates. I immediately booked two tickets with one eye closed, already wondering what my husband would say once he woke up. I had been super “makulit” about going to Japan – (makulit means a lot of things but I guess in this case it means annoyingly persistent). Thank God my husband is a very patient man.

The total fare for the two of us (and this includes all the taxes and surcharges) is Php14,480.26. That’s only USD320. But securing the tickets was only the first step. I still had to find a cheap hotel for our four-day stay. So, I went onto booking.com, a very trusted website, and looked for a room in a decent hotel, near a metro stop, a supermarket, and restaurants. Shopping is not really a priority.

I immediately found hotels that fit our needs and budget. It was a bit tricky, though, since Japanese hotels have all sorts of rooms for two adults. There’s the small double, Western and Japanese styles, and the regular double, also Western and Japanese styles. I wanted to get a twin room (meaning with two beds, as opposed to the double room which has one big bed for two), with a private bathroom. (Always check if the hotel room has a private bathroom. I know for some people shared bathrooms are okay, and I am fine with that. But if you prefer your own private bathroom, then be sure to check the room description on the booking website.)

I clicked on a Hotel named Hotel Claiton Shin-Osaka and read the reviews. It is near a metro station, a train station, a supermarket, a convenience store, and restaurants. (I will definitely write a review of the hotel once I get back.) I checked the availability and thanked my heavenly stars that a few twin rooms had not been booked. The price definitely was within our budget. The total amount for our four-night stay is Y24,000 or Php10,627.82 or USD234.55. That would be hard to beat.

PTAA Travel Tour Expo 2014

Yesterday, my mom, her friend, and I went to the PTAA Travel Tour Expo at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex. There was a long queue of  people waiting to get in when we got there. Good thing someone told us that there was a special entrance for senior citizens, so we didn't have to wait in line.

The energy was high inside the halls, as people went from booth to booth, looking for the cheapest airfares and package tours.

We didn't book anything because we're not really into package tours. My mom and I prefer to do everything ourselves. Nothing beats searching the net for promo fares and cheap hotel rooms.

It was with a heavy heart, though, that I didn't walk away with a couple of Philippine Arline tickets to London. They were only just over USD500 per pax. I've always wanted to go to England, first, to visit my husband's family, and second, just to see the country. But we're going to Guam on Monday and to Osaka in May. England will just have to wait. Maybe next year.

I will leave you with some pictures from day 1 of the travel expo.

A cute luggage mascot

People who can't wait for the next long weekend or the summer break

Cosplayers posing and handing out flyers

More cosplayers

Tapsilog - what I had for lunch. Yummy!

Golden Sunset

Alona Beach, Bohol is breathtaking at sunset. I took this picture when my husband and I went there in 2010. I believe it is time to plan another trip there.

You want cheap airfare?

To all travel aficionados, if you happen to be in Manila from February 14 to16, check out the PTAA Travel Tour Expo 2014. It will be held at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City, Philippines. Doors open at 10 am.

I can't wait to check it out.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/TravelTour-Expo/292342770208

The Beach Life

The sun shines through despite the gray clouds. Balesin revisited. Picture taken in October 2013.

Death and Decay

 

I took this picture with my phone on our way to go shopping. It made me sad a little.

Sunset on Balesin

 

We sat watching the breathtaking sunset on Balesin Island. Picture taken in October 2013. 

Beach Fun and So Much More on Balesin Island

Balesin is an exclusive island in Lamon Bay, Quezon Province. My husband and I were fortunate enough to be invited by our friends Jojo and Carina  to go with them when their family vacationed there in October 2013. It was a couple of days after my written comprehensive exam so I was really excited at the thought of relaxing in our villa by the beach. I thought I'd share some of the photos here with you.

View from our villa (Balesin). It felt like we had the island all to ourselves.

Inside the villa where my husband and I stayed with Renee and Keanna, my friend Joy's lovely daughters. I'm missing the CBTL single serve coffee maker!

Shameless selfie inside this luxurious bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers.

Massage, anyone?

So serene

Wood carving: horses. Taken while on a tour of the island.

Back in the saddle again ;-)

What's your poison? Taken at Taverna Thanassis, Mykonos, Balesin. Loving the blue and white.

My hubby and cute KC, my goddaughter

Tasty lunch at Sakura Japanese Restaurant

Afternoon swimming near our villa

Chika time with my good friends Joy, Carina and Jojo

Beautiful Balesin Sunset

Who needs an iPad when you have this?

No one else but us :-)

Yummy chicken gyros

The name of this dish escapes me now, but it might be the mincemeat baklava. Not sure, though.

One of the highlights of my stay on Balesin was exploring the island on a bicycle.

Dinner at L'Escale, St. Tropez, Balesin

Bye bye, Balesin.

How we got there: We rode a small plane from the Alphaland hangar in Pasay to Balesin. (Round trip ticket costs Php7,000 (USD156) per person.

Villa rate: The luxurious villa we stayed in is in the area called Balesin and at the time cost Php10,000 (USD224). But I heard the rates increased soon after that. The island is divided into different areas, Mykonos, Bali, Phuket, St. Tropez, Costa del Sol, and Toscana. So if you feel like eating Greek food, then just go to Mykonos, where you can find Thanassis Taverna. They serve superb Greek food there.

Food prices: Food prices were reasonable enough. But do bring snacks because they tend to charge too much for a bar of chocolate or a bag of chips. ;-)

My favorite restaurants: L'Escale and Thanassis Taverna

Must-try: Pizza with onion and anchovies at L'Escale and mincemeat baklava at Thananis Taverna

Favorite activity: Exploring the island on a bicycle

Activities: There are a lot of free activities like basketball, tennis, gym, table tennis, rock climbing, swimming, badminton, biking etc. There are also paid activities like archery, horseback riding, Segway.

Total cost of this trip for me and my husband: Php42,000 or USD 942.56. This includes everything from the airfare to our share of the villa (which was half) to sports activities, food, drinks, etc.