| Individual Expense | Group of 2 | ||
| Day 1 | |||
| Taxi to airport | 110 | ||
| Terminal Fee | 200 | ||
| Tricycle to lodging house | 15 | 30 | |
| bfast | 45 | ||
| Lunch | 17 | ||
| Tricycle charter (2.5 hours) | 184.5 | 375 | |
| h20 | 34 | ||
| Lodging House | 200 | ||
| Tricycle charter (2 hours) | 150 | 300 | |
| Dinner | 62 | ||
| TOTAL | 1017.5 | ||
| Day 2 | |||
| bfast | 32 | ||
| Lunch | 30 | ||
| Diura Entrance Fee | 50 | ||
| cup noodle for driver at honesty café | 20 | ||
| Dinner (1/2 cup rice, brought delata) | 7.5 | ||
| Tricycle charter (8 hours) | 500 | 1000 | |
| Lodging House | 200 | ||
| TOTAL | 839.5 | ||
| Day 3 | |||
| Van to Ivana Port | 30 | ||
| Boat to Sabtang | 50 | ||
| Sabtang Conservation Fee | 100 | ||
| Tricycle charter (1/2 day) | 500 | 1000 | |
| bfast & lunch | 250 | ||
| Boat to Ivana | 50 | ||
| Jeep to Basco | 25 | ||
| Dinner (1/2 cup rice, brought delata) | 7.5 | ||
| Lodging House | 200 | ||
| TOTAL | 1212.5 | ||
| Day 4 | |||
| bfast (1/2 cup rice, brought delata) | 7.5 | ||
| Lunch (1/2 cup rice, brought delata) | 7.5 | ||
| Tricycle charter (2.5 hours) | 112.5 | 225 | |
| Pasalubong (Gifts) | 325 | ||
| Dinner (Pizza) | 110 | 320/3 | |
| Lodging House | 200 | ||
| TOTAL | 762.5 | ||
| Day 5 | |||
| Tricycle to airport (plus P10 tip) | 20 | 40 | |
| Taxi to office | 110 | ||
| TOTAL | 130 | ||
| RT Airfare (with 50% discount) | 6927.3 | ||
| TOTAL (without airfare) | 3962 | ||
| TOTAL EXPENSE (in PhP) | 10889.3 |
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Expenses for Batanes Trip (2010)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Suggested Itinerary for Batanes
Batanes is the destination that many people dream to visit but few get to see. Its geographical location, unpredictable weather condition, and expensive airline fare keep most tourists away. It is also for those reasons that Batanes kept its old-world splendor.
Travellers to this Heaven on Earth are rewarded to friendly people and a culture different from the rest of the country. Find out how, here.
Day 1 (North of Batan Island)
AM
545am - flight to Basco
730am - arrive Basco
735am - check-in at lodging house
830am - bfast
930am - start tour
- Valugan Boulder Beach
- Japanese Tunnel
- Fundacion Pacita
- Tukon Radar Station
- Tukon Church
- Basco Idjang
1230pm - Back to town proper
PM
1pm - lunch
130pm - back at the lodging house
3pm - start tour
- Rolling Hills
- Naidi Hills/Basco Lighthouse
5pm - wait for sunset at the Basco Lighthouse
6pm - dinner
Day 2 (South of Batan Island)
AM
830am - bfast
930am - start tour
- Chanarian Viewdeck
- Mahatao Church
- White Beach
- Diura Fishing Village/Crystal Cave
- Racuh-a-Payaman (Marlboro Country)
PM
12nn - lunch (bring packed lunch) at Racuh-a- Payaman
130pm - continue with tour
- Imnajbu (Stone Houses)
- Uyugan/Sungsung Ruins (ghost Town)
- Ivana/Honest Coffee House/House of Dakay/Spanish Bridge
- Basco LIghthouse
5pm - wait for sunset at the Basco Lighthouse
6pm - dinner
Day 3 (Sabtang Island)
AM
530am - off to Ivana Port
7am - off to Sabtang Island
730am - arrive Sabtang Island
8am - bfast at Heritage House
830am - start tour
- Chamantad-Tinian Viewpoint
- Lime Kilns
- Barrio Savidug (Vernacular Houses)
- Barrio Chavayan (UNESCO Nominated Site)
- Nakabuang Beach/Murung Beach (Ahau Arch)
- Sabtang Lighthouse
PM
12nn - lunch at Heritage House
1pm - back to Ivana Port
115pm - off to Basco
6pm - dinner
Day 4 (Basco Town)
AM
8am - explore town of Basco
830am - bfast
930am - back to Rolling Hills
1130 - souvenir shopping
PM
1230pm - lunch
1pm - back to lodging house
4pm - visit Port of Basco
5pm - wait for sunset at the nearby beach
7pm - dinner at Casa Napoli
Day 5
AM
630am - off to Basco Airport
745am - flight back to Manila
*** Travellers may opt to remove Day 4 from their itineraries.
*** Click here for an accounting of our expenses.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Help! Lost My Passport while vacationing!
Lost your Philippine passport while in the US of A? Don't panic. This does not mean that you will have to be stuck all your life in a strange country. Nor should you rejoice yet. This will not give you an excuse to stay indefinitely in the Land of Milk and Honey. ;)
If you cannot track it down. You will need to visit a Philippine embassy or consulate before your intended flight schedule. Follow these steps:
Step 1: File a police report. Having a police report handy will make it easier once you get to the embassy to report the loss or to request for a replacement passport and/or issuance of a travel document.
Step 2: Pay a visit to the Philippine embassy or consulate. You will need to fill-up a form. To certify the veracity of the loss, present a notarized affidavit of loss. To prove your identity, you may present any of the following forms of identification: copy of birth certificate, marriage contract or other documents such as Philippine driver's license, baptismal certificate, voter's affidavit or Professional Regulatory Commission Card. Expect a few days for processing.
Step 3: Allow extra time at the airport. Although airport security are assumed to be familiar with travel documents in lieu of passports, you will never know when you encounter an ignorant, ego-tripping official. Extra security measures could significantly derail your schedule, so cross the gates early. It is better to be safe than risk missing your flight.
Step 4: Report loss of visa to the US embassy. As a precautionary measure, send an email to the Fraud Prevention Unit of the US embassy in Manila (fpmmanila@state.gov) with the following relevant info (1. Full name, 2. Passport Number, 3. Date of Birth, 4. Place of Birth, 5. Address in the US, 6. Email address, 7. Circumstances of loss) and attach therein: 1. Travel Document issued by the Philippine embassy or consulate, 2. Affidavit of Loss issued by the Philippine embassy or consulate, and 3. Copy of Passport.
You can find the list of Philippine Embassies, here.
If you cannot track it down. You will need to visit a Philippine embassy or consulate before your intended flight schedule. Follow these steps:
Step 1: File a police report. Having a police report handy will make it easier once you get to the embassy to report the loss or to request for a replacement passport and/or issuance of a travel document.
Step 2: Pay a visit to the Philippine embassy or consulate. You will need to fill-up a form. To certify the veracity of the loss, present a notarized affidavit of loss. To prove your identity, you may present any of the following forms of identification: copy of birth certificate, marriage contract or other documents such as Philippine driver's license, baptismal certificate, voter's affidavit or Professional Regulatory Commission Card. Expect a few days for processing.
Step 3: Allow extra time at the airport. Although airport security are assumed to be familiar with travel documents in lieu of passports, you will never know when you encounter an ignorant, ego-tripping official. Extra security measures could significantly derail your schedule, so cross the gates early. It is better to be safe than risk missing your flight.
Step 4: Report loss of visa to the US embassy. As a precautionary measure, send an email to the Fraud Prevention Unit of the US embassy in Manila (fpmmanila@state.gov) with the following relevant info (1. Full name, 2. Passport Number, 3. Date of Birth, 4. Place of Birth, 5. Address in the US, 6. Email address, 7. Circumstances of loss) and attach therein: 1. Travel Document issued by the Philippine embassy or consulate, 2. Affidavit of Loss issued by the Philippine embassy or consulate, and 3. Copy of Passport.
You can find the list of Philippine Embassies, here.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Bahá’í House of Worship
Called "The Dawning Place", this Bahá'í Temple, is now considered a tourist destination because of its intricate lace-like design and beautiful architecture.
The picture from the guide-book enticed me to see it personally. Located in Wilmette in Illinois, the visit turned out to be all worth it. I got to see a one-of-a kind structure and got to know an entirely new religion. Before the trip, I never even heard of Bahá'í. To think that a small community is alleged to exist in the Philippines.
Faith
Bahá'ís believe that everyone is part of one human race and every revealed religion is a gift to humankind from the one Eternal God. They believe that humanity is one family created by God and promote the unity of mankind and the establishment of peace in the world.
History
It all started in Persia (now Iran) by Mírza Husayn-'Alí in the 1800s during the Ottoman Empire. In the United States, the Bahá'í Faith was first mentioned in 1893 by a Presbyterian Missionary at the Word Parliament of Religions held during the Columbian Exposition in Chicago until it eventually spread across the country.
Temple
Planning started in 1903, but construction began only in 1920 and was not completed until 1953. The domed structure has nine sides. The lacy pattern of the temple is made out of special concrete consisting of quartz and white cement. The auditorium is open to the public for free. It seats 1,191 and stands 138 feet from the floor to the apex of the inside dome. Other Houses of Worship are located at Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany; Kampala, Uganda; Sidney, Australia; Panama City, Panama; New Delhi, India; and Apia, Western Samoa.
There are nine inscriptions carved above the entrance and nine more appearing in the alcoves. One inscription made an impression on me the most and that is: "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." Bottomline: World peace. They say travel is one great way to learn, well that was one great lesson. A lesson that we all should learn and live by.
The Bahá'í House of Worship
100 Linden Avenue
Wilmette, Illinois 60091
www.bahaiitemple.org
Visiting Hours:
10:00 am - 5:00 pm (between Oct. 1 and Apr. 30)
10:00 am - 8:00 pm (between May 1 and Sept 30)
** Out of respect, I did not take pictures inside the temple.
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Best of Chicago: Museums and more
Enjoy Chicago without having to line up for tickets with City Pass. You can get it online or at the first attraction you visit. Ideal for weekend travelers who wish to see the best of Chicago in a short span of time. For those who has a week to spare, there is no need to rush getting from one attraction to another as the tickets are valid for nine days from the date bought. It includes general admission plus a few perks to five wonderful Chicago attractions.
Shedd Aquarium
Enjoy VIP treatment to all the exhibits plus a 4-D experience in Fantasea. Experience an Amazon flooded forest in Amazon Rising, a 360-degree tour of the reef in Carribean Reef, meet dapper-looking penguins and lots of fishes in the Ocenarium and do a face-off with sharks with the Philippine coral reef in the background in Wild Reef. All of this is possible in Shedd Aquarium.
The Field Museum
Meet Sue, the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever found. Get access to an Underground Adventure, and get to know the secrets of mummies.
Adler Planetarium
Be a star and travel across space. Watch not one but two theater shows. Ad Astra Per Aspera.. reach for the stars!
Museum of Science & Industry
Learn science hands-on from this expansive 14-acre museum. Fly an airplane - try a flight stimulator inside a real plane inside the museum. Experience the unique Omnimax show. There is always something new to see and do at the Museum of Science and Industry. After covering the whole museum, go outside. There is a beautiful pond with a great view.
Skydeck Chicago or John Hancock Observatory
Indulge in the picturesque Chicago skyline tour and free coffee in the John Hancock Observatory. You may choose between Skydeck Chicago and the John Hancock Observatory.
Surely, there is more to Chicago than these five attractions. But then again, it provides a great list to add to ones itinerary. Plus, you can always sight-see in between. City Pass tickets are available at $69 for adults and $59 for children ages 3 to 11. Verdict: Good deal. Check out the Chicago Skyline from different vantage points, here.
Note: This is not a paid advertisement.
Shedd Aquarium
Enjoy VIP treatment to all the exhibits plus a 4-D experience in Fantasea. Experience an Amazon flooded forest in Amazon Rising, a 360-degree tour of the reef in Carribean Reef, meet dapper-looking penguins and lots of fishes in the Ocenarium and do a face-off with sharks with the Philippine coral reef in the background in Wild Reef. All of this is possible in Shedd Aquarium.
The Field Museum
Meet Sue, the largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever found. Get access to an Underground Adventure, and get to know the secrets of mummies.
Adler Planetarium
Be a star and travel across space. Watch not one but two theater shows. Ad Astra Per Aspera.. reach for the stars!
Museum of Science & Industry
Learn science hands-on from this expansive 14-acre museum. Fly an airplane - try a flight stimulator inside a real plane inside the museum. Experience the unique Omnimax show. There is always something new to see and do at the Museum of Science and Industry. After covering the whole museum, go outside. There is a beautiful pond with a great view.
Skydeck Chicago or John Hancock Observatory
Indulge in the picturesque Chicago skyline tour and free coffee in the John Hancock Observatory. You may choose between Skydeck Chicago and the John Hancock Observatory.
Surely, there is more to Chicago than these five attractions. But then again, it provides a great list to add to ones itinerary. Plus, you can always sight-see in between. City Pass tickets are available at $69 for adults and $59 for children ages 3 to 11. Verdict: Good deal. Check out the Chicago Skyline from different vantage points, here.
Note: This is not a paid advertisement.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Photo Wednesday: Rush
I apologize for being remiss in posting any entry on this blog for the past month. Been busy with work and a bit of family r & r. Work will still be busy for the next few months, so I apologize in advance.
(Photo: Roxas Boulevard, Manila, 2009)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)