Dauis Church – Bohol, Philippines

February 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Dauis Church

Dauis is one of the two municipalities in Panglao Island. It faces Tagbilaran in the main island of Bohol. The center of Catholic faith in the town is the Our Lady of Assumption Church, more popularly known as Dauis Church. Founded by Jesuits Fr. Diego de Ayala and Fr. Joseph Gregorio, the original church was constructed with lighter materials. The present church was buily in 1863 under the supervision of Rev. Fr. Julio Saldana. It is actually the fifth "version" of the church. The architecture of the church is a mixture of many styles. The top part of the facade is neoclassical, the bottom Romanesque, and the tower Gothic. Even the windows of the nave were heavily influenced by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bohol, Religious Sites Tagged With: , ,

Churches in Southwestern Bohol: Dauis, Baclayon, Albur, and Loboc – Philippines

February 21, 2013 by 2 Comments
Alburquerque Church

Legend has it that some time during the Spanish era, pirates invaded the coastal town of Dauis, Bohol. The townsfolk locked themselves up in the church but it wasn't long until they ran out of food and water. To their surprise, a well miraculously appeared near the altar of the church, which supplied them with water. The church was just yards from the shore but the water from the well was fresh, something the people could not explain. To this day, the well can be seen inside the church and still provides water, which many believe to have healing properties. Stories of miracles like this make old churches in the Philippines more curious, more interesting, more charming. And it doesn't even … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bohol, Religious Sites Tagged With: , , , , ,

Review: BE Resorts Mactan – Cebu, Philippines

February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
My friends April and Chichi by the pool

My last time in Cebu was pretty uneventful. I've always liked Cebu but this trip was a company outing and the places we were set to visit were those I had been to twice before. While it was nice to see Cebu's top tourist spots again, I guess I can't be blamed for wanting to finally go out of the city and head for the islands of Bantayan or Malapascua, which did not happen. But the saving grace was the hotel --- BE Resorts Mactan. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Beaches and Islands, Cebu Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Review: Jonah’s Fruit Shake – Boracay, Aklan, Philippines

February 19, 2013 by 5 Comments
My friends Doyzkie and Mica

I followed them blindly for I had no idea what else Boracay could offer other than the beach and the nightlife. Micaela and Doyzkie, who both had been here before, led the way as we walked under the burning sun. "Where are we going again?" I asked. "We're having some fruit shake," Mica answered. And without any more questions, I just trailed them even though at the back of my mind, I was wondering why we had to amble almost the entire length of the island just for a cup of fruit shake. This must be a hell of a fruit shake. … [Read more...]

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

Batu Caves and All Things Tall – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

February 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Batu Caves, Malaysia

Dozens of macaque monkeys ushered visitors up the 272-step staircase to the Temple Cave. Actually, saying that they were "ushering" would be sugarcoating it. Not only did some of them follow visitors around, a few also found themselves on one end of a mini-brawl when they start getting territorial or when they just try to snatch food from unsuspecting tourists. It was the last day of our week-long trip across the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and there was no better way to end this journey than a stop at one of the most visited sites in Kuala Lumpur --- Batu Caves. Batu Caves is actually a 4-million year old karst hill with a network of caves and chambers running through and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caves, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mountains and Hills, Religious Sites Tagged With: , , , , ,

Review: Old Penang Guesthouse – George Town, Malaysia

February 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
An Old Penang Guesthouse brochure I found at Kang Lodge in Cameron Highlands

Standing along an amusingly named street called Love Lane is a pre-war shophouse building that has been converted into a charming hostel --- the Old Penang Guesthouse. There were many reasons why we chose to stay here and on top of that list are the stellar reviews I found on the web. And the place is even shinier than its online reputation. Old Penang Guesthouse is a restored heritage house at the heart of Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While it retains the many almost century old elements, it felt surprisingly modern. We arrived in the late afternoon and the woman at the reception greeted us with warmth and kindness. She asked us to wait for a moment as they made … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Historical Sites, Malaysia, Penang Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Review: Kang Travelers Lodge (Daniel’s Lodge) – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

February 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Kang Travelers Lodge

There was a bonfire in the far end of the Jungle Bar, where guests were gathered around. Selina, a British lady I met on the road, pulled a chair, invited me to sit beside her, and introduced me to the rest of the group. The bonfire was providing the warmth on that chilly evening but a different fire sparked within me as our conversations went on. For the first time ever, I was able to break out of my bashful bubble and make friends with other travelers on my own. That alone sealed Kang Travelers Lodge's position on my Most Memorable Hostels list. Before this, I had never traveled alone and never made an effort to befriend other travelers. But the hostel fostered an atmosphere that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Cameron Highlands, International Trips, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

How to Help Fund Your Travels

February 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Travel money

If the winter blues have got you feeling a little bit down, you might be dreaming of the trips you could take in the upcoming year. There’s only one thing standing in your way: your finances. With a bit of effort, you can make your travel plans a reality by following these simple money-making tips. 1. Sell it back. One of the quickest ways to earn some extra cash to fund your travels is to sell back your unwanted household clutter. MusicMagpie.com will take your unwanted DVD and CD collections, while Amazon and Cash4Books are great sites for selling back your old books. If you plan far enough in advance, you can take your out of season clothes to a consignment shop and watch the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget and Expenses, Guest Posts, Practical Tips Tagged With: , ,

Review: Tropical Resort Langkawi – Kedah, Malaysia

February 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Tropical Resort Langkawi Reception

"You're the first Filipinos to check in at this resort this year," the manager told us after checking out. It was our second and last day in Langkawi. We spent the previous night at Tropical Resort in Pantai Tengah. It was a shame to leave this early. I loved the island and I wished I could stay longer but we needed to get moving to Penang. The manager and staff were just starting to warm up to us. Just the day before, we arrived at Tropical Resort after a full-day tour of the island and everyone seemed to be so busy. The manager was the only one at the reception, taking calls, welcoming guests, and doing a quick tour of the resort. Unlike most hotel-owners I had met in Malaysia, he was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, International Trips, Langkawi, Malaysia Tagged With: , , ,

Restaurant Review: Steamboat Hot Pot at Rosette Café – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

February 10, 2013 by 1 Comment
Big, big hot pot

The hunger that was tormenting me was starting to burn a hole in my tummy but I was sure I won't be having a meal any time soon. My travel buddy and I stared at the menu for more than five minutes, deciding on what to have for dinner. We arrived at the restaurant to try their steamboat feast but the Western dishes on the menu were making the task difficult. I wanted to try them all but, alas, my digestive system has a very limited capacity. "Not ready?" asked the waitress whose impatience leaked despite a very polite facade. "Not yet," I answered. "Give us five more minutes." And with that, the waitress rushed to the next table. She's the only server on duty at the time. After a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cameron Highlands, Food, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , ,

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