2008 Nov: Ilocos, Philippines: Day 2: Photoholic

2008 Nov: Ilocos, Philippines: Day 2: Photoholic

Next day, our wake-up call is 6am. We took our breakfast and by 7am, we already boarded the bus for a trek going to Kabigan Falls. We thought it would be just an easy trek, but we passed by around 4 small streams and 3 more deep streams with strong waves. Good thing we have helpful guides to keep us safe on crossing the strong water waves.

After, we passed by some rock formation again and go straight to Maira-ira Blue Lagoon.

We again stayed for a short photo-op on Patapat Viaduct and Agua Grande.

We were not allowed to swim on the beaches we visited due to big and strong waves. Thus, we go back to Saud Beach (Polaris Beach House) to enjoy the sand and clear water.

By 3pm, we’re ready to depart Pagudpod and go ahead to Vigan. It was another long bus ride with a few stops.

Finally, we reached Villa Angela for our dinner. We took our dinner outside the old house. But walking along the secret passage and checking out the antic pieces - you’ll surely feel being part of scary scenes on movies.

We started the Vigan Walking Tour on the Vigan Plaza where all pink lights are hanged on trees.

Few more steps and finally we reached Calle Crisologo. Here we stayed for more than 2 hours to do some shopping and a lot of night shots!


On our way to Manila, we drop by Marsha’s Delicacies to buy some pasalubong. By around 6.30am, we again the experienced the traffic and bustling sound of the Metro!

I acknowledged our kuyas, titos and titas who were there to prepare our food, drove us to our destinations safely and take care of us during the whole trip. Happy to meet all the participants and joiners on this tour, to listen to your stories and to laugh with all of you. Thanks to my sis, and friends janel and gelo for joining me on this trip. Big thanks to Jaja, Mef, Tupe and Leai for making this weekend a very special one.

Travel Guide: Travel Factor

2008 Nov: Ilocos, Philippines: Day 1: Photoholic

2008 Nov: Ilocos, Philippines: Day 1: Photoholic

What’s the story behind the getting famous adventure of Photoholic Ilocos by Travel Fractor?

8pm Friday, the meeting place is at Mc Donald’s Quezon Ave. MRT Station. Leia came in and they started the registration. After the id laces have been distributed, we waited for a while and we started boarding the bus (Orange Luxury Bus: TWE 383).

First stop over was the one on/before Tarlac area. After doing a washroom break and few stretching, we went to our bus seats and continue our sleep and night ride. It was still dark and early (5:20am) when we arrived at the San Agustin Bell Church.

Another had another washroom break to freshen-up ourselves. We immediately grab the opportunity to take some photos on the Bell Tower.

Then we took our breakfast. Thanks for giving us the chance of tasting the famous and delicious Vigan Lumpia Tart like.

After then, we drove to Paoay Church, we stayed there for almost an hour.

We have seen a small shop that sells Basi and Duhat - Ilocos Wines.

We passed the Marcos Place and Sand Dunes. Unfortunately there was no sand, grasses already grew on the area, so we’re not able to see the exact desert scenes of Panday. The area has already its border gates and we were not able to get into the sand area. Per Leai, this will soon be a residential area as well.

We had our Lunch and prepare our selves for the next set of places to be visited in the afternoon.

To reach Cape Bojedor Lighthouse we took tricycles. The road is steep and narrow that is why we need to transfer to a tricycle.

We were lucky that we are able to reach the top of the Lighthouse and see the lamp. It was scary at first because the stairs are so old, when we were able to reach the top. When we were there, it is a little dangerous because the wind is so strong, also one glass wall was already broken because of the strong wind. We were able to see the border of the Philippines or Ilocos outline and of course the South China Sea horizon.

We made our own adventure! We though that from the Lighthouse we will also take a tricycle going to Capurpurawan Rock - so it was very a long scary ride on the national highway, another long and bumpy journey on the rocky soil, and still a long walk and short jumps across the dead corals before we reached the summit. It was totally windy on top and big waves were still able to reach the other side of the rock formation.

We then move to Bangui Windmills. This place has been used for the WOW Philippines advertisement by the Department of Tourism. For those who will visit the area, even baseball caps are not good to use, try using big handkerchiefs to manage your hair. This is also the place I lost my eyeglasses due to my addiction on jump shots. Too bad, I was not able to recover my glasses.
We are already on the road going to Polaris Beach House (in Saud Beach) when the sun set. We reached the resort by 6pm, get a quick rest, freshen ourselves and join the group again for small gathering with self introduction and have our dinner.

After dinner, we got to talk with our fellow travelers and got to chit chat on things in and around photography, life and traveling.

Travel Guide: Travel Factor

2008 August: Baguio, Philippines: Day 2

2008 August: Baguio, Philippines: Day 2


The following day, we took the complimentary one time buffet breakfast meal at Veniz Grill. We started our second day by taking a cab going to Lourdes Grotto. It was a long stairway journey going to the top. Then, we went down and took a cab going to Tamawan Village.

Too bad the huge dream catcher was destroyed by typhoon Karen a few days ago. Just outside the entrance of Tamawan Village is Arko ni Apo, where you can see art gallery and a small coffee shop.
We decided to pass the road less taken by tourists, we took a cab going to the Bell Church which is already outside Baguio and is just near La Trinidad, Benguet. This is a Chinese Church like the Taoist Temple in Cebu. Red is the prominent color of the place. During our visit, they do have a ribbon cutting ceremony of one of the pagodas.

From La Trinidad, we took a jeepney going back to Baguio City proper.

In the afternoon, we attended an English mass in Baguio Cathedral.



We pass again Session Road and re-visited SM Baguio to have a good view of the horizon before the sunset. We had an early dinner at Carlos Pizza.
We go back to the hotel early to catch the Beijing 2008 Olympics Closing Ceremony.

On our final day, we rise as early as 5am, check-out at around 6am. Since buffet breakfast is not yet set and Mc Donalds is still close, we left the building without taking breakfast and go straight to Victory Liner Baguio Terminal. We were able to catch the 6:30am trip and reached the Pasay station by 12:30 nn. Finally, we are back home.

Thanks to my brother who is with me on this travel, my mom for letting us go to this trip, to all the locals who we asked for directions, to all the bus, cab and jeepney drivers who helped us reached our destinations, to the hotel staff for taking care of our things. And most of all, to our Creator for not letting a typhoon or a hard rain in Baguio during our stay.

2008 August: Baguio, Philippines: Day 1: Quick Visit in Baguio

Thanks to the long weekend in Manila and finally I was able to visit Baguio. We reached the Victory Liner Pasay terminal by 9pm and had the ticket for the available ride at 12:30am. It has two stops, one in Tarlac and the other one is in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. By sunrise, we are already passing Marcos Highway. From the terminal, we took a cab going to Hotel Veniz. Be careful of the bystanders who are saying that Veniz is far and is fully booked.

Around 7am, we reached the hotel lobby. Since the check-in time is still 2pm, they let us leave our luggage at their small safety room. We just carry our valuables and started the Baguio adventure.

Hotel Veniz Lobby

Book Hotel Veniz, Baguio in Agoda

2008 July: Hong Kong: Day 2: Off Beaten Path

2008 July: Hong Kong: Day 2: Off Beaten Path

The following day, I decided that I would skip Noon Gun. I walked around the Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. I jump to MTR going to Kowloon Park. Since it started to rain, I left the place and took MTR going to Modern Toilet in Mongkok. Too bad I did not research on the time it will open, when I got there it was too early before I can order, haha! I then decided to move to my next target - Nan Lian and Chi Lin Nunnery. After that, I return to Modern Toilet by 2pm.

After having late lunch, I went back to my place in Causeway Bay to drop my shopping bags and pasalubongs. I took a nap because I got too tired carrying the bags. Then started walking again along the Causeway Bay area.

Next day, I got ready for my Macau Guided Tour. I booked on Splendid Tours (http://www.splendid.hk/new2005/eng/tours_detail.asp?id=2 ) for this trip. We went to St Paul Ruins and my major target here is visiting Senado Square to buy my coffee mug from Starbucks.

Since this is a budget trip I did not take Airport Express train going to the Airport, I waited again for a A11 Bus at the station. Good thing this time I was able to reach Philippines without any trouble or delay with Cebu Pacific.

Thanks to my family who allowed me to do this solo journey outside the country.

2008 July: Hong Kong: Day 1: Cheap City Tour

2008 July: Hong Kong: Day 1: Cheap City Tour

This is my second time in Hong Kong (July 2008), but I see this more of a challenge because now I’m doing it on a solo journey. I’m not really suppose to do this, not until I realized I’m just throwing a free one way ticket to HK.
I need to beat the September deadline of the expiration of the voucher and it is a factor to go there within the Summer Festival Season Sale. Too bad that the sale season is during the heavy rains of both Manila and HK.
I took the 8am flight on Tuesday bound to HK. For about 2 hour travel, I reached the HKIA. After a long walk from the arrival gate, you will transfer by train going to Terminal 1 for the Luggage and Immigration. Do exchange a few bucks at the Airport Money Changer for your immediate transactions. I bought the normal octopus card this time (since I don‘t need to try the Airport Express and is not in need of the 3 day free use of MTR).

After the photo op in the grounds of the Airport, find your way on the bus terminal, follow the arrows with signage “Bus to City”. The departure times of the A11 busses going to North Point passing Causeway Bay is every 20 minutes (00, 20, 40) from 9a to 23p. Luggage are left on the first level of the bus while most of the passengers go the second level for a better view on the bus ride.

No need to be afraid of when and where you are getting off. There are scrolling notes on the display on what stop they are arriving. I get-off the 14th stop for the Causeway Bay area. It is just near Sogo mall and everything is accessible from that point.
I booked on Alisan Guest House located in Flat 5A Hoito Court. I’m aware that the guest house owner or desk will be in different floor from the actual rooms.
After I settled my payments and my luggage, I decided to start my solo journey. I go straight to Central, checked out the Exchange Tower Three (building of our counter parts).
I got lost on finding my way to St. John’s Cathedral. Thank you to the Filipinos who help me find my way. Hehe!

Then , I got photo op on HK Park. By around 5pm I find my way to TST, checked on some camera stores for Nikon lens (was not able to buy one) and visited Esprit Outlet. I revisited Clock Tower, Avenue of Stars and waited until 8pm for the Symphony of Lights. I do recommend tripod for the night shots.

2008 May: Matabungkay, Cavite, Philippines

We booked at Matabungkay Beach Resort. From Pasay, we took a bus going to Lian. From Lian, we took a private jeepney to the hotel. We arrived at 10.30am, we had to wait before our room will be available. Still to wait also for the lunch to be served.

Matabungkay Beach Resort and HotelBrgy. Matabungkay, Lian, Batangas, Philippineshttp://www.matabungkay-batangas.com/

The room is clean, the sea shore is kinda bad due to jelly fish and water pollution. We watched the very beautiful sunset.

The next day, we crossed the road to have a cheaper breakfast.

In going home, we called a tricycle until we reached the main road. Waited for a bus going to Tagaytay. We dropped off at Bulalohan Restaurant for lunch. Then, took a bus going to the Manila.

2008 February: Bangkok: Day 6: Leaving Bangkok

2008 February: Bangkok: Day 6: Leaving Bangkok

The day we left Bangkok is the same day that Thaksin Shinawatra (deposed Thailand prime minister) arrived from his self-imposed exile.


If you are still in need of magnets and picture frames, you can check the better ones in the airport, where you can also spend the remaining coins you have from your shopping days.


In behalf of my sister who is with me on this trip, we would like to thank PAL, Ibis Siam Hotel, Ms. Lee and Ronnie of KBS, Ms. Tananya from Dream World, Mr. Poon of River Sun Cruise and Mr. Tong of Oriental Tours for the warm welcome and good accommodation there in Bangkok.