Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Ayutthaya Ruins Solo Trip

my 1st solo international backpacking (bangkok-kanchanaburi-ayutthaya)
June 4-8, 2010 friday to tuesday


objective:
to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional tasks: to witness the wonders of there architectural ruins and experience the thrill of 1st lone traveling abroad

thailand, beginning of my travel addictiveness
day 1: bangkok temple trip
day 2: kanchanaburi rail trip

continued...

DAY THREE:
AYUTTHAYA RUINS TRIP


Check-out by 0600H, then depart at 640am. Ordinary train ride availed at thb20(php28). upon alight to ayutthaya station, there were standby official tuktuk for ruins tour so standard price was implemented at thb200 per hour on 1 tuktuk ride. the driver showed laminated pics to which you can choose what type of tourist spot yoo like to visit. around 0830H i started my journey.

Wat phanan choeng

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Kanchanaburi Rail Solo Trip

my 1st solo international backpacking (bangkok-kanchanaburi-ayutthaya)
June 4-8, 2010 friday to tuesday


objective:
to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional tasks: to witness the wonders of there architectural ruins and experience the thrill of 1st lone traveling abroad

thailand, beginning of my travel addictiveness
day 1: bangkok temple trip

continued...

DAY TWO:
KANCHANABURI RAIL TRIP


Woke-up 530am, check-out on my guest house then went to hua lampong train station by foot for 10 mins. Around 0640H, the train moves, start of excursion trip, goodbye bangkok for a moment.

hua lampong station

hua lampong station trains bound to kanchanaburi

inside the hua lampong station checking the train departure times

Monday, March 28, 2011

Bangkok Temples Solo Trip

my 1st solo international backpacking (bangkok-kanchanaburi-ayutthaya)
June 4-8, 2010 friday to tuesday


objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional tasks: to witness the wonders of there architectural ruins and experience the thrill of 1st lone traveling abroad 

Thailand, beginning of my travel addictiveness

continued...

arriving at the suvarnabhumi airport:
the location of this airport is the same also with ours, its not in the capital city. upon aircraft touchdown, fall in line to immigration officer, get a map nearby for free, then straight ahead to ground floor exit 3 left side. since 0500H is the 1st trip of shuttle bus, idle mode for the meantime in airport. studied the city map then took a nap on bench nearby the exit. yes, napping is allowed in their airport.

loha prasat

3 Days Budget Solo DIY Trip in Rainy Thailand

The Beginning of my Travel Addictiveness, my 1st solo international backpacking June 4-8, 2010 friday to tuesday

The country is a kingdom, with most recorded reigns in the world; a constitutional monarchy with King Rama IX, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, who has reigned since 1946, making him the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. The king is officially titled Head of State, the Head of the Armed Forces, an Upholder of the Buddhist religion, and the Defender of all Faiths.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT KINGDOM OF THAILAND
timezone - UTC +0700H   capital - Bangkok    language - Thai    currency - Baht (THB)
1. Thailand is the world's largest exporter of rice.
2. Thailand is a constitutional monarchy, much like England.
3. Around ninety per cent of Thai people are Buddhist.
4. The world "Thailand" means Land of the Free.
5. Thailand was actually known as Siam until 1939 (and again from 1945 to 1949).

php14,000 converter into usd300 as my budget pocket money on my 3-days 1st-time thailand journey

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Capones Island (Unwavering Fondness to the Lighthouse)

san antonio, zambales
may 29-30, 2010 saturday to sunday

important note (capones lightouse):
Capones Island Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in Capones Grande Island off the coast of San Antonio, Pundaquit in the province of Zambales, in the Philippines. The light assists ships leaving and entering Subic Bay and Manila Bay. It has first-order lenses when it was first lit on August 1, 1890.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capones_Island_Lighthouse

Part of the Coleman beach camp after nagsasa cove activities, Capones island was the next destination for the event (participants have this option to go there or just go directly to other side of the cove).

Our group split into two boats, Kiko, Alvin, and myself decided to take the 2nd. Since Alvin has this strong will to conquer the lighthouse above, this matter drives us to push it though organizers told that there were strong waves coming within the island.

view going to nagsasa cove

Friday, March 25, 2011

Sagada of Mountain Province; what makes this town fascinating

objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional tasks: to experience the best spelunking adventure in the northern part.

my first time to visit this promising town upnorth and i don't even know what awaits me there. i just know its a place where there is this famous cave my friends here in my work most talk about because of the extreme adventure. of course, at first i was scared, i'm not yet that adventurous that time. i'm just a simple sight-seer who just appreciates architecture wonders through my low-tech point and shoot.

during my stay, we used a downloaded map from the web as support to the one stranger who invited us. we went there as a group, 3 ladies and 2 gents with an itinerary starting from banaue for a sight-seeing side trip along the road for the famous rice terraces. now, after that event, my intincts told me i'm unconsiously attached to this place because most of the questions in a travel forum i replied directly using only the experience i gathered. i wonder why, or maybe because of the following reasons;

01. this is my 1st get-away experience with a group i just firstly know during the event
02. the place has very chilling ambiance
03. food trips are unique and deliciously good
04. landscapes are amazing
05. people are all nice
06. there are more tourists than locals due to peace and order
07. applicable for solo backpacking though expensive
08. one of my most recommended place to unwind
09. nature adventures are just walking distance
10. adventure activity are packed in one place
11. though 12 hours of drive, roads to sagada are +1 to must see
12. very cheap but very good accommodations

Sagada of Mountain Province; what makes this town fascinating

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Family Visit in the Enchanted Kingdom

spontaneous get-away with family
march 06, 2010 saturday

with family at baguio city
inside the la mesa ecopark

Enchanted Kingdom is a theme park located in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, about 29 kilometers (18 mi) from Manila. It has a land area of 17 hectares (41 acres). The park is managed and operated by Enchanted Kingdom Inc., formerly named Amtrust Leisure Corporation and a member of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enchanted_Kingdom

enchanted kingdom

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Solo Journey to the Cagayan Province

my 2nd solo backpacking
february 18-19, 2010 thursday - friday

important note (cagayan):
Cagayan, the "Land of Smiling Beauty", is a province of the Philippines in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. Its capital is Tuguegarao City and is located at the northeastern corner of the island of Luzon. Cagayan also includes the Babuyan Islands to the north. Present day chroniclers say that the name was derived from the word “tagay,” a kind of plant that grows abundantly in the northern part of the province. Thus, “Catagayan” which means a place where the tagay grows abundantly was shortened to “Cagayan,” the present name of the province.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagayan

callao cave

Potipot Island as Request Granted

my 1st self-organized informal road trip with a new found friend
November 1, 2009

Planning to get here was just started when I was transferred temporarily to a new department in my work. I met this outgoing lady who wants to have some time to go outside and feel the sands of a white sand beach. that time, I was not addicted to travel yet nor I'm a really scared of organizing it. but since I have only weeks to spend with this new department and she was a very good friend, I granted her wish. all of a sudden, I researched this island who was suggested by her friend.

Though I'm a a little bit nervous because this was also my 1st time to organize and accompanied by a lady and have our getaway to a place both of us did not visited yet.

And so it goes, maybe I'm that gullible to persuade, at least I fulfill someone's happiness. Anyways, memories are memories..

ITINERARY:
1100H assembly victory liner pasay terminal
1130H ETD pasay city
0300H ETA olongapo bus terminal
0330H ETD olongapo city
0500H ETA candelaria, zambales
0530H ETA potipot island
1600H ETD potipot island
1645H ETD candelaria, zambales
2300H ETA monumento

potipot island

Monday, March 21, 2011

A visit to Puerto Princesa Underground River

my 1st self-organized domestic trip
july 09-12, 2009 thursday to sunday


objective:
to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional tasks: to witness why the puerto princesa undeground river become nominee of 7 new wonders of the world.

I have been to palawan
puerto princesa city tour


continue...


DAY 2 SATURDAY:
PUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER


The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located in the Saint Paul Mountain Range on the northern coast of the island. It is bordered by St. Paul Bay to the north and the Babuyan River to the east. The City Government of Puerto Princesa has managed the National Park since 1992. It is also known as St. Paul's Subterranean River National Park, or St. Paul Underground River. The entrance to the Subterranean River is a short hike from the town of Sabang. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is one of the 28 finalists for the "New Seven Wonders of Nature" competition.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Princesa_Subterranean_River_National_Park

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Puerto Princesa City self-guided Tour

my 1st self-organized domestic trip
july 09-12, 2009 thursday to sunday


objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional tasks: to witness why the puerto princesa undeground river become nominee of 7 new wonders of the world.

I have been to palawan

continue...

DAY 1 FRIDAY:
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY TOUR


We did this on do-it-yourself process and planned as follows;

(1) palawan crocodile farm - contracted a tricycle, with entrance fee of php40 plus the parking fee of the tricycle worth php40 also. one of the must see in palawan due this province has a lot of crocodiles to care of.

butterfly garden

Friday, March 18, 2011

I have been to Palawan

my 1st self-organized domestic trip
july 09-12, 2009 thursday to sunday


objective: to visit the best tourist spots that fits my taste and budget accordingly.
additional tasks: to explore why puerto princesa undeground river become nominee of 7 new wonders of the world.

important note (palawan):
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the southwest. It lies between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. The disputed Spratly Islands, located a few hundred kilometres to the west is considered part of Palawan by the Philippines, and is locally called the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palawan

puerto princesa city domestic airport

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Some Tourist Spots in Cebu City and Province

long vacation on domestic tourism
january 16-25, 2009

an invitation from a fellow employee, team mate and a good friend due for his 2 great occasions... sinulog festival and his wedding... 10-days journey to the queen city of the south that includes sto. nino cathedral, magellan's cross, lapu-lapu shrine, taoist temple and mountains view park with a side trip in kawasan falls, moalboal beach and olango island.. also, in this area i have my 1st experience in wall climbing..
then, we went outside city and explored the nature beauty of cebu province.

important note (cebu):
Cebu is one of the most developed provinces in the Philippines, with Cebu City, the oldest city in the Philippines, as the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the Visayas. Condé Nast Traveler Magazine named Cebu the seventh best island destination in the Indian Ocean-Asia region in 2007, eighth best Asian-Pacific island destination in 2005, seventh in 2004 and in 2009.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cebu

Some Tourist Spots in Cebu City and Province

Monday, March 14, 2011

Inside the La Mesa Ecopark

simple family get-away just whithin the city
october 19, 2008 saturday

with family at baguio city

The La Mesa Watershed and Eco-Park is a dam and an ecological reservation site in Quezon City commissioned in 1929. It is part of the Angat-Ipo-La Mesa water system, which supplies most of the water supply of Metro Manila. The La Mesa Dam is an earth dam whose reservoir can hold up to 50.5 million cubic meters occupying an area of 27 square kilometers.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mesa_Watershed_and_Eco-Park

la mesa ecopark

la mesa ecopark

Sunday, March 13, 2011

My Local Trekking Moments Last Part


continued...

MT. BATULAO

april 19, 2008
elevation: 2,652 feet (811 meters)
type: minor climb
location: nasugbu, batangas

my 4th fun-climb with malaya mountaineers... but this time we just did this on day-hike with no heavy backpacks and in the middle of the striking heat of the sun...

mt. batulao

mt. batulao

Saturday, March 12, 2011

My Local Trekking Moments 1st Part

MT. GULUGOD-BABOY (pig's spine)
july 14-15, 2007
elevation: 1,542 feet (525 meters)
type: minor climb
location: mabini, batangas

my 2nd fun-climb with malaya mountaineers... with new team mates and a side trip of beachineering

mt. gulugod-baboy

mt. gulugod-baboy

Friday, March 11, 2011

Budget DIY Family Trip in Baguio City (2007)

start of our family road tripping march 09-11, 2007 friday to sunday

I brought my family here, (my mother, 2 sisters, 2 cousins and my nephew) for a very sizzling summer get-away and holy week activity. Also known as the summer capital of the Philippines, this was my second time to visit following the 2003 educational tour led by the E.C.E. department of my college.

We went to Philippine military academy, hunderd steps to grotto, burnham park, mansion house, wright park, mines view park, botanical garden, baguio cathedral and we hopped to la trinidad for strawberry field.

PMA amphitheater