travellingpj

[travellingpj]

Rodeo Masbateño

2013

Summer

Another trip with Daddy!

Went there to witness the all time favorite Rodeo Festival of the Visayan people. Participating schools in such festival were from all around the nation.

Visit during the Masbate Rodeo Festival (the annual National Rodeo Competition) to see cowboys and cowgirls do what they do best. But don’t get too excited. Leave the action to the professionals. In this dangerous sport, only the best try their skills inside the fenced arena.

Day 1

Flight/Check in

Lucky we arrived early at Masbate so we're able to watch the Grand Parade.

After the parade we went straight where the activities were held.

Had a snapshot with these beautiful Masabateños. 

After lunch we watched rodeo activities such as bull riding and roping.

END OF DAY 1 

Day 2

Rodeo Activities/Souvenir Shopping

Morning I woke up, Daddy left for awhile to pick up my brother from the airport then went back to our hotel.

Early morning went straight to the activity area for the upcoming events.

Had lunch at Zirteas (Not sure with the spelling)

Back at the arena, before going in to the main activity a lot of souvenir shops are located beside the gate.

Sooo lets go shopping, 

Spent the rest of the day watching rodeo activities.

(Left arm candies bought there at a souvenir shop for Php 30.00 only)

END OF DAY 2

Day 3

Buntod Reef

Buntod Sand Bar and Marine Sanctuary

-The first established marine sanctuary of the city where live hard and soft coral covers highlights the majestic underwater sceneries.

Bugsayon Marine Sanctuary

-A 50-hectare marine sanctuary where you can experience to see the amazing live corals and its diverse marine animals.

AT BUNTOD REEF, 

We arrived there at around 8 am, perfect to explore the little sand bar.

Its a bit early and the advantage is we are the only tourist at that time. 

(The only structure that is standing alone on the reef for preservation)

After a few hours, tourists are coming and water tide is getting higher therefore the sand bar is getting smaller. So, we decided to transfer to the other island which a lot of tourist won't go because it's a bit far.

AT BUGSAYON SANCTUARY,

We did explore the island just like we owned it.

After a few hours, we went back already because the sun is getting too high.

Back to our hotel and then lunch out at MinLan.

I love the food here. For me this is the best foodplace I've been to in the city.

After, went to the market to buy some dried fish for pasalubong.

Did visit the arena for the last time before going back to Manila the next day.

Bought new arm candies for pasalubong located at the arena also. Then afterwards, decided to have dinner at the saloon.

END OF DAY 3

Day 4

Flight Back to Manila

[travellingpj]

Out for lunch at Mama Chits. This place reminds me of burgers during my US trip. Very affordable must try! 👍☺️🍔🍹🍝 #travellingpj #travelblog

[travellingpj]

Happy Halloween! 🎃👻🎉🐺🐇#babydaphe #bunny #halloween2013

[travellingpj]

A day in Zambales

2013

March

We went to Zambales for an ocular visit for the familiarization tour of a tourism organization.

Did you know that former president Ramon Magsaysay was from the town of Zambales. Sooo we took a quick look at his residence where you can see his old wardrobe, photos and cars that he used in his time of presidency and cars that he used 

Coincidence..

There is a Mango festival at Zambales during the time that we had our visit.

Products of different areas where also available at the exhibit beside the municipal hall.

Too bad that the parade started too late, that we're on our way home.

Soooo. We bought lots of mangoes instead, for pasalubong.

Additional: You can do mango picking in some farms in Zambales.

(We didnt have much time to do this activity and also the mangoes werent yet available)

[travellingpj]

Ohlala Palawan.

2012

Summer

My first trip with Daddy and my bros.

Its quite fun for being the only girl in that time, feeling like a princess huh.

Puerto Princesa is a city located in the western provincial island of Palawan, Philippines. Puerto Princesa is a popular tourist city with many beach resorts and seafood restaurants. It has been acclaimed several times as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines.

Day 1

Flight to Manila/Check in at Microtel

Microtel is a very nice hotel. Had a nice beachfront, good food plus the clean pool. But its location is too far from the main road, that costs us Php 200.00 for a tricycle ride going to the market.

We had lunch at our hotel. Told you they serve good food.

1st Activity = City Tour

- Baywalk and Docking Area

- Church Visit (In Filipino tours, this is always a part of the tour, to view and visit old churches in  particular areas)

- Plaza Cuartel (Plaza Cuartel is the restored ruins of an old garrison where Japanese soldiers burned 143 American prisoners of war inside a tunnel and stands as a grim reminder of World War II.)

- Palawan's Famous Crocodile Farm

Where you can see how they took care of the crocs. Of course its a crocodile farm, you can see a lot of crocodiles from different ages and areas. 

- A Famous Politician's Ancestral House

- Baker's Hill 

I really enjoyed this place for it is a business of a family. Where you can see their houses are very well decorated plus there's a lot of statues and icons where you can photo ops.

Plus they sell freshly baked goods and meriendas. (Their hopia is very tasty, ideal pasalubong)

Had dinner at Ka Inato Inasal.

Last activity for the day, 

(The city tour is different from the firefly watching. The firefly watching rate is inclusive of dinner)

Day 2

Got up early for the adventure to Underground River.

The most famous landmark of Puerto Princesa, this subterranean river is the longest navigable underground river in the world. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape and many stalactites and stalagmites formations.

         You will be allowed to swim an enjoy the beach at Honda Bay.

But we went back to the hotel already because the sun is too high and we were scared that it might burn our skin too much.

From our hotel, Daddy and I tried to go to souvenir shops at the town. As what I said awhile ago, our hotel is far from the main road that costs us Php 200.00 just for a tricycle ride. For a change we bought fastfood for dinner.

Then spent the rest of the day at the hotel.

Day 3

Island Hopping

Got up early and picked up at 6am.

We dropped by a store where you can rent snorkeling devices, surf shoes, waterproof case for digital cameras.

We stayed at Starfish Island, where snorkeling at the beach is very fun coz you can see different kind of starfish, big ones and small ones. We did have a picnic there and the food that was prepared by our tour guide was included in their packages.

There are also Banana boat ride and jetski rental in very affordable price compared to the ones in Boracay.

This very nice place (below) was a sanctuary where no fishing is allowed. It is 40 ft deep and all our welcome to snorkel and roam around, just don't step on the beautiful corals around you.

Lots of islands and snorkeling places we passed by. Indeed Puerto Princesa's corals and sea creatures are very much taken care of back then. Hopefully after Tubataha Reef has been damaged by an American vessel, corals and marine biology in Palawan is preserved.

Got back to our hotel for dinner. Instead for a formal dinner we had boodle instead. :)

[travellingpj]

Time to get up and exercise your right people! Vote wisely :) #elections2013

[travellingpj]

Sizzling Boracay

2011

A fun-filled trip with my cousins.

We went there in the month of October (low season). Rates are very affordable due to its season.

Day 1 - Flight to Kalibo.

Arrived at Kalibo. Rode a bus going to Caticlan Jettyport. It took us more or less 2 hours of drive from the airport to the jettyport.

Arrived at BORACAY. Checked in to our hotel and start bonding with the beach.

There are several stations around the island. Our hotel was located at station 3. At station 2, there is D'Mall where food establishments and souvenir shops where located.

There is no reason to be bored in this beautiful island for there are a lot of activities waiting. ...

Helmet Diving a.k.a. Marine Walk

Price back then is 500 per person. A big helmet you have to put on and keep holding it under the water. The helmet gives off oxygen for you to sustain the pressure under.

Services:

-transfer to diving area

-assistance under the water

-photographer under the water

-rental of underwater camera (additional charge)

ATV ride

300 per person.

There 3 places that you will go while using the atv.

- a zoo

- baywatch tower

- (forgot the other one) 

Go Kart Racing 

The Never-Ending Island Hopping

- Crystal Cove Island

- Snorkeling 

- Peek of Puca Beach

Henna Tattoo

We stayed there for 4 days.

Nothing to eat? Nahhhh.

For those who don't wanna try something new, you can go to Yellow Cab or Mang Inasal.

Difference from low season and high season?

During low season, rates are very affordable plus you can enjoy the beach because its not that crowded but for those who are night people, of course some bars are closed. While during high season, prices are very high and competitive but nightlife is more fun.

[travellingpj]

Bohol Wonders

In December 2010,

And we're off to Bohol.

From Manila to Tagbilaran Airport took us an hour of flight.

Bohol is located in Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands.

So we arrived at the hotel, Bohol Beach Club at around 11:30 am.

The difference of our hotel from others is that the beachfront is much taken care of and assurance that it is clean and free from pollution.

We are looking for a place for lunch, and our driver Kuya Nonoy, say that the resort beside our hotel has a restaurant.

Dimaluan Beach Resort Grill.

Im a fish lover! So we ordered grilled fish, liempo and squid. For drinks, they serve fresh fruit shakes and smoothies. Their food and beverages are very affordable.

After lunch, took a walk in the beach, though it so hot.

The sand in the beach is not that white compared to Boracay but it is very refined and full of beach rocks.

The salinity of the water is as the same of Boracay and it has fishes too! 

I love beaches but I do not enjoy them. Sorry not sorry. :( Due to my allergies.

To end the day, we dipped into the pool to refreshen up.

Second day, we had our city tour.

We had our city tour, not by travel agency but directly asking our driver Kuya Nonoy if we can rent him for a day. So we paid him P2500 for the day tour.

*The Bamboo Hanging Bridge

*The famous Tarsier 

They are so small, yet very untouchable

*The Blood Compact

*Baclayon Church

*Chocolate Hills Viewpoint

*Chocolate Hils

Finally, its lunch timeee!

We had lunch here at 

Loboc River, they served delicious Filipino foods. It ranges from 300-500 pesos for a ride, it includes some attractions and a buffet lunch.

After that, Kuya Nonoy dropped us in the mall to buy our souvenirs and pasalubong and later on picked up going back to hotel.

On our 3rd day, we had our flight back to Manila.

[travellingpj]

Villa Escudero

During summer 2010,

An escapade began with my relatives :)

(c) 8008 Tours and Transport Services

Were off to Tiaong, Quezon and approximately 3-4 hours of drive away from Manila. A day can satisfy the attractions of Villa Escudero.

At that time, I think the entrance ranges from 700-1100 and that includes the use of amenities, museum tour and waterfall restaurant.

There is a lot of places that you can get good shots from your camera. From the Heritage house and the Religious Museum.

The museum consists of collections of religious art, embroidered clothing, porcelain dinnerwares, mostly religious statues/images riding in their own carrozas.  Ceiling of the museum were painted in 1987.

In riding the kalesa(carabao), you will pass through people who acts how life the way it is used to be during old times.

The waterfall restaurant.

The waterfall were man made. It generates energy that serves as electricity for the whole hacienda. The buffet consist of traditional filipino foods such as Grilled Fish, Sinigang, Kare kare, Pinakbet and etc. Traditional desserts were also available like Saba con Hielo, Ube and Leche Flan.

After we had our sumptuous lunch, we had a short rest and start enjoying the amenities.

Water Rafting

Jacuzzi With Cousins

For me, the place is very worth it especially if you are with you're loved ones. Good food check! Good swimming area check! Good shots check!

[travellingpj]

What's In BANAUE?

2008

My family and I tried for the first time to go to Banaue for new experience and to make it different. 8 hours drive from the city makes the view very worth it.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2,000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The terraces are located approximately 1500 metres (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometres (about 6000 square miles) of mountainside. 

After we checked in to Banaue Hotel, we didnt waste our time but to go to the nearest viewpoint from our there.

Had dinner at our hotel. Food served in the hotel were sumptuous at a very reasonable price.

Banaue hotel has a swimming pool inside so we took a quick dip tho it was freezing. Mehehehe.

Our room in the hotel doesn't have an air-condition inside because the weather there is freezing especially during December and January.

Second day, we had a trip where we walked and trekked the rice terraces.

Before we went home we saw a small river where we rest for awhile. The water is very relaxing as you hear them collide with the pebble stones. Very clear water and very fresh our tour guide it is from the mountain. You can have a picnic here because it has several huts where you can eat. And also if you want to have a quick dip of this chilled fresh water, you can because they allow people to dip but they don't have a restroom or shower room there.

The activity took us a half day so for instance we tried to have lunch at the town.

And we saw this, for extraordinary adventure, my siblings, mommy and I took the rusty old steel bridge instead of riding a van and also it is a shortcut heading to the town.

My personal observation is that people took care of their tradition very well unlike in Baguio some part are very modernized. Here it is a place where you can relax and can take you away from the pollution and problems of the city seeing the Rice Terraces that makes you proud as a Filipino.

(c)8008ToursandTransportServices

[travellingpj]

ROBOTS OR DINOSAURS?

Dinosaurs. Though they are both uncontrollable. But dinosaurs have heart robots dont. Dinosaurs were anonymous creations and preserver of earth while robots were scientific creations.