keep on WANDERING...

jack's ridge

2012-02-08T16:48:00.000-08:00

If you are in Davao city and you want to see a pleasing to the eye kind of restaurant

with a cool ambiance, go to Jack’s Ridge.

It is one of the top places to dine when in davao. This is situated on the hill top.

That means having the chance to see the whole city and all the surroundings.

I learned that the best time to go there is before the sun sets. So I went there around 5 in the afternoon enjoyed the whole scenery and waited until dinnertime.

experience superb dinner on top of the hill,

and feel the cool breeze .

it's exact location is in Shrine Hills, Matina, Davao City

- japol orona

ponce suites: the unconvention center

2012-02-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

“A must see place and an attraction in itself” .

This place is a smorgasbord. A hotel, an open air cafe and bar, function house,

museum and art gallery. ‘

It is a three-storey hotel which is filled with sculptures,

framed photos and paintings covering not just the walls

but also the ceilings moreover , the floors.

There are numerous interesting artworks made of assorted recycled materials,

paper maché , murals and portrait sketches.

It is indeed a visual treat. It’s a sanctuary for those who value modern art .

The brain behind this works of art is Kublai Milan , Mindanao’s renowned artist.

Ponce Suites is located at :

Corner Road 3 and 4, Doña Vicenta Village, Bajada, Davao City, Philippines

sulyap gallery

2012-01-29T09:43:00.000-08:00

Let’s take a “PEEK” at the very famous spot which can be found down south. I used the word peek because the exact name of the place is “Sulyap Gallery”. (sulyap is the Filipino word for peek)

"cultural preservation” is the first thing that I thought of when I reached this site. It has 3 buildings: 1.restaurant 2.bed & breakfast 3.museum. They were Spanish style antique houses which were transformed as what they are right now. I actually learned that they were ancestral houses transported from the nearby town - Quezon.

The interior is full of antique pieces.

The collections are practically on display which gives a feeling of travelling back in time.

Sulyap Gallery & Restaurant is located at Brgy. Del Remedio,

Cocoland Compound, San Pablo City Laguna

how i spent my new year's eve (part 2)

2012-01-03T07:21:00.001-08:00

December 31st is the end of the holiday season and the last day of the year. I was feeling kind of tired. I have worked hard all year and I definitely need to greet the New Year in a hassle-free mode. I am single and can go anywhere I prefer and do whatever I want. Once more with the help of google, I hit upon ample ways to ring in the New Year.

I wanted to welcome 2012 sharing a few laughs and good food with NEW people. When I say NEW PEOPLE, it means those I never knew, who know nothing about me. That includes meeting people from other countries. I headed to the backpackers haven in the Philippines that is MALATE. There were several inns and guesthouses I went to and one particular place I chose was Where2Next Manila Hostel. It’s the place which I found the cleanest, NEWest and nearest to the Manila Baywalk area where I had fireworks photoshoot.

The place has a welcoming ambiance because of its friendly and accommodating staff. There’s a chill out area that contains a flat screen TV and cozy couches. It is the ideal venue to be acquainted with other travellers. There’s a graffiti wall where you can sign your name or leave a greeting for other guests to read.

United Colors of Benetton Party is what I call my NYE party. I partied with 2 irish guys, an american, 2 aussies, korean, swedish and swiss couples. We had fun drinking local beers, rhum cola and brandy. We also went out and did bar hopping along malate strip.

how i spent new year's eve (part 1)

2012-01-02T05:47:00.000-08:00

When I learned that I don’t have to report for work on New Years’ eve, I made plans on how to celebrate it. The beach far south was the first thing I thought of. However, it was too late to make a reservation for plane ticket and hotel accommodation. I also considered going to Baguio because of its cool weather however, news spread that a lot of people headed to that place and it would definitely be too crowded. Staying at home doing DVD marathon with stockpile of all my favorite comfort food also appealed to me, then again, I can always do it anytime I want. New years’ eve should be spent tremendously. Google to the rescue, I typed in: The best New Year's eve parties in Manila to welcome 2012. Two events popped out.

1. GMA 7 Official New year’s countdown at Mall of Asia

2. The Magical Musical Makati New Year Countdown 2012

Both events share the same common denominator: FIREWORKS DISPLAY. As a photo enthusiast, it’s the best time to bring out the camera and do snapshots. Nevertheless, I didn’t go to both places. Ideas got me so excited. What played on my mind was the view of the fireworks with their reflections on the sea. So I hit the road going to Manila Baywalk area where MOA fireworks can be seen, far from the crowd. Imagine the Manila Bay's darkness and free-flowing wind. See and enjoy some photos i took.

boracay

2011-03-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

I love boracay..! It has always been known for having the finest powder white sand along with crystal clear blue water. Furthermore the ocean's temperature is like bath water. It has a very serene atmosphere, a lot of friendly people around. Some people call it paradise.

There are also a never ending variety of things you can do: strolling, shopping, eating, walking barefoot on the white pure sand, island hopping, watching the sunset, parties.

Along the beach strip is an array of bars and bistros. The restaurants offer awesome mouth watering food.. totally yummy!

I've been here many times I just can't get enough of this place. I don’t care if it gets too crowded. Never mind even if it’s already too commercialized.

I have a soft spot for this place! This is where I always want to go to.
The beauty of the white sandy beach, the beach party, the luscious - delectable foods , the ambiance at night, the nice people. I simply cant get enough of this place. I love boracay..!

cebu city: must try

2011-03-10T18:06:00.000-08:00

SKY ADVENTURE at Crown Regency Hotel

Adrenaline rush. Sky adventures: 2-minute side coaster and the 10-15 minute skywalk. Includes a decent meal at the Crown Regency Diner. I only tried the skywalk. Some thinks it’s scary. As for me, it is not creepy at all. I walked through 3 by 1 meter of clear glass.

When I looked down I thought I will be falling.

Very exhilarating though. However, the guide asked
me to make a one foot stand at the edge. This is so thrilling. I got a good view of Cebu city at night.

PLANTATION BAY

Its foyer was just a plain bungalow look alike. No overview from the outside . I thought it was just a run of the mill resort. Once inside, I cannot find any words that could give a picture of this man-made beach, I was like stunned.
I was given a map and a complimentary drink. The place was so huge that it would take around 45minutes to see the entire resort.

I had problems on choosing where to swim: main lagoon .warm water pool. ordinary pool. ??? I chose all . I swam and transferred from one pool to the other. They have waterfalls and gigantic slides .they even have a floating bar wherein you can order a drink to chillax. I did kayaking and wall climbing. I ate at kilimanjaro restaurant.. An awesome place. I so love it.

LARSIAN: bbq haven

Larsian in Cebu is one and the same to a place where people can savor a scrumptious , lip smacking barbecue (grilled pork /chicken/fish) at very inexpensive prices. Seriously, the price is within your means. Larsian has about 30 stalls . Placed in the hub of the city, near the Fuente Osmena landmark, it has turned out to be a chow sanctuary for people from all walks of life.

SUTUKIL (sugba, tula, kilaw) in mactan

Sugba. Tula. Kilaw. These are the various customary process of cooking either a fish or pork or any other seafood. The idea behind was to experience having either of them cooked in three different ways at a restaurant setting.

Manna Sutukil restaurant was the choice I had. There were ample choice of seafoods. This Sutukil restaurants much more expensive than the rest. I only ordered for shrimps and had it buttered.

CEBU CITY: must see

2011-03-07T19:54:00.000-08:00

“Queen City of the South” that’s how it’s called by most Filipinos. Best known for delicious mangoes and the best guitars. People there are called Cebuanos. They worship the Santo Nino. Best known for The Sinulog Festival. It is celebrated every 3rd Sunday of January. The city is usually sunny and hot.

SANTO NINO BASILICA
This amazing and historic old church is situated on the older section of Cebu City. The Basilica is evidently an old and interesting church, with astonishing carved wood - especially behind the altar. One can feel the history here. The church is to some extent gloomy and rustic, which adds to its lure and the moving impact of visiting.

MAGELLAN’S CROSS

A go see for catholics. It's the cross left behind by the Spaniards centuries ago. It is said that the holy cross has healing powers. There are striking, beautiful paintings on the ceiling of the hexagonal chapel. It's a piece of Cebuano/Spanish history.

FORT SAN PEDRO

One needs to know and appreciate the historical events of the site to realize its worth and magnificence. It's a pleasant and calm place to break away from the chaos of the city. A Spanish style structure and relaxing garden which serves as an escape from the turmoil of downtown Cebu.

MACTAN SHRINE.
Lapu Lapu monument. It is a witness to the Filipino bravery and is epic for the reason that it is the foremost… the first ever substantial opposition to foreign supremacy.

El Nido,Palawan: Day 2: bottom fishing,diving,snorkeling,kayaking

2008-11-11T00:34:00.000-08:00

on our second day,we woke up at exactly 5:30 in the morning. Ready to take the first activity of the day.Bottom fishing. A weight was tied to the end of the line, and a hook about an inch up line from the weight. We actually used a conventional reel . instinct told me to keep my thumb on the spool to avoid tangles as i let the line to the bottom. All fish live and eat on the bottom that’s why it's called "bottom fishing". we were instructed that when we feel a nibble, we have to immediately raise the rod tip high and reel like crazy. always check to see if you have any bait. You must have bait in order to catch a fish. after few minutes, i got a catch.!! actually, i was the first one to have a catch...wooo hoo..!

Open Water course. Jonas and I discovered scuba diving.we were taught the basics of dive safety and a few basic skills so that we'll surely be safe underwater. We learned the basic skills needed to be able to dive accompanied by a buddy. who is also Open Water certified . Some basic skills we learned were: standard diving hand signals.regulator recovery,mask clearing,removal and replacement,fin pivot and proper weighting..i experienced the feeling of running out of air so i immediately signaled my dive instructor.eventually,i learned how to continue breathing normally from a regulator that won't stop flowing.whew! after that great experience, i promised myself i will get/have a scuba diving certificate .. soon!

then we headed to pangulasian beach for lunch, again, their food was heavenly. and the beach, a bit rocky at the edge but was white sand. it was beautiful. jonas,sheena & i went snorkeling and swimming, while shiela & joshielle just lazed around at the beautiful beach cottage.

next stop was Miniloc Island. we headed to the Small and Big Lagoons, tauted to be the best sites the El Nido islands have to offer. They were both amazing. we only did two things : Fun & adventure. synonymous to : kayaking & snorkeling.

we went for a sunset cruise, and enjoyed the beautiful sunset.

El Nido, Palawan :Day1:Island Hopping

2008-11-10T00:21:00.000-08:00

I would like to describe my trip to Lagen Resort , El Nido, Palawan as "world class".i knew then that the moment i stepped into the small airport in Manila, something good will come my way. morning coffee/pastry were served,while waiting for the flight.i travelled with my fave cuz (shiela) along with her family (hubby-jonas, kids-joshiel & sheena).
a small 19 seater twin propeller plane (Island Transvoyager Inc) was where we boarded.. it took around 75 minutes ride to the El Nido airport.When we stepped into the El Nido airport,the setting was very barrio-like. It has a basic runway with a shack/hut as a waiting room which is strikingly old fashioned.the resort staff were there serenading with traditional Filipino songs.

a light snack was served (rice cake (puto)iced tea / coffee), while we wait at the airport for our boat transfers to the resorts. it was a 45 minute boat ride from El Nido town to the Lagen Island. The boat ride was very traditional island-style kind of thing. the boat was an outrigger and cannot come close to the resort due to corals in the water, so we need to transfer to a smaller speedboat in the middle of the water for what seems like less than a minute ride to the hotel's dock.

The boat ride going to Lagen resort was breathtaking. we had a vision of big rocks,limestone mountains and cliffs,covered by lush forests,various shades of clear blue water,random strips of beaches,with coconut trees,it was a paradise .literally & figuratively

when we reached the resort, friendly resort staff welcomed , place lei around our neck and escorted us to the club house where check in and orientation happened. a perky filipino song was rendered by the resort staff. After the serenade, we were provided by the hotel coordinator (Cindy Rivera) with some tips on how to preserve the environment so we will have a real good time during our stay at the hotel. this is what they call " GREEN HOTEL EXPERIENCE"

we stayed at the water/beachfront cottage. it was an overwater cottage, the best place to have a good view of the sunset, limestone cliff and forests where the resort is nestled. the accomodation was superb! Clean, comfy, relaxing, soothing! and of course.. so quiet and peaceful!

After some rests, we did our first activity of the day. the resort guide helped us planned our daily activities. we were encouraged to experience each excursions, the resort offers. we all agreed to do island hopping first.
we first headed to Snake Island, which had a beautiful S-shaped strip of sand , that completely submerged in water.it really looks like a snake hence, the name. The tide was low that time, so we were able to cross the sandspit to the mainland. we even spotted a starfish.

The second stop to our tour was the Cudugnon Cave. Getting inside the cave requires a little maneuvering, i was the first who volunteered to get inside the cave, i actually crawled through a tiny three-foot hole.According to our guide (Jim Cariño), archaeologists believe that the cave was a burial site during Neolithic times.

Third and last stop of the tour was Cathedral Cave.This cave is actually a cave in an island. The big opening by the sea side makes it look like a cathedral.

On our way back to the hotel, we witnessed the postcard-like sunset.
we ended the day with a satisfying delicious dinner.An entertainment was provided, at dinnertime.local dancers showcased different folk dances of the country,"itik-itik, pandango sa ilaw, sayaw sa bangko and lastly tinikling where they encouraged all the guests to join and try dancing tinikling. i was brave enough to try the dance and did it with flying colors.

historic macau visit: day 1

2008-09-30T01:11:00.000-07:00

a one week vacation from the office is mandatory for us. we call it corr leave.we were told to plot our leaves ahead of time.immediately i started surfing the net,looking for the best place to visit.it was February 12 2007 when my sister told me that tiger airways has a promo trip to MACAU with a very affordable price.Tiger Airways (owned by Singapore Air) to Macau (approx. 2 hours)is a low cost, single class service. Cost of the round trip was about $88.21 so,i let out my credit card from my wallet and booked my round trip flight to Macau for the month of September 2007. 4days and 3 nights stay. Booking Reference: L4D2LR

Macau is located on two islands interconnected by several long bridges. The City of Macau is on one island while the other island contains the cities of Taipa and Cologne. Macau is known for its unique attractions, world heritage, and fascinating museums it is considered as one of the finest holiday getaways.

Day 1. September 10, 2007. I headed to Clark Airbase near Angeles City North of Manila. i was on a very tight budget. i was told by a friend of mine that i can rent and stay as transient in a house owned by a kababayan who owns property in macau. while waiting for my flight at the airport, i dialed the number of the contact person where i planned to stay only to realize that the house is jam packed. accomodating me is very impossible. i didn't panic. i just waited for my departure time and when i got bored, i talked to someone also bound for macau and guess what? after a few chitchat, he offered his place and invited me to stay there in his parents' house ..for free! he's heaven sent! Departure time was 1315 hours - arrival 1510 hours.

The Macau International Airport is situated in the island of Taipa and about 20minutes away from the heart of the city by taxi cab. From the Airport you will pass by their long bridge which you can view their beautiful commercial zone along the coast of macau island.my new found friend sticked to his promise, we were welcomed and picked up by his dad from the airport and went straight to their house. they were very warm and accomodating. i only took an hour to rest and soon after, i started my sightseeing escapade.

RUINS OF ST.PAUL -located at the heart of Macau city, this magnificent monument was the original main façade of the former St. Paul’s Church. The façade is famous for its grand appearance and delicate carving. As what history says: It's a "facade" of a church left after it was destroyed by fire during a typhoon in the 18th century. And as what others say, it's Macau's most famous tourist site. For centuries, it has been a hallmark of Macau and is the number one destination of Macau sightseeing.The Ruins of St. Paul Church. Atop of a little hill, you need to walk for 68 steps in order to access it.

NATCHA TEMPLE--This temple was built in 1888 and dedicated to Na Cha in an attempt to halt the Plague rampaging at the time. In contrast to buildings such as the Ruins of St. Paul's around it, the Na Tcha Temple is only a small structure, built with simple materials, but the use of a mixture of reality and illusion in its design manages successfully to create a sense of delicacy and exquisiteness

LARGO DE SENADO.(Senate Square) and the Leal Senado Building (Address:Around the Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro)
The Leal Senado Building is a classic Portuguese style building along the Main Road and right opposite the central fountain. Originally a Council House where Chinese officers met with the Portuguese. The Senado square is paved with a wave-patterned mosaic of coloured stones, created by Portuguese experts. From the main road to the church of St. Dominic, the pavement extends to the ruins of St. Paul's, making the heart of the city a pedestrian paradise.
Today it houses the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. The ground floor holds cultural exhibitions very often.

a trip to puerto galera...

2008-09-27T05:35:00.000-07:00

Puerto Galera is a haven for people who love the beach.The cost of getting there, the accommodation, food and drinks are surprisingly cheap compared to Boracay or Palawan.It is a string of beaches located on the northwest side of Mindoro Island.The most famous among the beaches there is White Beach. it's where i headed 2 years ago. alone, all by myself. White beach was said to be the longest, widest beach in Galera.
I decided to go to the place because i havent been there. everything was an adventure for me. i took a vacation leave from the office, basically went there to relax and enjoy.
i stayed at Mendelluke's Suite. the accomodation was good. very reasonable room
rate.it was a beachfront room with aircon,cable tv, clean comfort room.
Nightlife in galera is already boracaylike. resto bars are everywhere serving various alcoholic beverages from cocktails to rhum, brandy,tequilla!name it you'll have it.The most famous one though is "mindoro sling".
A few steps away from my suite is a resto bar called "Coco Aroma" . it's the only bar with live reggae band. i so love it. i just a had few beers and enjoyed listening to bob marley songs played by the band. and they call themselves..."The Turtle Club"
Puerto Galera...man, this place is really a backpacker's delight!
Puerto Galera is approximately
3hours from Manila. Two hours by bus from Manila to Batangas followed by a one hour boat ride from Batangas pier to Puerto Galera.

exploring liliw

2008-09-24T07:06:00.000-07:00

Liliw is located in the province of Laguna. It is a small town nestled at the foot of Mt.Banahaw.Gat Tayaw is the founder of the town. Liliw got its name from a bird. Legend dictates that a bamboo pole was erected to name the town after the bird that would first alight at the top . However, an unknown/alien/nameless beautiful bird alighted on the pole and chirped "Liw, Liw, Liw". . that's how it became known as "Liliw"

Liliw is known to be "The Slipper Capital of the Philippines".It is considered as a tourist destination for many reasons:
*St. John the Baptist Parish Church-one of the oldest churches in the Philippines. Known for its red bricks.
*Footwear (sandals and slippers) price starts at P70.00 -P 500pesos for female. For male price starts at P110.00 -P500. 00 .Tsinelas festival is held every month of April.
*Native Delicacies (uraro, kinakaw,sampaloc candies, "sinantulan/inalamangan")*Resorts (Liliw Resort, Batis ng Liliw, DJRG Resort-cold water spring)
*Restaurants (Arabella,Bez' Paminggalan, Chef Mau, Liliw Fastfood,Ate Nene's )Local *Local Wine (Lambanog)

It would take 3-4 hours from manila to get here depending on the traffic. Drive to the end of South Luzon Expressway and pass through Calamba, Los Banos, Bay, Santa Cruz, Magdalena and finally...Liliw.OR exit at Batangas proceed to Sto.Tomas towards San Pablo City. Pass through Alaminos,SanPablo towards Rizal, Nagcarlan and finally Liliw.

life of a traveltologist

2008-09-23T00:33:00.000-07:00

i want to share with you how i live my life to make it exciting. one thing is sure though, i travel for two reasons. pleasure and culture. i enjoy taking risks. definitely not afraid to travel alone. i know i wont be lost...ask for directions, read maps, and be not afraid for surprises