Beautiful Bohol

Bohol is one of the best quick adventure escapes outside Cebu City. It is an hour trip by fast craft ferries like Ocean Jet, Weesam or Supercat. Bohol is gaining to be the top tourist destination in the country because of its stunning white sand beaches, azure blue waters in Panglao, Eco-tourism thrills and the famous tarsiers.

From General Santos, I reached Cebu around 1pm and headed directly to Pier 1 for Ocean Jet (OJ) Passengers. I have availed of the incredibly low fare of P400 return ticket from Cebu-Tagbilaran, Bohols’ Capital. This can be availed if you booked a ticket 1 week before your departure but you can also avail of the P300 return if you book in advance 2 weeks before your date compared to the P800 return outright purchase. I have also inquired that Supercat offers P300 economy class return. However, OJ has the most number of trips to the island of Bohol thats why its more convenient. They charge P50 for rebooking. 

This is not my first time riding OJ ferries, the last time was in Bacolod. Be sure to tell the taxi driver you are on Pier 1 as there are many harbours in Cebu. 

When you reach Tagbilaran Port, they have tourist information center with friendly staffs to answer your questions. You dont have to worry about your tour because right outside the terminal, there are lots of operators offering cheap tours around Bohol countryside, the price may range from P1800-P2400 on a sedan type car or a family van. In my case, me and my friends already pre-arranged a group tour the following day. 

Our first day iterinary was to visit the beautiful island of Panglao, home of the Bohol Beach Club and a number of pristine white sand beaches and diving sites. Panglao is situated 18 kms from Tagbilaran City. The cheapest, yet the most uncomfortable but fun way to get there is through mini-buses and jeeps. To get there, from the ferry terminal ask a tricycle to drop you to Bohol Museum where the terminal is located. Tricyles usually charges high especially when they know you are a tourist, in my case I paid P20. There are also lots of ATM’s and fastfood stores in Tagbilaran, you can drop anytime. 

That was infact the most uncomfortable ride to Panglao, the bus was very small, packed with people and mostly school children going home to Panglao but definitely the most enjoyable trip. Everytime I travel, I always want to feel or immerse myself on how the locals move around especially using public transportation. Although there are taxis that charges upto P500 and tricyles around P150 for a direct and convenient way for transfer to Panglao but I still chose to use this transportation. I love to interact with the locals, interview them and make friends. The ride here costs only P20 to the mercardo or market. 

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Cheap thrills in General Santos City

Last March, Cebu Pacific had another round of Seat Sale for its domestic destination without hesitations I booked a flight to Cebu and Dumaguete. Instead of Davao, I chose General Santos (Gensan) as the start of my trip because I really want to see their airport and the fish port to see Tuna’s live in flesh. Around 12midnight, I went to Ecoland terminal to catch a bus to Gensan and hopefully arrive in Gensan at mid-dawn. I like night travel because there is no traffic and its not hot since I’m riding a non-airconditioned bus which is a little cheaper compared to aircon buses. I got to the terminal and the bus was almost full mostly are passengers bound for Digos taking the last trip.

Arriving in GenSan around 2:30am, I stayed at Citifront Lodge located at Pioneer St probably GenSan’s Central business district because of the strip of banks and commercial establishments. The room has a fan and basic amenities like bed and toilet, perfect for a quick nap. 

GENERAL SANTOS FISHPPORT

The highlight of my trip was General Santos’ Fishport. I’ve always wanted to see tuna’s live in flesh or dead as long as its not yet sliced like in our supermarket but right from the source. Gen San is the tuna capital of the Philippines and this is also their primary export. Thanks to my friend, he gladly toured me around Gensan and the fishport. It is quite far from the city though. They have dress code at the port, no wearing of slippers, sandos and shorts. Best of all, its entrance is free. If you are lucky, I got also a free habal habal (motorcycle) from a worker to the Sanitary unit.

Before you can enter the port, you will be asked to register. Its not allowed to take pictures inside unless you have permission from the sanitary unit. No problem getting this, they love tourists. They will give you boots to wear. You will be asked to step on the chlorinated water before you can enter the marketplace. 

I have never seen a marketplace with lots of tuna but here in General Santos. Tuna’s that comes with different sizes and weight. Be careful because workers work fast and tuna blood might drip on your shirt if it touches you. 

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Visit to Robinsons Cybergate

 Robinsons Cybergate is Davao’s latest addition to the sprawling commercial complexes in the city located at JP Laurel Ave near Davao Medical Center. Soon, this strip of avenue will also hold 2 new malls named SM Lanang and Abreeza, an Ayala Land project. Right now, Robinsons Cybergate operates a huge supermarket, fastfood, beauty salon, comestic clinic, coffee shop, restaurant and soon call center offices. 

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Updated Trip Schedules!

CONFIRMED! Here my solo backpacking trips until September!

June 29, 30 - , General Santos, Tagbilaran, Panglao, Bohol

July 1 - 3 Dumaguete, Bais

July 4 - 6 Siquijor

Aug 1 - 3 Legaspi

Aug 26-29 Dipolog, Dapitan, Oroqueta, Ozamis * new

Sept 9-12 Hong Kong, Macau

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Kita kits tayo ha! Wow Philippines!

Youth Reload Davao

Tonight I feel very blessed and renewed because of the Youth Reload event held at a local church in Buhangin, Davao City. As the name implies, Youth Reload is a praise and worship event mostly attended by young people or youth. Nowadays, we can see many youth being drawn into worldly things and sometimes forgot about God, the author is admits that he is one of these types of people.

Sometimes its now unusual to see a church with youth that are very passionate about serving God, we commonly see im some churches, youth that just sit on the chair, not even bring bible in church and repeatedly uttering prayers not those personal prayers. As the pastor said last sundays’ worship, dont just be a crowd be a disciple. Its very amazing to see Young People with intense relationship and worship to Jesus, this type of people that I wanna belong to. 

Tonights Youth Reload was full of energy. I see young people shamelessly worship, sing, dance, worship, raise their hands to the God. Some people may laugh or feels alienated about this but there is really nothing shameful to worship our God. I feel renewed the moment came when that happened. Its been a long time that I havent done this before and it was great experience for me. The active youths in the church are really my inspiration, the faith and commitment is so strong as my friend Edred would say, “Level Up”.

To give you a view, Youth Reload is like you are attending a concert but with Christian songs.

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Zest Air unveils International and domestic routes

I was very shocked and happy to find out today that Zest Airways unveiled their much awaited international routes and their expanded domestic destinations as seen on their official website. 

Now we have more choices and the passengers will be benefit from this because of competition, who gives the most lowest fare is the market leader. Zest Air announces that they are ordering 1 more A320 and additional MA propeller aircrafts! Isn’t that cool?

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Pasalubong from Bacolod

Normally, I don’t buy pasalubong for my friends everytime I travel because of limited budget unless I accumulate huge savings from my trip. I only do sighseeing, picture taking and enjoying local foods. As much as possible, I try to avoid shopping and stay in a hotel instead a pension house will do for me. I just need a place to keep my things and a quick nap and it has its own toilet because I take long shower episodes due to my rituals.

In Bacolod, the most famous pasalubong is Bong Bongs’ Delicacies. They have biscuit, candies, shrimp paste, polvoron and the famous Piaya. Although piaya can be bought at SM in Davao or any malls outside Bacolod but the difference is the freshness. You can really taste the difference, its like your eating right from the factory.  You wouldn’t miss Bong Bongs because they have a store outside the airport and since I saved a lot during my trip, I bought home some goodies for just P300. 

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Dancing with Fire

One of the things that Im so hooked lately is dancing to the beat of 2NE1’s FIRE. I have been practicing the dance steps for quite some time but no avail, it always ended unsuccessful. I’m such a frustrated dancer, I wished that my mom enrolled me to dance classes when I was still a child. My bones and ligaments now are very solid that can’t be flexed anymore for dancing purposes. Hahah. Well, anyway, I really enjoyed the groups high energy. Even though the song is Korean but definitely the beat is very cool, modern and the video is awesome too. There are now lots of versions of dance steps around Youtube from 2NE1 fans worldwide and they are all great.

2NE1 is composed of 4 lovely ladies including our very own Sandara Park who is now known popularly in Korea as Dara. Its her turn to shine now and conquer her own country. There are 2 videos of Fire, the link above is a street version and one is a high tech and futuristic space version. Now compare which one youl like?

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Riding small planes

Riding small planes can be exciting as larger ones too. This was my experience during my summer finale trip last week from Bacolod to Cebu using Cebu Pacific’s brand new ATR 72-500. During the check-in procedure at the departure hall, its not only luggage that are being weigh but also passengers to maintain the balance inside the aircraft will airborne. That was something I learned that day. I also asked the check-in officer to seat me near the window so I can catch Mt Kanlaon if ever. 

Once inside the aircraft, there was no airconditioner, it was super hot inside like we are being toasted in the oven. Most passengers used the aircrafts safety instructional guide as a fan. So, I even thought that this whole trip is a non-airconditioned flight, now thats worst. The overhead baggage compartment is also smaller, my bag wasn’t able to fit in until I took  off my laptop. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take a peek of Mt Kanlaon because I was seated on Rows A or right corner and geographically Mt Kanlaon is on the opposite right enroute to Cebu. 

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New Bacolod-Silay Airport Review

The New Bacolod-Silay International Airport is a new airport in Bacolod replacing the old domestic airport located 30 minutes away from the city proper at Silay City area. It can accommodate large aircrafts like B747 and A340. It has an impressive interior and exterior design as well. Philippine Airlines, PAL Express, Cebu Pacific and Zest Air currently serves the airport. Other features of the airport are elevators, escalators, aerobridges, computerized flight information display and a baggage conveyor. 

 The floor is not just tiles but made of a material that something I dont know, its not tiles or vinyl but it is really soothing to the foot and safe from slipping even when wet. Can someone help me what they put on the departure hall of the airport?

The airport has a very smooth check in process probably because there are only few volume of passengers that time. It is also clean, well maintained. 

I was also impressed with the seats, it is covered with foam, so seating would not be a pain in the ass unlike NAIA, Davao Airport, Iloilo and Cebu which have metallic seats.

However, upon roaming around the airport, at first we encountered brown-out. I thought it was just normal but brown-out happened for 3 times. I recalled from previous reports that this airport suffered electricity problems that damaged their x-ray machines. 

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