Suggested Itinerary for Jakarta, Indonesia

 

Day 1

PM
755pm – flight to Jakarta (4 hours)

 

Day 2 (Jakarta)

AM
1155am – arrive at Jakarta (Jakarta is 1 hour behind of Manila)
115am – taxi to hotel
155am – arrive at hotel
7am - bfast
8am – busway to Monumen Selamat Datang
845am - photo op at Monumen Selamat Datang
850am - taxi to Sarinah Shopping Mall
9am - exchange peso for rupiah, souvenir shopping, buy lunch
11am - taxi to Monas
1110am - buy admission ticket/s, lunch, wait in line

PM
1252pm – start tour
220pm - walk toward the direction of Musueum Nasional
235pm – tour of Musueum Nasional
405pm - walk toward the direction of
418pm – photo op in front of  Istana Merdeka (Presidential Palace)
430pm - taxi to Old Town
445pm - arrive Old Town
450pm - street food trip
5pm - dinner
645pm - bargain shopping
720pm - taxi to Komplek Rasuna Epicentrum
810pm - malling
845pm - back to the hotel

 

Day 3 (Taman Mini)

AM
8am - bfast
9am – busway to Taman Mini
930am - arrive Taman Mini
1140am - lunch

PM
310pm - Mini Nonumen Selamat Datang
420pm - busway back to downtown
6pm – dinner
642pm - walk back to the hotel
8pm - freshen up
9pm – taxi to airport
945pm – arrive at airport

 

Day 4

AM
1225am – flight to Manila (4 hours)
525am – arrive at Manila (Manila is 1 hour ahead of Jakarta)

 

 

Take me where the horses run wild

 

Mention Batanes and images of rolling hills, stone houses, light houses, friendly people come to mind. Only a few people associate Batanes with horses. But when you come to think of it, horses and rolling hills together create a surreal image. In fact, it is one reason out of many, why I love the place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imagine the wind on your face, while you are standing on top of a hill, the ocean not far, with the image of horses running wild. No place is quite like it. At least in the Philippines.

 

 

How to Get There:

Seair (http://flyseair.com/) flies twice daily to Basco, Batanes. To minimize on cost (one way costs Php 7,039.20) watch out for promos that Seair regularly gives away — Feb and Sept, for half the price during the Philippine Travel Tour Expo and the Philippine Travel Mart, and for various discounts year-round online.

 

 

 

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

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

Photographs on the Road from Banaue to Sagada and Back

Sitting on a public utility vehicle for long periods of time is never fun. But when the scenery is as beautiful as the ones from Banaue to Sagada, time flies by fast. You will never notice that 3 hours has already passed.

Get a chance to see the sun shining over the Chico River or slowly rising over the Bay-yo Rice Terraces.

Observe how the clouds slowly kiss the mountains in the afternoon on your way back to Banaue.

There are three ways to get to Sagada. These are 1. the Banaue route (9 hours from Manila to Banaue, 2.45 hours from Banaue to Sagada), 2. the Baguio route (5-6 hours from Manila to Baguio, 6-7 hours from Baguio to Sagada), and 3. the Bontoc route (12 hours from Manila to Bontoc, 45 minutes to Sagada).

Apart from being the least strenous, the Banaue route,  will not only grace you with beautiful roadside scenery, it will also allow you to see the world-renowned Rice Terraces, more particularly the Hungduan and Batad Rice Terraces.

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 from Banaue to Bontoc (Emmanuel Bus and Bonbon Bus) then onward to Sagada (jeepney) via public transportation or hire a private vehicle from Banaue direct to Sagada.

Sagada - where time stood still

It's like time stood still in Sagada. Perhaps the distance (about 400 km north of Manila) and lack of transportation during the Spanish Era has allowed this small town in the northern part of the Philippines to preserve its culture. And perhaps it is for this reason that some Igorots, a minority group, still practice the ancient funeral custom of burying their dead by either hanging them by the cliffs or by placing them outside cave openings, a practice that is not typical Filipino.

Hanging Coffins

Apart from practical reasons of preventing animals from desecrating their dead, Igorots believe that spirits could easilly travel to their destination when they are hung by the cliffs rather than being buried six feet under.

Lumiang Burial Cave

They also believe that the dead should leave this world the same way they entered in fetal position, hence, the size of the caskets. There are a lot of stories about the cave. One story relayed to tourists is that the cave is considered a sacred place and only the privileged can be buried there.

Although the traditional practice of burying the dead in the Lumiang Cave is waning - the last burial was in 1986, the ritual of hanging the coffins by the cliffs still continue to this day. A national treasure, it is a place everyone should visit and help preserve.

Getting there:

There are no direct bus trips to Sagada. There are three routes that visitors can choose from: the Banaue route (9 hours from Manila to Banaue, 2.45 hours from Banaue to Sagada), the Baguio route (6-8 hours from Manila to Baguio, 6-7 hours from Baguio to Sagada), and the Bontoc route (12 hours from Manila to Bontoc, 45 minutes to Sagada).

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. Visitors can get transportation from Banaue to Bontoc then onward to Sagada via public transportation or hire a private vehicle from Banaue direct to Sagada.