Philippines' Beaches: Why I do not do Beaching in other countries

No offense meant to Bali, Phuket, Maldives or Bahamas.

I would love to visit and experience you one day, but it’s not just on top of my priorities. Not now, nor in the near future.

Because I live in the Philippines that's why!

And out of 7107 islands, I’ve only visited a few so far. Here they are:

1. Potipot Island





How to get there: From Cubao or Balintawak Manila, catch a bus to Sta. Cruz Zambales. Travel time is around 4-5 hours depending on road conditions.


2. Siquijor

How to get there: from Manila,fly to Dumaguete. Get a tricycle from Dumaguete airport to bring you to the port of the province. Ride a ferry that will take you to Siquijor for about an hour.


3. Baler





How to get there: Genesis Line is the only bus line that travels non-stop from Manila to Baler. Travel time is approximately 8 hours.


4. Caramoan

How to get there: It’s an 8hr bus ride from Manila to Naga, and another hour from Naga to Sabang Port. From Sabang port, take a ferry to Caramoan Island.
You may also fly from Manila to Naga if you don’t have the luxury of time.


5. Coron





How to get there: fly from Manila to Busuanga. From Busuanga Airport, ride a van that will take you to Coron.


6. Nagsasa





How to get there: From Cuba or Caloocan,Metro Manila, board a bus bound to Iba or Santa Cruz, Zambales. Tell the driver to drop you off San Antonio. From there ride a tricycle that twill bring you to Barangay Pundaquit. Nagsasa is 1 and a half boat ride from here.


7. Pagudpod





How to get there: Hop on a bus bound to Pagudpod from Cubao or Pasay, Metro Manila


8. Bohol





How to get there:  Fly to Tagbilaran City from Manila. 


9. Guimaras





How to get there: Fly to Iloilo City from Manila. From the airport, ride a jeepney or cab to Iloilo City Harbor, then take a 15 minute boat ride to Jordan, Guimaras.


10. Puerto Prinsesa



How to get there: There are direct flights from Metro Manila to Puerto Prinsesa daily.


11. Boracay





How to get there: Fly to Caticlan from Manila. Ride a tricycle from the airport to the ferry terminal. You are a 15 minute boat ride away from Paradise. 


Oh, if these are not enough to make you book a ticket now and come fly here, let me tell you that I myself haven't been to El Nido, Oslob, Siargao, Calaguas, Donsol & uhm yeah, Amanpulo. Yes please google them now. :)

Credits to the following for these photos:

Wikitravel & Wikipedia - Guimaras photos

Tourism Philippines - Puerto Prinsesa photo

Boracay.blog.com & Flicker/danielygo - Boracay photos

Joel - Potipot & Baler photos

Encee - Baler photo

Food in Travel: Ilocano delicacies

Traveling is not just about seeing new sights and experiencing new things. It is also about tasting new (local) delicacies. Food is always part of travels. I have nothing against it if you still feel like hitting the local Mc Donalds or Jollibee in town, but at least, unleash that adventure kid in you and indulge to some gastronomic pleasure each city or town has to offer.
Like the province of Ilocos, Ilocano cuisine offers a variety of choices for travelers and food lovers out there. Vegetarian? Meat lover? Light eater? No worries, these all can be on your plate, and will make you ask for a second serving, or a third.
Ilocos Longganisa

During my last stay in Pagudpod, I was there for 4 days. And in all those days, I had Ilocos Longganisa for breakfast. Never got tired of it. And if ever my stay got extended, I would still have it for breakfast. That’s how delicious it is!

Miki and Empanada

Perfect afternoon snack.
Ilocano Miki is their own version of noodles with soup and egg. While Empada is a mix  of egg, meat, vegetables wrapped in dough, deep fried. You have the option to put vinegar on it when eating.

Inabraw

This is for the health conscious out there. It’s a mix of different vegetable cooked with fish sauce (bagoong). Fried fish or pork can be added, but main ingredients are veggies.

Bagnet and Sinigang

Bagnet is deep fried pork belly. Deeply fried that the crunchiness could crackle once you bite it.
My photo above doesn't do justice to Bagnet, so I’m grabbing something from the net:

Photo from About.Ph

Dinakdakan

“Grille spicy pork salad” as they call it. Pig parts with pig’s brain! Often served as appetizer for those drinking beer/liquor, but as you can see in this photo, I ate it as a meal.  I loved it!
If you’re craving for some of these food featured above, and you’re stuck here in the city, I recommend you to go to Empanada Nation. Their food is as good as it is in the province. check out their Facebook page here.

Roxas Boulevard on a Sunday morning

Roxas Boulevard, quoting Wikipedia, "is a boulevard in Metro Manila which runs along the shores of Manila Bay. The divided roadway has become a trademark of Philippine tourism, famed for its yacht club, hotels, restaurants, commercial buildings and parks. "  According to Google Earth, it is around 7.6km in length.

Enough of the facts. 

Let me share to you some delightful sights I saw one morning when I tried to go back to my running routine. After a couple of months without running, I woke up early to jog. However, this view of Rizal Park at dawn changed my agenda for the day.

Sorry, my phone failed to do justice on this beautiful sight

I then decided to bring my phone, which I wouldn't encourage you to do by the way, and started capturing these scenes.

I really loved this one above as it sort of showed the always good and not so good part of one place. Which is one is good? Which one is bad? You tell me! 

Below is the bigger part of the picture.

Some more shots of the famous Manila Bay

 

And I didn't even know that there is also a version of Dancing Fountains in Luneta

Let me tell you that I passed by this street everyday of my life, to and from work. Yeah, sometimes, we really tend to forget that the beautiful things are just right in front of us. So let's start to open our eyes a little bit wider, and appreciate these simple yet beautiful things around us.

  

Hope you enjoyed the photos. This serves an invitation too from a local like me, please come and experience the beauty of this Boulevard.

How I got my Jordan Tourist Visa

I will tell you the story of how I got a Jordanian Tourist Visa.

Short and simple, I just followed what is written here and here. Because these are the guidelines in applying a Jordan Tourist Visa for Pinoys.

Thought that was easy? Yes of course! But then after a week of submitting my requirements, I received an email stating that my visa application was denied. I got sad. I mean, how will I be able to see Petra without a Visa? How will I be able to float in the Dead Sea? 

My sadness turned into rage, and just like everyone else, I expressed it on Twitter and tagged Jordan Tourism Board(JTB)! Ha! It could be my destiny. Really something carved out for me to experience. Because after that tweet, came a series of emails and direct messages exchanged between me and the JTB. And voila! I got a confirmation that I can travel to Jordan sponsored by the Tourism Board! Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God! I still couldn't believe it!

All throughout my flight, and you imagine it wasn't a short 2-3 hours flight but a long 8 hour journey, I was feeling anxious as I was still not very confident that I can really set foot in this country. What if the email was a joke? What if someone just hacked my account and played trick on me. 

When the plane landed, I gathered all my confidence and presented to the immigration a printed copy of the email I received from JTB. And yes, they stamped my passport and welcomed me to Jordan. I think I smiled the sweetest smile of my life.


Sharing a couple of photos of my first glimpse of this amazing country.

PS. I have long been wanting to write about my experience in Amman, Dead Sea and Petra. They were spectacular and something I wouldn't want to forget for the rest of my life. I'm hoping I can mix and match the right ideas and words for that in the future. Because Jordan is beautiful. Until then...  

Eiffel

One of the most beautiful things on earth
Ride to the top
See it from Seine
Look at it from Arc de Triomphe
Any angle you wish
It's a sight to feast
An experience to behold

Of Dusk and Sunset

From light blue-to-golden yellow-to-orange-to-total darkness.

I always find it amazing to see the transformation of the sky and the structures around during dusk.

How buildings turn into amber colored bricks giving an illusion of an old polaroid photo. I love the contrast of establishments turning on their lights against the still bright outdoors. And the sea, oh yes the sea! How it mirrors the magnificent change of colors above it onto its own body.

It also tells us our geographic location in the world. We all know that the sun rises in the East, and sets in the West. So if you're watching the sun set, the direction to your right is North, and to your left is South. Now where is that 'It' place they say I must go to and dine?

Here are some of the most beautiful sunsets I have seem so far. In no particular order.

Iloilo, Philippines

This photo was taken while inside a moving vehicle. The effect of the rays looks like it's giving light to the only house under it.

New York, USA

.

Best to see the sunset from Rockefeller Center. You will have the historical Empire State Building a part of your picture.

Siquijor, Philippines

I was lucky to see this spectacular sunset during Christmas Day. One of the best Christmas presents ever!

Boracay, Philippines

You've got to be there to experience it!

Dead Sea, Jordan

It will make you feel alive. It makes the Dead Sea alive!

Dubai, UAE

I love how the backdrop of sunset is seen amidst the skyscrapers in this city. It's like the sun saying, "no matter how great, tall and magnificent you buildings are, I am still the most beautiful sight at this time of the day."

Bataan, Philippines

Head to Montemar beach resort if you want to experience it sans the noise of the City. Very peaceful and quiet place.

Capiz, Philippines

Watch this spectacular view, then head to the Baybay restaurant for dinner and feast with the freshest seafood on earth. Nothing beats!

Venice, Italy

It’s worth it. You’ve got to experience Venice at least once in your lifetime.