Bucas Grande Accommodation: Club Tara Resort

 

 

Nestled in one of Bucas Grande's many coves, Club Tara provide an idyllic spot for honeymooners. The row of casitas standing far apart from each other not only give guests privacy, but also allow for a very beautiful sight as guests approach from the sea.

 

 

 

Each casita has a spacious air-conditioned bedroom with a king-sized bed, a personal ref, a tv set, a dvd player, and a hot and cold shower.

 

 

 

 

Charmingly designed originally for Korean honeymooners, the casitas feature an open shower area and a jacuzzi pool for two with windows that looks out into the resort's private blue lagoon.

 

 

 

Guests need not go far to experience paradise. The bedrooms open up to a balcony with a see through glass for peering into the waters below.

 

 

 

The best time to visit is during the summer months (March-May), when hundreds of stingless jelly fish take refuge in the resorts private blue lagoon.

 

 

 

 

Getting There:

From Surigao Airport, take the bus or the van from Surigao Bus Terminal to Hayangbon Pier (nearest pier from the resort). Then take a boat to take you to the island from the pier. It will take about 1.5 hour land travel to the pier and another 30 - 40 minutes to the resort by boat depending on sea condition.

 

Room Rates are as follows:

Php 11,000/casita

 

VERDICT:

GOOD: very private
BAD: considering its location, guests should keep in mind that not all resort facilities, such as the resort bar/restaurant,etc. may be in operation 24 hours. Food choices may also be limited, so it is best to coordinate in advance - the same goes for leisure facilities (water sports/kayaking/snorkelling/diving) too. open-bathroom is not family/kid friendly.

 

 

Club Tara Beach Resort
Dona Helen, Socorro, Surigao del Norte
• 0917.522.5500
• clubtara_rsvn@hotmail.com

 

 

 

Bucas Grande Accommodation: Bucas Grande Balanghai Hotel

Bucas Grande Balanghai Hotel may not be at par with its sister hotels, but it serves weary travellers well. While its sister hotels, Club Tara and Butuan Balanghai Hotel, have updated amenities, its wall paint is fading, its structure is old,  and its rooms are basic and bare. It is as if time never passed and it remained in the dark ages. (okay, that's too much. lol)

Located just a few meters from the Socorro Port, it is easy to spot and just outside its gate are carinderias (eateries) that open as early as 4am and close at 8pm. The wet market can also be found within the vicinity, which means that you can buy fresh seafood and request the nearby restaurants to cook it for you.

Room Rates are as follows:

Php 600/aircon room, triple sharing
Php 150/extra person


VERDICT:

GOOD:  close proximity to the port, marketplace, and eateries. clean. en suite bathroom. affordable. kind staff.
BAD: old building. no generator and no window screen, but not a problem as long as there is no power outage.




Balanghai Resort
Portside, Poblacion Socorro,
Bucas Grande, Surigao del Norte
• Eleona Consigna
• (632)9078931233

Expenses for N.E. Mindanao Road Trip (Bucas Grande, Tinuy-an Falls,Enchanted River, & Butuan City 2011)

		Individual Expense	Group of 2/5
Day 1
	taxi to airport	80	160/2
	terminal fee	200
	bfast	39
	H20	20
	van to Surigao City	200
	ferry to Socorro Port	200
	H2O	25
	lunch	16
	lodging house (2 nights)	360	1800/5
	dinner	30
	TOTAL	1170
Day 2
	boat rental	400	2000/5
	packed bfast & lunch	157	785/5
	Sohoton  (boat rental, guide fee, entrance fee, etc)	326	1630/5
	Tiktikan Lake entrance fee	20
	dinner	40
	TOTAL	943
Day 3
	terminal fee	3
	ferry to Surigao City Port	200
	rice puto	10
	trike to bus terminal	30
	bfast	73
	bus to Butuan City	196
	van to Mangagoy, Bislig City	220
	lunch	50
	trike to lodging house	9
	lodging house (2 nights)	280	1400/5
	H2O	23
	dinner	25
	TOTAL	1119
Day 4
	brunch	65	321/5
	habal-habal to Tinuy-an Falls	200
	Tinuy-an Falls (entrance fee, parking fee, etc.)	94	470
	van rental to Hinatuan	500	2500/5
	Hinatuan entrance fee	10
	boating (1 hour)	32	160/5
	Fish Cage entrance fee	5
	trike from hospital to town	9	45/5
	dinner	50	150/3
	TOTAL	965
Day 5
	bus to Butuan City	244
	brunch	44
	trike to hotel	8
	hotel	300	1200/4
	trike to Gaisano	8
	pasalubong (pastry)	242
	trike rental	63	250/4
	dinner	59
	trike to hotel	8
	TOTAL	976
Day 6
	trike to airport	37.5	150/5
	bfast	52
	terminal fee	20
	taxi home	150
	TOTAL	259.5
	RT Airfare (Manila-Butuan-Manila)	200
	TOTAL (without airfare)	5432.5
	TOTAL EXPENSE (in PhP)	5632.5

WARNING: We got on a habal-habal accident on our way to Tinuy-an Falls. Habal-habal drivers will offer their services upon your arrival in Mangagoy. Please rent a van instead. The van option may be expensive, but safer. The road to Tinuy-an Falls is hilly and not paved, in short, dangerous to take a habal-habal.

Suggested Itinerary for N.E. Mindanao Road Trip (Bucas Grande, Tinuy-an Falls, Enchanted River, & Butuan City)

 

Day 1 (travel to Surigao del Norte)

AM
730am - flight to Butuan City (1.5 hours)
9am - arrive at Butuan City
914am - van to Surigao City (3 hours)
1215pm - arrive at Surigao City Port

PM
1245pm - ferry to Socorro Port (approx. 2.5 hours)
330pm - arrive at Socorro Port
4pm - lunch
5pm - check-in at lodging house
730pm - dinner

 

Day 2 (Bucas Grande)

AM
630am - off for island hopping
7am - arrive at Bucas Grande Guard House
730am - bfast
830am - explore Sohoton Cove
- Sohoton Cove
- Bolitas Cave
- Crystal Cave
- Hagukan Cave
1115am - end of Sohoton Cove tour
1120am - off to Tiktikan Lake

PM
1130am - boating at Tiktikan Lake
130pm - lunch & swim at Cinnamon Island
230pm - visit Club Tara
330pm - leave for Socorro Port (waves are more restless in the afternoon)
- pass by Hidden Resort
4pm - arrive at Socorro Port
5pm - dinner

 

Day 3 (travel to Surigao del Sur)

AM
430am - buy ferry tickets
540am - ferry to Surigao City (approx. 2.5 hours)
810am - arrive at Surigao City Port
815am - trike to Surigao Bus Terminal
830am - buy bfast to go
850am - arrive at Bus Terminal
854am - bus to Butuan (2.5 hours)
1130am - arrive Butuan Bus Terminal
1135am - buy lunch to go

PM
12nn - van to Bislig City (3.5 hours)
330pm - arrive at Mangagoy, Bislig City
350pm - check-in at pension house
5pm - go around Bislig City
530pm - dinner

 

Day 4 (Tinuy-an Falls & Enchanted River)

AM
645am - off to Tinuy-an Falls (45 mins)
750am - arrive at Tinuy-an Falls
830am - bfast
1050am - back to Mangagoy, Bislig City
1150am - van to Hinatuan, Bislig City (45 mins)

PM
1250nn - arrive at Hinatuan Enchanted River
2pm - boating
- Tinago River
- Sabadan Fish Cage
- Pangasinan White Sand
3pm - end of boating
4pm - van back to Mangagoy
5pm - arrive at Mangagoy
530pm - dinner

 

Day 5 (Butuan City)

AM
410 - bus to Butuan City (5 hours)
9am - arrive at Butuan Bus Terminal
915am - brunch
10am - check-in at hotel
11am - pasalubong (gifts) shopping

PM
1pm - Butuan Historical Tour
- National Balanghai Museum
- Bequibel Shell Midden
- Balanghai Shrine
5pm - dinner
6pm - back to hotel

 

Day 6

AM
730am - trike to airport
740am - buy bfast to go
8am - arrive airport
930am - flight to Manila
11am - arrive at Manila
12nn - taxi to office

 

 

Update: We booked our tickets before we finalized our destination on this trip. For those who wish to copy our itinerary, you could book Manila-Surigao and Butuan-Manila to lessen travel time.

 

 

 

The Big Apple is the old New Orange

 

Before it became known as New York City, it was called New Amsterdam and New Orange. Say what? Funny how New York is now famously called Big Apple when it was previously called New Orange, huh?

It appears that the territory where New York City now lies was discovered by the Dutch (Not counting the original Indian settlers). The discovery was a result of an attempt by the Dutch to find a short cut to India for the Dutch East India Company. The territory was called New Netherland and its capital was called New Amsterdam. Local trade flourished making it attractive to other European colonial powers, including the English.

In 1664, English frigates invaded the territory, prompting the Dutch to cede power to England and led to the fall of New Amsterdam. Under English rule, the territory was named New York City, after the Duke of York (later King James II), who was the brother of King Charles II.

Not the kind to back down, the Dutch reclaimed power and renamed it New Orange in 1673.

Probably tired of all the squabble and diminishing fund, a treaty was signed and the city was relinquished to the English and was named New York again.

Interesting history for an equally interesting megacity!

 

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DISCLAIMER: I am not a historian. Travel just opened up my world and  New York's history just happened to get my attention. I do not ensure accuracy of the facts stated herein, so please confer to official publications for a complete historical overview.

Main Source: http://bit.ly/bIpLYY

 

Last Chance to support the Puerto Princesa Underground River

 

 

 

The Puerto Princesa Underground River is presently a finalist to the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign. If you liked what you saw, please vote for it by texting PPUR to 2861 or visiting www.n7w.com.  Voting ends on November 11, 2011.

 

 

 

Why I Run: A Gastronomic Tour of the Philippines

Traveling is what I love to do. While I may not be a hearty eater, I love to try a place's favorite local dish to get a taste of their culture. These taste tests accumulate and I have to work it off somehow. That is why, when I am not travelling, I run.

Here are just some of my favorite from my travels across the country:

1. Iloilo: Batchoy

Aside from spanish colonial churches and mansions, or its pristine beaches, Iloilo boasts of its delectable La Paz Batchoy and Pancit Molo. Get a swiff of the sweet and salty aroma and you might forget your name. Read on how to get to Iloilo, here.

2. Camarines Sur: Laing Pizza

The Bicol Region boasts of its sweet and chili cuisine. Familiarize your tastebuds with food infused with coconut milk with the Laing Pizza at the CWC. Read on how to get to CWC and the Caramoan Islands, here and here.

3. Manila: Steak

While it is perplexing how one can ruin a perfectly good piece of steak, some still do. Better be safe than sorry. Get your fix of meat heaven in the country's capital.

4. Capiz: Oysters

Have your fill of seafood all year round. After all, Capiz is the seafood capital of the Philippines. It definitely lives up to its name.

5. Bohol: Sea Urchin

Fresh as it can be, Sea Urchins are opened right in front of you at Virgin Island. Eat them raw with vinegar. Read about what you should not miss while in Bohol, here.

6. Tagaytay: Native Food

Drive along Tagaytay's main throughfare and you get to travel around the world. Almost every major cuisine is represented. But having maruya or any local native food for that matter with some coffee or tea will bring back sweet childhood memories you thought you already forgot.

7. Batanes: Homemade Pizza

Tourists have been raving about the homey pizza place in the northernmost tip of the country.They say it's all in the dough, which is freshly made from scratch by the house chef-owner. Read on how to get to Batanes, here.

The Philippines is a beautiful and diverse place. While Malay, Chinese, and Spanish influences can be found in our food, we take pride in the uniquely Filipino flavor in our local dishes. Try us! Just run it off when you get home. That's what I do. *wink*

Come one, Come all. CamSur Water Sports Complex

It's no wonder why international wakeboarders head to CWC. Here, people do not simply wakeboard. They develop a certain relationship with the water. They don't even just JUMP.

They FLY,

GLIDE,

and MAKE A BIG SPLASH.

Been making a lot of splashes? Don't sweat it. Even professional wakeboarders don't finish the round sometimes. And they are even the ones making the biggest splash. Just head to the registration office and get listed for a professional massage. Your muscles will thank you big time.

To avoid feeling like an old person after one round of fun, try doing some lapses before taking the reins. It will loosen those muscles you haven't been using.

Afraid of the water? You could just bask in the sun by playing some ball. Or spend some time people watching.

But don't let the eyes do all the feasting. Dine or cool down with some San Miguel Beer in the clubhouse or in one of the cabanas. You need all the energy for another round of wakeboarding. Check their menu, here.

Getting There:

From Naga:
Take a jeepney with the signboard "Sabang Port" from the Naga Bus Terminal near SM City (15-20 mins:Php 10). Get off at the jump off point in Pili (just tell the driver beforehand that you are heading to CWC and to drop you off at the jump off point). There are tricycles, single motorcycles, and padyaks willing to take passengers towards the CWC Complex (15 mins:Php 20).

From Sabang Port (jump off point to Caramoan):
Take a jeepney heading to Naga City (approx. 2 hours:Php 80) and get off at the jump off point in Pili (don't forget to tell the driver to drop you off at the jump off point to CWC). Then take a tricycle towards the CWC Complex (15 mins:Php 20).

Camsur Watersports Complex
Provincial Capitol Complex
Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur
• Contact Number: (054) 4773344 / (054) 4773349
• Fax Number: +63(54) 477-5162
• E-mail: infocamsur@gmail.com
• http://www.cwcwake.com

Can someone pls. make badges for Philippine cities, too?

 

 

(Source)

 

 

 

Chicago, My Kind of Town

 

Frank Sinatra was not kidding when he sang "My Kind of Town, Chicago is."  And I bet more people will agree with him. After all, what's not to like about Chi-town. It has everything you look for in a big city (towering skyscrapers, international cuisine, world-class shopping, bright party lights), but has all the charm of a small town (amiable & artistic people, picturesque street scene). It is more of a big small town than a giant metropolis. Just my kind of town, too.

 

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Journey to Banaue

 

I don't know about you, but when I travel and have to sit on a bus for hours end, I'd want to know what kind of surface my ass has to endure.

The trip to Banaue especially is not a joke. 9 hours on a confined space, it should be at least something tolerable if not a pleasant ride. Fortunately, the buses of Florida Bus Liner are new (or at least looks new). While the seat do not fully recline, it is comfortable. I had a restful sleep. But don't just take my word, because I'm the type who can sleep during long haul trips without any problem.

 

 

 

Florida Bus Line has regular trips from Manila direct to Banaue. It leaves Sampaloc, Manila (Lacson St. cor. S. H. Loyola St.) at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Due to the number of people who take this route, it is advised that you buy your tickets well ahead of the scheduled departure.

Do not take lots of fluid before the trip. Although there are several stops in between, you don't want to take the risk and hold yourself until the next bus stop. The below zero temperature of the A/C doesn't help either. Bring something to keep yourself warm and cozy during the ride.

 

 

 

For those who cannot sleep during the bus ride, take comfort to the fact that the bus show movies during the journey or that the first thing you will see as you get off the bus when you arrive is a nice sunrise with the amazing terraces in the foreground.

 

 

 

Check out the rest of my Banaue and Sagada Series:

• Batad as the Backpacker's Mecca
• Photographs on the Road from Banaue to Sagada
• Stairways to Heaven: Hungduan Rice Terraces
• Banaue Accommodation: Banaue View Inn
• Sagada - Where Time Stood Still
• Playground of the Gods: Bomod-ok Falls
• Six Feet (and more) Under - Spelunking at Sumaging Cave
• Expenses for Banaue & Sagada Trip (2011)
• Suggested Itinerary for Banaue & Sagada

 

 

 

Batad as the Backpacker's Mecca

 

Walk through narrow paths along the terraces, over hills, and across streams to see the stunning view of the Batad Rice Terrace Clusters - a National Cultural Treasure inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You may even have to get off your jeepney to allow it to properly maneuver the very rough and wild road.

 

 

 

 

Despite its remoteness (9 hours from Manila to Banaue, 1.5 hours from Banaue to the Saddle by jeepney, plus 1 hour hike to view its splendor), it is a favorite destination of international as well as local backpackers. As a result, there are now a number of hostels that has mushroomed where guests may stay. Day trips are also possible.

 

 

 

Shaped as an ampitheatre, Batad Rice Terraces do not need further description. It is one of those things that you just have to see in order to appreciate their sheer size and beauty, not to mention the amazing feat of ancient farming engineering of carving rice fields on the mountain ranges.

Plan your trip and be ready for a very special surprise. It will take your breath away.

 

 

Getting There:

Florida Bus Line has regular trips from Manila direct to Banaue. It leaves Sampaloc, Manila (Lacson St. cor. S. H. Loyola St.) at 9 p.m. From Baguio, KMS Bus Lines and Ohayami Trans leave for Banaue at least twice daily. You can get transportation to Batad from Banaue.

Contacts:

Accommodation in Banaue

Banaue View Inn (Php 900/night), read review here.
Barangay Poblacion, Banaue
• Lily Luglu
• (361) 161

Jeepney for hire

Manong Peter Ramos
• (63920) 2787558

Guide

Javes Beyer
• (63926) 2320243

 

 

 

Manila Zoo: 52 Years After

Every Manileño in their 40s have probably visited the Manila Zoo at one time or another during their growing up years. Even out-of-towners (aka probinsyanos) probably made it one of the first places they visit when they were in the big city back in its glory days.

Manila Zoo may be 52 years old now, but it still has a lot of potential. It is one of the few parks that people from all walks of life can appreciate. Entrance fee is only at Php 40 for adults and Php 20 for children 4 feet below (50% off for Manila Residents with a valid ID indicating address of residence).

Meet the Animals

(hover over the photos to get to know them)

Inside the Zoo 

Food is not a problem. Although SM Hypermarket and Harrison Plaza are just a stone's throw away, if your little one cannot wait for until after the zoo visit, there are food concessionaires inside.

There are activities for the kiddos as well as the young at heart too. Have your photos taken together with friendly and colorful feathered-creatures. Prices range from Php 100 to Php 150. This is your chance to catch those cute dimples!

Or you can go boating for Php 60/30-45 mins (capacity: 5 pax). The kids will definitely have a blast. Also a great strategy to have them settle down - for once.

Understandably, public recreation is not on the priority list of the local government. They would rather allocate funds to feed the hungry. But you can help the zoo and ultimately the animals, by visiting (more people, more revenue, hence, more fund to maintain its facilities) or by volunteering. Give it a chance, visit!

Getting There:

Jeepneys with the signboard "Vito Cruz/Mabini/Harrison Plaza" pass by the zoo. Catch them in Quiapo/Quezon Avenue or Baclaran.

Nearest Train Stations:
LRT 1 Quirino Avenue Station (walking distance)
MRT Edsa Avenue Station (transfer to LRT 1 Taft Avenue Station, get off at Quirino Avenue Station, then walk)
LRT 2 Recto Station (transer to LRT 1 Doroteo Jose Station, get off at Quirino Avenue Station, then walk)

Manila Zoo
Quirino Avenue corner M. Adriatico Street, Manila
http://www.manilazoo.org/
(632)4001884; (632)3836862

Hours of Operation:
7am to 6pm daily