Suggested Itinerary for Caramoan & CWC, Camarines Sur

 

Its isolation and its distance from "civilization" is the main reason why the international franchises of the reality game show "Survivor" choose the peninsula as a site for several of their show's season. It is also for those same reasons that the peninsula has preserved its beauty. Return to the wild and consider the ordeal of a 10-hour bus ride from Manila or even a one-hour plane ride to Naga plus a combination of land and sea travel that last for four hours a challenge à la Survivor. Read more and view pictures of Caramoan, here.

 

 

Day 1 (Gota Village)

AM
620am – flight to Naga
715am – arrive at Naga
730m – taxi from Naga to Sabang port (1.5 hours)
9am – arrive at Sabang Port
11am - boat from Sabang port to Guijalo Port (2 hours) – 1st trip start at 7am

PM
1pm – arrive at Guijalo Port
110pm– tricycle from Guijalo Port to Centro (30 min)
130pm – arrive at Centro
135pm – check-in at tourist inn
145pm – lunch
245pm – start tour
- Gota Village
530pm – Back to Centro
6pm - dinner

 

Day 2 (island hopping tour)

AM
6am – bfast & buy packed lunch
615am - tricycle to Bikal Port
635am - start of island hopping
- Lahos Island
- Matukad Island - hike
- Honongan Island/Resort
- Minalahos Island 
- Tagbalinat Island
- Cotivas Island - swim

PM
1pm -lunch at Manlawi Island
2pm - continue with Island Hopping
- Manlawi Island - lunch
- Sabitang Laya Island - swim
- Mt. Carmel Caglago - hike
5pm – end
530pm - dinner

 

Day 3 (CWC & Naga Tour)

AM
6am – tricycle to Guijalo Port (30min)
630am - arrive at Guijalo Port
7am – boat from Guijalo to Sabang Port (2 hours) – last trip is at 11am
9am – arrive at Sabang Port
10am – jeep from Sabang to Naga (2 hours)

PM
12nn – arrive Naga
12nn - check in at Pension house
1230pm - lunch at SM City Naga
130pm - jeep & tricycle to CWC
5pm - tricycle & jeep to Naga
530pm - Naga tour
- Basilica de Penafrancia
-
6pm - shop for souvenir & dinner
 

Day 4

AM
930am – Brunch
10am - last minute souvenir shopping
1130am – go to airport

PM
1pm – flight to Manila

 

Majestic Hoover Dam

If you have a "to do" list just like Jamie Sullivan in "A Walk to Remember" and you are in Las Vegas, head to Hoover Dam and you can be in two places at one time.

Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. It is strategically located to hold such massive amount of water flow between the canyons of Arizona and Nevada.

A few meters walk will send you to a totally different time zone. The penstock towers' wall clocks,  standing on each state's side, will show the time difference. During winter and autumn, the time difference is one hour. So, if it's 9am in Nevada (Pacific Standard Time), it's 10am in Arizona (Mountain Standard Time).  During spring, since Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time, the two states will have no time difference. Weird and fascinating at the same time.

Marvel at this engineering genius and see how more than 100 died to make the desert bloom.

 

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The Venetian Las Vegas

 

Inspired by the Italian city of Venice, The Venetian Resort will take you to Italy with its winding canals, singing gondoliers, marble floors, and famous landmarks. Prominent in its design is the recreation of St. Mark's Companile and the Rialto Bridge.

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Known as the hotel with the largest standard hotel rooms, The Venetian, will impress you from the moment you step inside its private elevators leading to the suites. Only hotel guests are allowed beyond a certain point. (There are guards who check for room keys before you can proceed inside.) The spacious bathroom is furnished with italian marble. The sunken living room has a surprise pull-put bed. The three TV sets (one at the living room, bedroom and another inside the bathroom) will make everyone happy. Other great things about their suites are the egyptian sheets, dvd player, dual-line phones with data port, in-suite fax, copier and printer combos. Oh, and the electric window curtain is quite nice too.

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Canal Shoppes

Walk the cobblestone walkways and imagine yourself in William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice and/or Othello. To make your experience authentically italian, catch a ride on the gondolas with your own opera singing gondolier after shopping in chic boutiques or watching a show. $16/ride.

 

 

 

Verdict:

You certainly get what you pay for when you stay at The Venetian. Private, classy, with high-quality amenities -- you'll go home with a smile. We did. :)

 

 

 

 

Caesar's Palace Las Vegas

 

Celebrating the glory of Rome, Caesar's Palace represent the ultimate in Vegas experience. The Roman colonnades, Roman pillars, giant Roman statues, Gladiator clad models ready to pose for pictures -- all speak Vegas even after 2 decades from its opening in 1966.

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 The 3,384 units are spread over five towers. The guest rooms and suites are elegantly designed. We stayed in one of the de luxe rooms in the Palace Tower. Marble-finished bathrooms, soaking tubs, flat-screen tv, and floor to ceiling windows took my breath away.

 

 

 

 

Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis

Inspired by the Baths of Caracalla, in Rome, Caesars did not scrimp on cost to renovate the Garden of the Gods pools and gardens.  It's six swimming pools surrounded by fountains and regal statues look like an emperors masterpiece. There are two outdoor wedding chapels that are just charming.

 

 

 

 

The Forum Shops

It will not be Vegas without the shopping. The Forum has a multitude of stores that cater to the average shopper to the high-end market.

 

 

 

Verdict:

My sister and brother found the pillows in our room too soft, but it was fine with me. Navigating the casino to get to our tower was a little bit confusing at first but you sort of memorize the way after a while. Nevertheless, it's still a long way when you are already exhausted from walking all over The Strip. Overall, my stay at Caesars was a sweet experience. I had a grand time. It made me feel that I was really in Las Vegas.

 

 

 

 

Fabulous Las Vegas

 

Everything is larger than life in Las Vegas. Expect nothing but the best. After all it is the Entertainment Capital of the World.

To best experience Las Vegas, wait for night time. It is during this time that  Las Vegas comes alive. Elvis, showgirls, and street performers all come out to entertain the crowds.

Marvel at the neon lights, dancing water soaring 240 feet high, laser beam visible from space, erupting volcanoes, and the throng of people coming up, down and over the Strip.

But that's not all, because once you step inside any of the iconic casino hotels, you will be taken to an entirely different universe. Hop from one hotel to the next. Rub elbows with the Romans at Caesars Palace, ride a gondola at the Venetian, go up the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Casino Resort, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge at the New York-New York hotel and casino, dine with Pharoah at the Luxor, go back to medieval time at Excalibur, and party like a rock star at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. There's actually more, but you have to experience them for yourself.

 

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Philippine Passport Holders: Who are exempt from Taiwan Visa

I thought I was going to Taipei. But then the Piso Seat Sale of Cebu Pacific Air happened. I thought it best to publish this entry nevertheless to help those who are confused as to the exemption of Philippine Passport holders from the Taiwan Visa.

 

First of all, not every Philippine Passport holder can enter Taiwan visa free. Only those who qualify are exempt and may stay for a period no longer than 30 days.

 

 So, how does one get exempted?

One must:

       1. Have never been employed as a blue-collar worker in Taiwan; and
       2. Have a valid visa or permanent residence certificate issued by US, Canada, Japan, U.K., Schengen Convention countries, Australia or New Zealand. Note that you should be able to present the document for inspection when you enter Taiwan; if unable to produce it, you could be denied entry.

If you have all the above qualifications, make sure that:

     1. Your passport is valid for at least six months. (This means that the passport is still valid for at least six months when you enter Taiwan rather than when the application is filed online) ; and
     2. You have a return plane or ship ticket.

The next step would be to register your documents and personal data online at https://nas.immigration.gov.tw/nase/. Do not forget to bring the printed and approved certification (together with your visa or permanent certificate mentioned above) during your flight.

**** Exemption also applies to passport holders of India, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Therefore, if you do not possess the qualifications posted above, you should get a visa from the nearest Taiwanese Embassy or Consulate.

 

The requirements for the Taiwan Visa Application are:

1. application form from the embassy or consulate;
2. 1.5 x 2 inches i.d. picture;
3. Philippine Passport valid for at least 6 months from the time of application;
4. bank statement proving that you have enough money to fund your travel;
5. return ticket (a copy, e-ticket receipt or invoice from travel agency); and
6. visa fee:  $50 for single entry and $100 for multiple entry.

 

 UPDATE:

Quote from the official communication received by the Office of the President from the Taiwan authorities (as of March 15, 2011):

“To express our good faith in response to the visit of Special Emissary Manuel Roxas and the most recent measures taken by your government, we will immediately lift the restrictions on visa applications for all Filipino workers and resume the method used to process their work permits prior to Feb 7, 2011. Online visa applications will also be applicable to the Philippine tourists as that used to be before the incident.”

 

Sources:

https://nas.immigration.gov.tw/nase/ctlr?PRO=PRO_Task12Application
http://www.ehow.com/list_6597890_filipino-requirements-tourist-visa-taiwan.html
http://www.gov.ph/2011/03/15/statement-of-the-office-of-the-presidential-spokesperson-on-the-lifting-of-taiwans-visa-restrictions-in-response-to-the-visit-of-the-presidents-special-envoy-march-15-2011/