A Bee-autiful Dining Experience at Bohol Bee Farm – Panglao Island, Philippines

March 13, 2013 by 2 Comments
Honey-glazed chicken meal, P220

We weren't there for the bees. We were there for the food. When we stopped at Bohol Bee Farm on the way to the resort, we knew that given our very hectic itinerary, we only had enough time for lunch. At the back of our minds, however, we still hoped that we could join a bee tour while waiting for our orders to be served. Unfortunately, the latest tour had already started and the next one won't start until a couple of hours later. My siblings and I agreed to just drop the idea and enjoy the rest of what the place has to offer. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bohol, Food, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Review: MNL Boutique Hostel – Makati City, Philippines

March 12, 2013 by 3 Comments
There's no way you're gonna miss this

It's easy to spot MNL Boutique Hostel. Amidst the grayness of that side of Makati, the hostel's lower facade is painted fuschia and green, bright, garish and glaring. This front wall, in sync with their theme of fiesta neon colors, is hard to miss. Before it are tables and chairs set on the adjacent pavement, where some guests choose to gather and share conversations about their trips, before and after this stop. One night in January, I was one of those guests. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Metro Manila Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Budget Travel Guide to Biri Island – Northern Samar, Philippines

March 10, 2013 by 1 Comment
View of Macadlaw (left) and Puhunan (right) from Bel-at

Biri Island is where the gods go to wage war. This is where the San Bernardino Strait combats the mighty Pacific as the latter pushes its tides into the Visayan domain. The elements, who bear witness to the ferocious duel, are caught trapped in the battlefield. The winds sometimes cheer, sometimes howl as they watch from above. The waves, in their desperate attempt to flee, lap up the edges of the shore. And the land, Biri Island, referees the constant clash but not without finding a silver lining, getting a hold of it, and never letting go. As it takes the beating from the seas, who just pound its hard face with one blow after another, it allows the gods' skilled hands to shape its cliffs. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Budget and Expenses, Northern Samar, Philippines, Planning a Trip, Sample Itineraries, Travel Guide Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Laoang Island: A Motorcycle Tour – Northern Samar, Philippines

March 8, 2013 by 2 Comments
Onay Beach (literally means Suicide Beach) in Laoang Island, Northern Samar

“There’s only one jeepney in the whole of Laoang Island,” shared Putot, one of our new friends. Celerino, nicknamed Putot, seldom spoke. If I’m not mistaken, it was probably the third time that I heard his voice in the two days that he accompanied us as we explored Laoang, Northern Samar. We were at a cottage along Onay Beach with two other locals Rocca and Mark. “You’re kidding,” I uttered. It was one of the rare times that he said a word yet he chose to say something as unbelievable as that. “I’m not,” Putot said. “He’s not,” confirmed Mark. Later, we would ask a couple of local government workers to verify. As it turned out, there really was just one … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Historical Sites, Philippines, Religious Sites

Pandanon Island – Bohol, Philippines

March 8, 2013 by 3 Comments
My friends

For a moment there, I felt like I was on a beach in Greece. But only for a moment. The white columns, ruins of probably a perfectly functional structure, were the first to grab my attention. Actually, the second. The first was the big house that stood by the beach like a cold, pale giant that was very imposing and very out-of-place. The house and the ruins stuck out and stood out in a sea of blues as we approached the island. Moving closer, the long white strip of sand was revealed slowly, pulling us out of our Mediterranean dream to tropical reality. Our boat was not able to reach the beach for the water was too shallow. We had to wade through the water to reach dry land and we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Bohol, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Seafood and Stilts at Cao-Oy, Olango Island – Cebu, Philippines

March 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Another restaurant on stilts

We arrived early for dinner. Too early. The sun looked like it had no plans of letting the night take over yet when our boat docked at a floating seafood restaurant off the coast of Olango Island, Cebu. We were supposed to watch the sunset here and have sinful dinner but it seemed like plans needed to be changed at that point. We came from Talima Marine Sanctuary, where our snorkeling time was cut short for two reasons. First, we were kind of disappointed by the site. We just floated aimlessly there looking for anything interesting to see but all that greeted us was a carpet of sea grass with very few fishes swimming around. I had heard many great things about Talima but I guess we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Cebu, Food, Philippines Tagged With: , , ,

10 Batangueno Dishes You Must Try – Batangas, Philippines

March 8, 2013 by 1 Comment
Tapang Casa Rap

The major crowd drawers in Batangas are its inviting beaches, breathtaking dive sites, and challenging mountains. But one thing that isn't always highlighted enough is its cuisine. Batangas offers a wide, wide selection of gastronomic delights. The province is coastal so expect a lot of seafood, but it also harbors a big lake and rivers, so freshwater fishes are also available. Vast lands have been converted into farms, producing some of the best meats in the country. Batangas beef is known for its high quality. Many roadside stores sell buffalo and goat meat. These rich resources have made Batangueno cuisine so diverse that it is difficult to describe it in just one word. Like in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Batangas, Food, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , , ,

People’s Park in the Sky – Tagaytay City, Philippines

March 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Woah! A double rainbow!

I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't a teensy bit scared as I walked up to the park. The fog had completely enveloped the site and the dark clouds looming overhead were threatening to drench the already worried mortals below. The scene had all the elements of a mainstream horror film --- poor visibility, a creepy shed right at the sharp curve, and an empty uphill road leading to an old park. But more than the bleak atmosphere and the rustic location, it was the near deplorable condition of the park that was giving me the chills. It was November 2011 and my friend Celine and I were just about to end our epic weekend getaway in Batangas. Coming from Nasugbu, we thought of spending the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cavite, Parks, Tagaytay Tagged With: , , , ,

Peninsular Malaysia West Coast: Islands to Highlands in a Week

February 23, 2013 by 2 Comments
BOH Tea Plantation in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

We never intended to tour around Malaysia that month. Our original destination was Siem Reap, Cambodia but an unfortunate event forced us to drop the idea. Our connecting flights were in Kuala Lumpur so we figured, Why not explore Malaysia instead? So just a couple of days before the trip, we found ourselves rummaging through the Internet for travel ideas. After a night-long research, we listed down the destinations we wished to visit and most of them are located near the West Coast. Our initial list had five cities but, wait, that was too many stops for a 6-day trip! Since I had been to Malacca and Kuala Lumpur in separate occasions, they got the cut. We settled for three destinations … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget and Expenses, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Malaysia, Penang, Planning a Trip, Sample Itineraries Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Langkawi Cable Car and Oriental Village – Kedah, Malaysia

February 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Langkawi Cable Car

I still remember how I struggled to find another imaginary bowl to contain my overflowing excitement moments before my very first cable car ride in Hong Kong. Like all first times, the thrill was just immeasurable. I remember that very first step into a gondola; I almost jumped from the platform into it. I remember that moment when we reached the very peak of the line; I was scared and happy at the same time, and not many things can make me feel that weird mixture of emotions. It was that milestone in Hong Kong that got me too excited for my second gondola ride in Langkawi. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Langkawi, Malaysia, Mountains and Hills, Parks, Waterfalls Tagged With: , , ,

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I have just been to Suicide Beach. The other day, a dozen half-naked teenage boys littered the shore with their excited yells and hurrahs as they muster all their strength to grip on the little niches on the rock cliff at the end of the cove. They climbed all the way to a tree on [...]

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View of Macadlaw (left) and Puhunan (right) from Bel-at

The Budget Travel Guide to Biri Island – Northern Samar, Philippines

Biri Island is where the gods go to wage war. This is where the San Bernardino Strait combats the mighty Pacific as the latter pushes its tides into the Visayan domain. The elements, who bear witness to the ferocious duel, are caught trapped in the battlefield. The winds sometimes cheer, sometimes howl as they watch from [...]

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Peninsular Malaysia West Coast: Islands to Highlands in a Week

We never intended to tour around Malaysia that month. Our original destination was Siem Reap, Cambodia but an unfortunate event forced us to drop the idea. Our connecting flights were in Kuala Lumpur so we figured, Why not explore Malaysia instead? So just a couple of days before the trip, we found ourselves rummaging through the Internet for travel [...]

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