2011 March: Boracay Island, Philippines: Departure at Kalibo

Travel Date: March 18, 2011

Destination: Caticlan, Malay, Aklan

On our last day, we decided to have a massage. Then we had lunch at Traviesa Restaurant (this is the service restaurant of Asia Resort, Station 3). Normally, they require reservation, but good that we were able to walk-in. We had another round of seafood pasta and chicken lollipops.

From the hotel, we were guided by South West Transfer service going to Kalibo. It took us 2hours to reach the Kalibo Airport. Cebu Pacific was delayed for an hour, but good thing that I booked this time for a non-propeller jet.

For my loots, I bought a beach hat (in preparation for Nami Island), sand castle and sunset postcards and of course Starbucks City mug (for my collection!).

Thanks to my sister for planning this Bora Trip!

2011 March: Boracay Island, Philippines: Arrival at Caticlan

Travel Date: March 16, 2011 Destination: Caticlan, Malay, Aklan October 2010, I bought my 750php worth of Manila-Caticlan-Kalibo-Manila round trip at Cebu Pacific. Upon the announcement of boarding time, we get in to a bus – hmm, that was unusual! We waited for around 30 mins in tarmac before getting into a propeller plane – I was thinking that if it is like only one bus getting into the plane, then it is like a bus added with wings. One foreigner said, “I though we are riding a plane going to Boracay, how come we are riding a bus”. Since, the plane already stayed in open air for a long time, it was too hot when we get in and until we get off. Since it was a propeller jet, they do limit the weight of check-in baggage to only 10 kilos. Also, each of the passengers is required to pass a weight check. Upon our landing, it was already windy – our plane bounced twice, had a very hard break that you really need to tighten your seat belt, to hold on to your arm rest and push the seat in front of you, and finally a strong right turn going to the parking area. Before getting out of the Airport Gate, you need to fill up an arrival form – name, flight details, and accommodation. The transfer guides are near the gate waiting for you and you just need to look for your name on which agency you booked. To be honest, I do not know the procedure when you prefer to commute. The South West Transport helped us carry our bags going to the boat and upon transfer to a multi-cab. We stayed at Boracay Holiday Resort.

Boracay Holiday Resort Station 2, Corner Main Rd. & Tirol Rd., Manggayad, Balabag, Boracay Island Malay, Aklan Philippines http://www.boracayholidayresort.com/

The standard room costs 3000php, and we also take the advantage of getting their Caticlan-Boracay-Kalibo transfer. The room is clean and neat, television are with good cable channels, refrigerator is available, there are hangers on the cabinet, towels and toiletries (shampoo, condition and soap) are provided. Your rooms will be cleaned upon request. Also, no slippers and hair dryer are provided. Wifi connection on your rooms are with corresponding fees.

Breakfast is free on our stay. A breakfast slip is required to be checked by the staff. Food ranges from bread, hot cakes, eggs, fish, pork, ham, cereals and plain rice. Available drinks are coffee, fresh milk, juice and water.

Wifi is available on the lobby and pool area. The pool is open from 8am-11pm. They do clean the pool everyday.

After we settled our things, we slept for a while and finally get out for our first night at Bora. We had dinner at Manana – a Mexican themed restaurant. Walls are painted in vibrant orange. Table napkins are in rainbow sheets, and service is fast and great. We ordered for a beef taco, with Mexican rice and few simple side dishes.

While walking, this corner caught my attention. Near the Lonely Planet store, there is a group of people painting shirts with your name. They were really artistic and talented – totally amazing!

2011 February: Vietnam: Cu Chi Tunnels

Travel Date: February 17, 2011 Destination: Cu Chi Tunnels I thought it was already a good deal, but “my guided tour did not reach my expectation” – this was my initial comment. An old man looked for my name at the hotel reception. We walked about less than 5 minutes to get in to the bus service on the next street. It took us an hour to reach our first stop – it was a factory of wall decorations (with not so clean toilet) – is this what they call “for refreshments”? At 11.45am, we arrived at Cao Dai temple. The guide let us walk for less than 10 minutes since their bus need to park at the parking area. He did not lead us inside the temple. Tourists should remove their slippers/shoes before going to the temple. We are guided to go on the second floor. After 45 minutes and returning to the bus, some of their co-guides were playing cards inside our service and our guide is not attentive to welcome his tourists. Then, along the way, we were notified that there is no lunch provided for the tour – they took us to this very lousy restaurant. I think they could offer more than that. By 2.30pm we finally reached Cu Chi Tunnels. Here, he guided us along the way. He explained all the human traps and how Vietnamese live and try to survived during the war.

I will already tag my day as an average tour not until I saw this very famous and familiar face in front of me. I’ll not convince you to believe me nor I’ll post photos for any evidence, but I saw Piolo at Cu Chi Tunnels that afternoon.

Vietnam: Dai Nam Park

Travel Date: February 16, 2011 
Destination: Dai Nam Park 
This is my journey to Dai Nam Park. I started to wait at Ben Than Bus Terminal at 8am. Bus 616 arrived at 8.40am (be ready with other people bumping you, old beggars, lottery ticket sellers, motorcycle drivers looking for passengers, the noisy horns from all types of vehicles, and the loud voice from the terminal guide). The fare is 20000vnd (80php) for 1.5 hour bus ride.

Vietnam: Arrival at Ho Chi Minh City: Blue Diamond Hotel

Travel Date: February 15, 2011 
Destination: Hanoi Airport and Ho Chi Minh City 

It started to rain, the forecast said it will drop at 7 degrees Celsius that day. I’m now heading to the airport. I booked my airport transport at 15USD for a travel time of almost 45 minutes. 

It was totally crazy in the airport, most were in their bubble jackets, boots, scarves, hand covers, bonnets and I’m with my ear muffs! It was freaking cold at the airport especially as you pass by the doors. The check-in counter for Jetstar is located at the Arrival area – not so nice location, hard to find and simply causes the tourists to be confused. 

My flight was in an hour delayed. Upon arriving at Ho Chi Minh domestic terminal, it was only after an hour when the bags were made available at the rotating belt. No foreign exchange counter is available at the domestic terminal, but it is easier to find a taxi here. 

I took a metered Mailinh Taxi and paid for 95000vnd going to Blue Diamond Hotel. On my first afternoon at Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), I was looking for a restaurant, I already reached Saigon Center Mall and they only have cafes. 

Finally, I found Pho 2000, I was able to eat rise and pork. 

At the Hotel desk, they asked me if I’ll be leaving my passport to them. I told them, I’ll take it back – they asked permission if they can make photocopy of it as the police might ask about it. (Still wondering about this…) And she made a note, that I should keep it safe in my room and not to bring it when I go out. I booked this hotel from agoda.com which gives a cheaper deal. 

The assigned room to me is 704, they had rooms until the 9th floor. I’m totally impressed in my room, very clean, well-lighted, with small window (nothing to see outside), small cabinet with air freshener and hangers, slippers, refrigerator, thermos, daily supply of 300ml mineral water and tea sachets, cable television with English channels, double size bed with clean pillows and wireless internet connection. The bathroom is with hair dryer, toiletries, clean towels and bathtub. The breakfast is served at the ground level on 6.30-9.00am. The manager here is very attentive, good selection of food, lots of fruits and good drinks (coffee, tea, soya milk, fresh milk, orange juice and water). There are computer terminals on this area also. 

Book Blue Diamond Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City in Agoda

2011 February: Vietnam: Halong Bay

Travel Date: February 14, 2011 Destination: Halong Bay Valentine’s Day is the same date for my visit to Halong Bay, still cold at 10-12 degrees celsius. I booked this from the same Hotel. The guide picked me up at around 8.30am. It took us 2 hours before we reached our first stop for some refreshments. Aside from simple restaurant and high-priced biscuits and drinks, they also display a lot of local products (vases, bags and other woven items).



Again, another 2 hours before we reached the pier. We were re-grouped and separated from those having one, two and three day Halong Bay Tour.

We passed by the lime stones that formed to a dog, etc. We stopped at the fishing village were we took our lunch from our boats. Some of the locals are offering different fruits from their own version of floating market. Then we visited Sung Sot Cave (Cave of Surprises) – this is so beautiful in the pictures. But realizing what they have done to the cave is so interesting - it looks like man-made, but they claim it to be a natural resource. The stalactites and stalagmites are so dry, there were walk-ways for the tourists and they installed lights in between rocks. Did they cut-off some stones to do the walk-ways?

We reached the pier at 5pm in the afternoon, it was passed 8pm when we arrived at Hanoi proper. Additional Information: For those planning to take take a day tour or over night tour at Halong, kindly read this news article. The accident happened on Wednesday morning (2 days after I went to Halong Bay):

• http://business.inquirer.net/money/breakingnews/view/20110220-321297/Tourists-on-cheap-Vietnam-tour-paid-with-lives


• http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/world/8873410/vietnam-death-boat-owner-had-bad-record/

2010 August: Singapore: Sentosa Adventure on the Last Day

Travel Date: August 16, 2010 Destination: Sentosa, Singapore This is our last day in Singapore. In Vivo City, we took our breakfast at Toast Box. Then we find our way to the ticket booth for the Jewel Cable Car. The ticket costs 26sgd if you are going to Mount Faber before going to Sentosa. But if you wanted to go straight to Sentosa Island, you can get the 24sgd one-way ticket. Four years ago, as far as I can remember these cars are in different colors. Now, all the cars were painted in black. The trip was just so smooth, no more shakings as you get closer to the cable post or cable station. You would also see Hard Rock Hotel from above. We arrived there before noon and the weather is just so hot.Few more steps and we reached the tram terminal, we took a tram ride that will take us to the Palawan Beach – where Southern Most Point of Continental Asia is found. We took another tram to go on the other side of the island for the Siloso Beach. To return to the main island, we took the monorail. For our last minute (or should I say, last hour) shopping, we went to Vivo City and Funan Mall.

Postcards collected after 4 days

We had our final dinner in Lau Pa Sat. We arrived at the Budget Terminal almost an hour and half before our flight – we are now leaving Singapore!

Thanks to my travel mates Kath and Reg, to our hosts Kim and Darwin (and Ariel), to our college friends Wally, Diane and Ratz and the rest of the Singaporeans who helped us with the directions to reach our destinations safe and sound.

2010 August: Singapore: Universal Studio Singapore

Travel Date: August 14, 2010
Destination: Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa

From Purple Lane: Harbourfront station, find the Resort World Shuttle Bus (RW8). Not sure if it is 1 or 2sgd, but the return trip to Vivo City is just free. Buy your Universal Studios online tickets earlier because when we check it, most of the days are already sold-out. The place opens at 10am. Don’t forget to take the photo with the Globe and the Hollywood signage at the back of the gates. Exchange your online ticket to get your Retail and Food Voucher (discount of 5sgd). There is no security measure in USS. No checking of bags as we go through the gates. In Hollywood area, we took lunch in Mel’s Drive-In – classic 1950’s American restaurant that serves rocket sauce burgers, fish and chicken sandwiches. Not much fun in the Hollywood Theatre that shows “Monster Rock” concert. They had Dracula and Mummy who dance and sing. In New York area, we watched how Director Spielberg adds special effects in his movies. Nice experience, real fire, water sprinkles, cold temperature, strong winds and the strong floor shake/drop completes the show. Don’t fail to watch the Rockafella Streetboys as they perform outside the World Premier building in NY area. We saw Chris Cruz and Nicko Manalo. Some of my friends were able to catch Meynard Marcellano (based on their FB photos). We passed by the Sci-Fi City as most of the attractions are still closed. Accelerator, Battlestar Galactica Human (Red) and Cylon (Blue) are different roller coasters that will twist, turn and propel you in the air – even if it is open, I’ll never try this! Revenge of the Mummy in Ancient Egypt area – was the highlight of my USS trip. It is a rollercoaster in the dark, with fire, heat and video effects. Don’t worry about your bags, camera or phones, there are locker bins in the area that are free for the first 30mins. Water World is the one I’ve been wanting to see in USS, and it did not disappoint me. Nice stunts and effects. There is a sprinkle and splash area that you could choose from. We also tried Canopy Flyer in The Lost World area. You’ll be seating and your feet are just suspended. Get the back seat – for more excitement, so you’ll never see the direction on which side you will be thrown – there goes the surprise! Far Far Away’s castle is like the Disney castle. The Shrek 4-D Adventure is much better than the Mickey’s Philharmagic Show, it is my first time to experience that even my seat is moving and shaking as the character in the movie is running and falling. Donkey Live show is just so amazing, I mean how can a cartoon video follow the live conversation with the audience in an instant. The voice is obviously easy to create, but not for the video. In Madagascar, we watched the Penguins and other characters singing and dancing on the streets. We also tried the carousel – King Julien’s Beach Party-Go-Round. Got the following collectibles and apparel in the US Store in the Hollywood area. The attractions close at 7pm, but the area is still open until late night. There is also a Hershey’s store where you can find Reese and some other chocolates. You can opt to go straight to the Songs of the Sea, if you have not yet seen it. For us, we choose to go back to Vivo City, we ate at The Asian Kitchen and the crab meat is just so delicious.