Who wouldn’t want a view like this just outside your bedroom?

I never realized that I could have a perfect view of the beautiful limestones of El Nido, Palawan just outside my room at an affordable price. Many say that the Alternative Inn has the greatest view of El Nido limestones along the shoreline of El Nido town proper and they were not wrong. Good thing also that we reserved a room last Jan 2013 before our trip last March 8th.

Alternative Inn is located at the El Nido Town proper so it’s very accessible to restaurants, travel and tour agencies, grocery stores and many more. We really enjoyed our stay here and when we come back, we will definitely be staying here. Primarily, the architecture and interior design are remarkable. The concept of the whole place is not just for aesthetics but also for function. Most of the interiors and furnitures are made of wood.

The Nest

On my way here, I’ve already read blogs about the “nook” which everybody who stayed here or has dined there is enthusiastic about. So after checking in, we immediately went to the second floor (which is also the restaurant) and from that moment on, I was already keen on having my breakfast there the next day. It’s always occupied by guests so we decided to wake up real early (6:30 am) so that we can stay there for breakfast.

The 2 nooks are supported by sturdy tree trunks which you can see from the first photo above. It actually felt scary at first because there’s a feeling of you might fall off but I saw that there were groups of 8 people who stay there so it was fine. I couldn’t get over the feeling of joy having my breakfast infront of the beach. The view really is breath taking. While having breakfast, I was seeing boatmen cleaning their boats and getting ready for the tourists ready to go for island hopping. It was quite warm, perhaps due to the large limestones that is surrounding the place.

The Dining Area

Food in Alternative Inn is fantastic as well although it’s a bit expensive (ranges from PHP 250 – PHP 500 per meal). They have big servings anyway and they use organic fruits and vegetables. Their kitchen is at the first floor and you can see (and smell) what is being cooked and prepared. (Will post our food review in our foodtrippings.com soon!

The Rooms

We stayed in a room for 2 people – basic bed, toilet and shower. It is just a stone throw’s away from the beach. One can hear the waves crashing the wooden barriers. I immediately felt the calmness in my spirit and said to myself, “This is beautiful. The Philippines is beautiful. I could stay here forever.” I was eager to share this view to my social network. The entire place has wifi which is a big plus plus plus factor to us!

Just outside our room

Room rate for a beach front fan room is PHP 1,500 per night which we got from Agoda.com. You can get a cheaper rate (around PHP 1,200) if you just go there directly but we couldn’t risk it as summer is fast approaching. Here are their room rates (as published in their site:

Beachfront rooms – fan room, private toilet and shower, wifi:

• The Healing (where we stayed) – PHP 1,500 per night
• Wisdom – PHP 1,500 (double), PHP 1,800 (triple) per night
• Light – PHP 2,000 (double), PHP 2,300 (triple) per night

Standard rooms (street side) – fan room, private toilet and shower, wifi:

• Harmony (single / double) – PHP 900 per night
• Strength (triple) – PHP 1,200 per night

Shared Toilet

• Hope – As low as PHP 600 per night (single / double)
• Love – As low as PHP 800 per night (triple)

Electricity in El Nido is turned off from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm but Alternative Inn’s wifi connection is round the clock.

How to go to The Alternative?

First you need to go to El Nido, Palawan. You can ride the plane Manila – Puerto Princesa route (around 1 hour 45 minutes) and then land travel from Puerto Princesa to El Nido.

Puerto Princesa to El Nido by bus: Around 6 – 7 hours travel time. Fare is around PHP 200+ only so it’s the cheapest however the catch is that you will need to travel to the bus terminal by tricycle (about 30 minutes away from the airport).

Puerto Princesa to El Nido by van: Around 5 – 6 hours travel time with 2 stop overs. Fare is from PHP 500 – 700. You can book this way ahead or you can just book at the Puerto Princesa Airport. It is also advisable to buy the return ticket ahead.

Once you arrive at the El Nido terminal, you will need to ride the tricycle going to the Alternative (about 15 minutes travel time). Tricycle drivers already know where this is so you don’t need to worry. We paid PHP 50 for the two of us.

Nagsasa Cove

Summer’s here and my first stop is Zambales, particularly Anawangin, Nagsasa and Capones. I celebrated my birthday weekend in Zambales which is very timely because my travel blogger friend (Nina) was itching to go to the beach. Another good timing is I have Polish colleagues who want to explore the Philippines while they’re working here so I asked them to come with me and 2 friends/colleagues who want to tag along.

I’ve seen a lot of photos about Anawangin, Nagsasa and Capones so my expectations are quite high. I already knew that going to these places mean that the the comforts of being inside a hotel room and dining in a restaurant are out of the question.

Travelling to San Antonio, Zambales

Saturday morning, 6 am. We met up at Victory Liner Cubao to catch the bus going to Olongapo. After 3 – 4 hours of bus travel to Olongapo, we rode the non-aircon bus going to Iba, Zambales. After about an hour, we went off at San Antonio to meet our boatman then rode a tricycle going to the beach were boats are docked.

Mang Johnny and one of his boatmen 

Prior to arriving in Zambales, Nina was already communicating with Mang Johnny to arrange the things and food we need during the camping.

It is advisable to visit there as a group so that you can share the costs of the boat rental. It is better if you have your own tent but if you don’t, boatmen like Mang Johnny have something that be rented. For the food, we asked him to do the market for us and we divided the cost. Cooking is free of charge.

Michal, one of my Polish colleagues

Anawangin Cove

We were a group of 8 people so we have 2 separate boats. Our first stop was Anawangin which took us almost an hour to go there from the beach of San Antonio. The shoreline is short and there is a lake that separates the campsite and the beach. At the campsite, there are a lot of pine trees so bonfire is prohibited to avoid forest fire. One has to pay PHP 50 entrance fee before you can use the camp site. We only stayed there for a couple of hours then we headed to Nagasasa to camp for the night.

Anawangin was ok but not my ideal place to stay for the night. There were a lot of campers there also, I could just imagine if it’s the peak season. By the way, there are cubicles there which you can take a shower or change clothes.

Nagsasa

The sun was about to set when we arrived at Nagsasa. Our boatmen prepared our tents and dinner. Because of the tiring travel going to Zambales, we rested at the beach while the others had a quick dip in the waters.

We all agree that Nagsasa is better than Anawangin because the camp site is just in front of the beach unlike in Anawangin where one needs to cross the lake before heading to the beach.

Dinner was ready and it’s now dark. Did I mention that there is no electricity here (and even in Anawangin and Capones)? Because we’re not usual campers, we forgot to bring candles or even flashlights. After dinner we decided to be cozy at the beach front while roasting smores by the bonfire. Wood can be bought for PHP 140.

I noticed that both Anawangin and Nagsasa do not have marine life or even corals so I asked our boatmen why. They said that Anawangin and Nagsasa coves were formed because of the Mount Pinatubo volcanic eruption during the 90′s. The beach fronts were formed due to the “lahar” / volcanic materials so it was only around year 2ooo’s when visitors flocked to these areas.

The unfortunate event

Weather forecast during the March 2nd to 3rd weekend was sunny but the unfortunate thing happened. While we were cozy by the bonfire, raindrops were getting bigger and bigger until it became a rain shower. We immediately sought refuge at a small cottage where we had our dinner but because there were also winds, we decided to go inside our tents. Then we realized that the water was slowly seeping in our tents so all we had to do really was to wish that the rain stopped. Yes, the rain did stop but only after 20 minutes. Some of us didn’t get much sleep but some of us did although soaked in wetness. Anyway, that’s part of the adventure.

Activities in Nagsasa? Half of the group likes to trek so they went to the mini waterfalls. And guess what group I was part of? I’m with the lazy ones who just prefer to have a dip in the waters or lie on the sand.

Capones Island

Before noon, we headed to our last stop which is Capones Island. Waves were a bit strong going there. In this island, I noticed that the sand had corals on it so it’s a sign that there is marine life surrounding this one. There’s a cliff which you can trek and from there, you will be able to see Zambales in a different perspective. Not really a fan of going up to cliffs .

It is quite disappointing that I saw some trash by the shore. Capones Island is beautiful especially the rock formations.

For the overall costing, we spent PHP 960 per person which is inclusive of the boat ride, tents and food. We added a few Pesos as tip for our boatmen.

A weekend is enough to enjoy the three places although if you want to be alone (with no one noisy and drunk campers), I would suggest that you go there on a week day.

Summary of cost:

1. Bus ride to and from Victory Liner Cubao to Olongapo – PHP 212, one way (travel time approx 2 – 3 hours without heavy traffic)
2. Bus ride to and from Olongapo to San Antonio – PHP 44, one way (travel time approx 1 hour)
3. Tricycle ride from San Antonio to boat – PHP 20
4. Boat Rental overnight – PHP 2,500 for 4 persons (with free cooking)
5. Tent Rental overnight – PHP 2,500 for 4 persons
6. Bonfire – PHP 140

For more photos, please check my Zambales set in Flickr here.

Travelling in China can be really challenging if you can’t understand Chinese (whether written or verbal) because not everyone can speak English. It was difficult but Karla and I had were able to survive Our little adventure was back in September 2012.

Beijing has changed a lot since I was there back in 2000. It became more populated, more traffic jams and lesser people riding bicycles. As you know, bicycles are a common means of transportation for the locals there. According to our tour guide, many Chinese have gone rich and therefore had more money to buy cars. Ever since the Olympics held in Beijing back in 2008, there were efforts done by the Chinese government to make Beijing a bit tourist friendly.

Beijing roads are very wide. The main roads can have 5 – 6 lanes of cars and buses. Beijing main highway roads divided into 8 rings (loops). The entire place was built according to Feng Shui standards so that everything will be in harmony. Our hotel is located at the 6th loop (near Happy Valley Beijing) while downtown area are within 1st to 3rd loop.

We only stayed for 5 days but we experienced travelling in 4 ways. I’ll share you some of our experiences below. By the way, conversion rate when we were there was RMB 1 = PHP 6.50+.

1) Private Car 

During our first two and a half days in Beijing, everything was convenient because we booked a private tour. Our tour guide would pick us up in the morning and show us tourist spots around Beijing. This was the easiest part. No hassle. All we need to do is just follow the tour guide.

Although we’ve already research on the places we want to visit, we still did some last minute changes. Our hotel has free wifi at the cafeteria and lobby but as you know, China blocked websites such as Google Maps, Twitter and Facebook. We could only rely on safe websites, blogs and the actual printed map for information.

2) MRT (Mass Railway Transit) / Subway

Riding the Subway is an easy thing to do. Currently, there are 15 lines travelling around Beijing (within the city and suburbs). They open at 6 am and close until about 11 pm. You can buy single way tickets through the machine. Cost for a single ticket is RMB 2 (approximately PHP 14.00) and it will not matter how far your destination is or whether you will be transferring lines in between (except the Airport Express line). You don’t need to worry because the ticket machine, maps and the train announcements have English translation.

The train stations are clean, well ventilated and relatively secured. It wasn’t difficult to transfer lines. You must always be alert and walk fast (people here tend to be in a hurry all the time). They don’t segregate men and women here unlike here in Manila.

The subway map in the station is in Chinese however you can research before your trip to download the English version.

3) Cab / Taxi

You thought that riding a cab can be a breeze but with our experience when we were there, it was not as easy as it seems. Our hotel is located far from the Central Business District hence our only choices to go to the CBD are to ride a cab going to the MRT or ride the bus.  Imagine Ortigas to Sta. Rosa, Laguna. That’s how far we are from the CBD.

Our tour ended early, then returned to the hotel to rest then went out for the first time as lone travelers at around 3 pm. We hailed a cab from our hotel and told the driver to bring us to Guomao MRT Station because we want to go to Wangfujing Shopping Street (Line 1). We paid only about RMB 17  (approx. PHP 120). It was very easy.  We thought of doing that same strategy to go home in the evening but it was a big mistake.

After strolling around Wangfujing, we first planned to eat dinner at Da Dong Roast Duck as suggested by our tour guide. It was only about 2 – 3 blocks away from Wangfujing but whenever we tell the driver to bring us there, they would ask a fixed rate of about RMB 100 – 150 (approximately PHP 600 – 800). With that amount, we could have already went straight to our hotel. To our dismay, we just decided to have our Peking Duck dinner at Quanjude Peking Duck Restaurant in Wangfujing for convenience.

We finished eating dinner at around 8 pm. Rode the subway from Wangfujing station back to where we started – Guomao Station. We expected that getting a cab would be a breeze as we were told that rush hour ends around that time. We stood there for 2 – 3 hours and no cab wanted to bring us back to our hotel.

Tips:

• If there are drivers driving black cars that approach you, be careful because these are private cars. They charge more than the typical Beijing yellow cabs. They are not legitimate taxis and will give you an overpriced fare.
• The typical cabs (the ones with yellow paintings) would charge
• Daytime (5:00 – 23:00)
• RMB 10.00 (approx. PHP 70.00)  for the first 3 km
• Additional RMB 2.00 (approx PHP 14.00) for additional 1 km after 3 km
• Additional RMB 3.00 (approx PHP 21.00) for additional 1 km after 15 km
• Night time (23:01 – 4:59)
• RMB 11.00 (approx PHP 77.00) for the first 3 km
• Additional RMB 2.40 (approx PHP 16.00) for additional 1 km after 3 km
• Additional RMB 3.40 (approx PHP 23.00) for additional 1 km after 15 km
• Taxi drivers issue receipts. If they hesitate to give you receipts, it is your right to complain.

3) Pedicabs

It was already almost 11 pm and still no luck in getting a cab. While waiting at the area near Guomao Station, a pedicab driver stopped in front of us, spoke to us in Chinese and asked us where we’re going. We showed him the hotel address in Chinese. He wasn’t sure where it was and even tried to call the hotel to ask where it is. I guess he was already noticing that we are already tired of waiting for a cab so he agreed to bring us to our hotel for only RMB 50 (approx. PHP 300). We laughed at him because we know that our hotel is about two highway loops away and with our size?! He was also laughing but I guess he hasn’t reached his quota for the day. What the hell, we rode his pedicab and passed through the bike lanes at the main road. Karla and I were both laughing but it was one of the best experiences I had in China. I was almost teary-eyed because I never thought that although we don’t speak the same language, kindness can still be expressed. I knew that he was struggling because we’re a bit on the heavy side but he still pedaled .

Our pedicab adventure in Beijing

The pedicab driver brought us to an unfamiliar territory. He was asking us through sign language if this was our hotel. He asked around and the other guy said that it’s still far from where we are. He finally gave up on us but I wasn’t mad of him because I know that he was tired of pedaling from CBD to a certain commercial district outside of the CBD. I was actually grateful that he brought us out of that area. He dropped us at a commercial district with a 24 hour KFC. We asked a KFC crew if our hotel is near and if we could walk. She said that it’s far from where we are. Luckily, there are empty cabs in that area and finally we were able to get a cab driver that agreed to bring us to our hotel. We paid about RMB 25 (PHP 170). We arrived the hotel at about 1 am. Tired but relieved.

4) Bus

Because of that experience, we became very eager to learn how to go back to our hotel by bus. Our hotel is just  beside a bus station and it would be very convenient if we would learn this. So the next day, we rode the subway going to Qianmen Shopping Street. Before we went home in the afternoon, we dropped by the tourist information to ask on the bus route going back to our hotel. Tourist information people don’t know how to speak English! Good thing there was a Chinese girl standing there together with her Caucasian husband and gave us the bus route. We felt relieved and almost jumped for joy. We could finally go home peacefully and yes we did. Our travel experience while we were in Beijing became smooth sailing.

For the bus stations, unfortunately, they don’t have English translations. Even its official website BJbus.com does not show English version of the bus route. There are more than 900 bus routes and it’s really difficult to know the route if you don’t have a map. If you get used to riding the bus, you’ll be able to save a lot of money because this is the cheapest way to go around Beijing.

Tips:

• Bus numbers are from 1 – 900+. The lower the number (e.g. bus # 1, 2, 3, etc), it means that it goes around the CBD. Bus numbers below 300 will go around until the 3rd ring.
• When you hop on a bus, just tap your Smart Card ticket. You can get up to 60% discount if you buy the Smart Card Ticket. You can also buy tickets on the bus. If there’s a conductor, just approach them and tell them your destination and pay RMB 1.00 (approx PHP 6 – 7). They have a flat rate for buses traveling around the city. If you’re going far, of course the fare increases but very minimal (only .50 per 12 km). If there’s no conductor, just drop RMB 1.00 onto the clear box beside the driver.
• Just like the MRT, they announce the name of the bus station both in English and Chinese. They also have an LED screen that shows where you are.
• When entering a bus, you have to go to the front door (if it’s a 2 door bus) or back door (if it’s a 3 door bus). You cannot exit at the front or back doors, you will have to go towards the middle door when your bus stop is near.
• Buses travel until about midnight.

If you are a first time traveler in China, it will really be challenging if you do not do enough research. As you know, there are a lot of blocked websites when you’re already in China soil (unless you’re connecting the internet through VPN) so make sure that you have all the information that you need. It’s also important to get the Chinese name of your hotel (business card) whenever you go out of the hotel.

Of course, beware of pickpockets ( I think this is common in populous cities). Secure your belongings and be alert of your surroundings.

If you enjoy visiting cultural treasures and appreciating beautiful architecture, the Forbidden City in China is a must visit. You can go there via subway by going down at the Tian’anmen East station (along Line 1).

It took us two hours to go around (including Tiananmen Square). We did not go beyond the Hall of Supreme Harmony (Tai He Dian) because it’s the biggest ans the succeeding palaces are smaller. However, we were still able to go at the back of Tai He Dian which is the Hall of Central Harmony.

Just a month ago, we were able to view the premiere of National Geographic’s Islands Insider which features different places in the Philippines. This isn’t just a typical travel show which you see in other networks but each documentary tells a story or an advocacy in terms of cultural and environmental preservation. Islands Insider is a joint project with the Department of Tourism.

The places they featured are Batad Rice Terraces in Mountain Province, Coron in Palawan, Taal and Anilao in Batangas, Siquijor and Mt. Pulag in Benguet. We were able to watch 2 documentaries which were Batad Rice Terraces and Coron. I personally liked Coron because it featured the areas where tourists cannot access unless accompanied by a tour guide accepted by the Tagbanua tribe.

The documentaries that we were able to watch has a well-written script and has an astonishing cinematography. Listening to the words was already enough to make you feel that you are there.

Islands Insider premieres on June 23, 2012, 8:30pm at the National Geographic Channel. It is hosted by Ginggay Hontiveros and is directed by Gabriel Malvar. It is written by Gabriel Malvar and Froi Medina.

After hearing about the Harry Potter Exhibition in Australia where some of my friends went to and bought Harry Potter souvenirs, going there was all a dream to me. When I learned that the Harry Potter Exhibition is in Singapore, I became excited and planned to visit the ArtScience Museum last June 12.

Ticket Prices

Ticket booth inside the ArtScience Museum

Adults
Harry Potter Exhibition Only – 24 SGD (20 SGD for Singapore residents)
Harry Potter Exhibition + Andy Warhol 15 Minutes Eternal – 28 SGD (24 SGD for Singapore residents)

Senior Citizen (65 years old and above)
Harry Potter Exhibition Only – 21 SGD (18 SGD for Singapore residents)
Harry Potter Exhibition + Andy Warhol 15 Minutes Eternal – 27 SGD (23 SGD for Singapore residents)

Children (2-12 years old)
Harry Potter Exhibition Only – 14 SGD (13 SGD for Singapore residents)
Harry Potter Exhibition + Andy Warhol 15 Minutes Eternal – 16 SGD (14 SGD for Singapore residents)

If you are an Andy Warhol fan, I suggest for you to include this rather than going to the Andy Warhol 15 Minutes Eternal on a separate day.

Please note that All-Access Pass and Singapore resident tickets are available in the Marina Bay Sands Box offices. We bought our tickets at the ArtScience Museum and the queue is very short since it’s a weekday.

You may also purchase your tickets online at the Marina Bay Sands Ticketing Portal

Picture Taking

Flying Ford Anglia

Picture taking is not allowed inside the exhibition area but you can still bring your camera with you. Thus, make the most of your visit by having your pictures taken with it. All Harry Potter Exhibition visitors will be asked to have their photos taken by the staff of the ArtScience Museum staff. You will be given a Gryffindor Scarf and a wand for the picture taking. You will be given a claim stub. If ever you like your photo, of course, you need to pay for it.

Inside the Exhibition Area

Harry Potter movie posters

One thing that you would love to probably experience inside is to get sorted. Two kids who got sorted chose Gryffindor which I think is what would most kids prefer hehe. If you’re first in the line to get in, you should volunteer yourself.

The tour is not guided. You will explore on your own. I haven’t tried the optional audio guide that they provide for a fee (12 SGD). But if you have the money to spend, try it. You will be provided with a gadget where you will be able to listen to the narrations. You have to return it at the end of the exhibition.

I guess it will take you around one hour to explore. This will depend on how long do you explore sections of the exhibition.

Souvenir Shopping

Various souvenirs

There are a lot of things to buy in the Harry Potter Exhibition. There are shirts, hoodies, scarves, mugs, etc. I think it’s worth it to purchase a wand (the authentic replica and not the toy wand). Each wand costs 75 SGD. I got the Albus Dumbledore wand. It comes in a box with a little document inside verifying its authenticity.

I also got a Chocolate Frog. The Chocolate Frog contains one piece of chocolate with krispies and a hologram card. Another goodie that you should purchase is the Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. It has weird flavors such as Vomit, Soap, Dirt, Booger, etc.

ArtScience Museum

The ArtScience museum is just easy to spot. It’s just outside The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. The lotus-shaped structure on the right is the ArtScience Museum. Isn’t it a beauty? The ArtScience Museum is open daily, from 10am to 10pm (including public holidays).

Address:
10 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore 018956
(65) 6688 8868

I’ve been to Baguio City a lot of times already. However, this is the first time that I got the chance to visit The Bell Church. After having breakfast at Pizza Volante along Session Road, we walked towards the terminal near the Baguio City Hall. We took the jeepney bearing the La Trinidad sign. Fare going to The Bell Church is PhP 8.50 per person.

The Bell Church is not hard to find at all. Just before the “Welcome to La Trinidad” arch, on the right side of the road, you’ll see the “Welcome to Bell Church” sign. We walked towards a narrow alley that leads to the compound of the Bell Church.

 Wall with various Chinese writings

Upon entering the compound, you will be greeted with a wall with Chinese writings. It seems to me that these are the names of individuals and families who donate to the church. Make sure that you go up so that you can see the wonderful view. The place reminded me of the Taoist Temple in Cebu but this one is smaller.

 The view from the Bell Church

If ever you will be going to Baguio, I suggest that you go to The Bell Church especially if you’re tired of Burnham Park, Mines View, Session Road and Camp John Hay. Photography enthusiasts or those who love picture taking will definitely enjoy it here. The vistas from the top is really a sight to behold.

 The Bell Church

By the way, please be reminded not to take photos inside the temple.

Check out my other photos of The Bell Church in Flickr.

Because I won free round trip tickets from Airphil Express during the Davao Adventure Trip previously sponsored by them last May, I decided to revisit Davao last September 2011. I didn’t really have much time to explore Davao when I first came there last May because we have a fixed itinerary. I know Davao is really a big place, so the focus of my trip to Davao last September was to have a chance to go to Talicud and beach bum. I am coming back to Davao on May 2012 anyway for the Davao Food Appreciation Tour .

We actually wanted to go to Samal Island first however when I researched, accommodations were a bit steep for our budget. We can opt for just a day trip to certain resorts in Samal however Karla and I really wanted to stay overnight because we do not want to be rushed. That was the time when I was really stressed out at work and don’t really need to be hassled by tight itineraries. So, I Googled and found a cheap resort which was just opposite Samal Island.

Concrete room where we stayed overnight

I found Isla Reta, a backpacker type beach wherein guests can camp and bring their own food and no corkage will be charged (except if you will be bringing in drinks such as beer, softdrinks, etc and if you will be borrowing their kitchen utensils). Isla Reta is located in Talicud which is still part of Samal. I’ve only seen a couple of write-ups about Isla Reta and all I knew is that they offer a paradise kind of living at a cheap price. I was not wrong. The moment I saw the beach, it was paradise. The kind of stress-free vacation that I need.

Travelling to Samal Island 

Our flight arrived Davao City early (around 7:00 am) then took a cab from the airport to Damosa (paid PHP 96) where we had breakfast in Mcdonald’s. We rode a jeepney going to Magsaysay (PHP 8.00 fare per person) so that we can reach Sta. Cruz Pier. There is supposed to be a ferry which is owned by Isla Reta however it was only available during Saturdays and Sundays. We arrived at the pier around 8:00 am. There was another boat which was going to Talicud but it was going straight to Talicud Pier. We paid PHP 60 per person for the boat ride going to Talicud. The boat can carry around 80 passengers. The travel from Sta. Cruz Pier to Talicud is about 2 – 3 hours. We arrived Talicud at around 11:30 am. There was a good samaritan, who is an employee of Isla Reta, who offered to walk with us going to the resort. It was only a 10 minute walk from the pier to Isla Reta so we didn’t need to ride the Habal-Habal (motorcycles) anymore. If we stayed at another resort, we didn’t have any choice but to ride the Habal-Habal.

If you want to catch the Isla Reta boat which docks directly at the resort, go there during Saturdays and Sundays. The boat leaves Davao City at 9:00 am then Isla Reta to Davao City is at 3:00 pm. Cost of boat ride is PHP 80, a little more expensive than the non-Isla Reta boat.

Picnic Huts

Isla Reta is very simple. If you expect beach resorts with basic hotel accommodations, this is not for you. The concrete room which we stayed only have a queen sized bed, a dresser, ceiling fan and a private shower and toilet. There’s no air conditioner. I believe it is not needed as it’s cooler during the night. There’s also no wifi here. We only relied on Smart 3G internet signal at the beach front. Whenever we are at our room, we could not get a 3G signal. Globe is ok for basic texting and calling in the beach front.

Electricity is only available from 3:00 pm – 6:00 am. Because of this, there isn’t really anything to do but to bum around at the beach. What I like about this resort is that no one will offer you anything while you are at the beach. Whenever we needed anything, we just have to go to the small sari-sari store which also serves as the reception / tv area.
Here’s the price list as of September 2011:

1. Entrance Fee for the day tour:
• Adults:  PHP 75 / per head / per day
• 3 years old and below: free of charge
• 4 to 10 years old: PHP 35  / per head / per day
2. Overnight fee without cottage
• PHP 150 / per head / per night for adults
• PHP 75 / per head / per night for 4 to 10 years old
3. Picnic Huts
• PHP 150 per day
4. Tables under the Talisay Tree
• Free of charge
5. Tables and chairs
• free of charge
6. Accommodation
• Concrete Room – PHP 800 / per room / per night (for 2 persons only, entrance / overnight fee not yet included)
• Native Room – PHP 700 / per room / per night (for 3 persons, entrance / overnight fee not yet included)
• Dormitory Type – PHP 6,500 per night (for 22 persons, entrance / overnight fee not yet included)
7. Beddings Rental
• complete bed – PHP 80 per set
• mattress – PHP 40
• blanket – PHP 20
• pillow PHP 20
• mat – PHP 20
8. Drinks: Corkage is 25% of resort price (beer, softdrinks and alcoholic drinks range from PHP 3.75 to PHP 35.00)
9. Cooking Charges
• If you do not have packed food (like we did), you can ask them what’s available to cook, i.e. tinolang manok, adobong manok, etc. There were no pork available and they only have native chicken available so we opted to have the native chicken cooked in 2 ways (for lunch and dinner): tinolang manok and adobong manok. You can also do the marketing outside if you prefer but for the convenience, just let them do it at a cheap price.
• Overall cost for the food we asked them to cook for us (breakfast, lunch and dinner):
• PHP 300 for the native chicken (tinolang manok and adobong manok)
• PHP 50 for 1 can of corned beef (for breakfast)
• PHP 30 for 2 eggs (for breakfast)
• PHP 120 for 8 cups of rice (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
• PHP 70 for 2 cup noodles (lunch before we left Isla Reta)

Isla Reta’s sunrise

Karla and I wanted to catch the sunrise to take photos. The sea was very calm and there were a couple of fishermen who just docked their boats and fishnets at the beach front.

Isla Reta in the morning

There are some rock formations at the end of Isla Reta’s lot. Whenever the water is high tide (just like the photo above with boats docked on the beach), these rock formations can’t be visible. It was about noon time when we took this photo. You just have to be careful as there are rocks with small crabs crawling on it.

All I can say is that this island is a paradise and a great place to find solitude from the bustling city. The good thing is it only costed us a few Pesos to enjoy this paradise .

I’ve decided to travel with my mom every year during her birthday so for this year, I decided to treat her to an overnight stay in Tagaytay. Good thing I was able to purchase an overnight stay voucher at Hotel Dominique through a group buying site. The original price of the superior room is PHP 3,300 but I bought it almost half of its price.

Hotel Dominique is located in Aguinaldo Highway and just near the Tagaytay Rotunda. We don’t have a car so we only rode the bus from Manila (particularly at the bus station in Edsa – LRT – behind Sogo motel). The bus passed by Coastal Road then took the Bacoor, Imus, Dasmarinas then Silang, Cavite route. If you will be taking this route, you won’t miss Hotel Dominique because it’s just at the right side of the road and before you reach Olivares (Tagaytay Rotunda). You can tell the bus conductor to drop you off at the Olivarez terminal or Pink Sisters. If you drop off the Olivarez terminal, you’ d have to walk around 10 meters which is relatively ok if you only have your backpack with you. 

From the outside, it looks like a low-rise condominium type of hotel but it was just the facade. After checking in, I was surprised on how big the lot was. While walking towards our room (we got the superior room located at the building behind the tree above), I felt like I was transported to another place which is completely different from the outside. There were different types of accommodations such as cabanas, villas, etc. which are suited for groups or families. I really like the European villa style. There is also a swimming pool which I guess be used whenever the temperature in Tagaytay is not that cold.

The room was small but it was already enough for me and my mom for an overnight stay. There were 2 single beds, refrigerator, cable TV, a dresser and electric kettle. The room had yellowish light so if you want your room to be brighter, just open the curtains. The beds were comfortable and clean although the pillow was a bit thin.

The toilet is just right. They have hair dryer! What I didn’t like it is that I need to wait for 10 minutes before hot water will flow from the shower.

They also offer room massage for a minimum price of PHP 600 per person. The masseuses are outsourced from a massage place nearby.

Commuting in and out of Hotel Dominique is easy. Jeepneys and tricyles pass by the front of the hotel. My only complain probably is going back to the hotel. We don’t usually get to ride a jeepney towards Silang so we always ride the jeepney with “Olivarez Terminal” signboard. Whenever we ride that jeepney, we drop off at the “Olivarez Terminal” and then have to walk around 10 meters more.

Overall, I really liked this accommodation. This is not overlooking the Taal Lake by the way so if you are expecting to see the Taal, this is not the place to stay. I would recommend this for groups or families who want to have a weekend getaway.

Hotel Dominique

Km. 55 Aguinaldo Hi-way,
Brgy. Maitim II East, Tagaytay City, Philippines 4120

Inside the Church of the Angry Christ

Victorias in Negros Occidental is popular because of the Victorias Milling Company, the largest sugar mill in the Philippines and the largest combined sugar mill and refinery in the whole world. This made Negros Occidental the “Sugarbowl Capital” of the Philippines. Its popularity came into a downfall after the Japanese occupation in the 1940′s but was able to slowly revive itself in the 1990′s.

Truckloads of sugar cane being transported to Victorias Milling Complex

Victorias City Hall

You will know that you are already in Victorias when you can smell sugarcane. This becomes stronger as we entered the Victorias Milling complex. The main reason we went to Victorias is because we are curious about St. Joseph The Worker Parish (or popularly known as the Church of the Angry Christ). The church is located inside the milling complex so we had to ride a tricycle from the Victorias City Hall.

Outside the Church of the Angry Christ

Inside Church of Angry Christ

VMC commissioned different artists to design a church for the VMC personnel. Negrense Abstract Expressionist Alfonso Ossorio, Catholic lithurgical artist Ade Bethune, Benjamin Valenciano and Arcadio Anore. The controversial mural, the Angry Christ, was painted by Alfonso Ossorio (belonged to the family who owns VMC).  During the 1950′s it elicited negative reaction because of the vivid colors that showed the image of Jesus Christ with stretched arms together with other biblical characters. The artist is always questioned why he/she created a certain artwork. Ossorio explained that he wanted to portray Judgment Day. Because of this, Alfonso Ossorio and the others created buzz in the global religious iconography.

Mosaic Outside the Church of the Angry Christ (up close)

Aside from the Angry Christ, other notable artistic designs are the mosaic murals created by Ade Bethune. She recycled colored glass bottle pieces and created beautiful images of Jesus’ baptism, Joseph’s marriage to Mary, workshop in Nazareth and Jesus’ death. Bethune “Filipinized” Jesus, Mary and Joseph which at that time not very common in churches.

The photo above shows the mosaic mural showing Jesus’ baptism. It is located at the left side of the main entrance of the church. There is a mini pool there (without water). I am not sure if it is being used for baptismal rites, I guess not.

Other religious images that were “Filipinized” are below:

Mary and Jesus

St. Joseph

The Carabao Sundial was a created in 1975, years after the church was constructed. Senior Machine Shop students of Don Bosco Institute led by Hezekiah Katalbas and Vicente Gonzaga created the artwork which took them a year to create the actual sundial. Of course, this represents the sugarcane industry of Negros. The horns of the carabao was exaggerated to become the face dial. The sugar cane farmer is riding the carabao holding a sugarcane. One could tell time because of the sugar cane’s casted shadows.

The church is more than just an architectural structure and a place of worship. Ramon Hofilena, a great Negrense art historian and enthusiast, said that there are a lot of stories of why the artists created these images in the parish.

How to go to the Church of the Angry Christ:

From Bacolod City, ride a Ceres bus (or any bus) going to Manapla or Escalante. We came from Manapla so it only took us around 10 – 15 minutes to arrive at the Victorias City Hall. Travel time from Bacolod City is around 1 hour an 30 minutes. Our fare only costed us PHP 10 per person but if you will be coming from Bacolod City, it might cost you around PHP35 – 40 per person.

When you are already in Victorias, hail any tricycle and ask the driver to drop you off at the church. It is located inside the Victorias Milling Company. We paid PHP28 per person and he agreed to wait for us while we roam around the church. After Victorias, we rode the Ceres bus at the Victorias Terminal and headed to Silay. Fare was PHP 16 per person.

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