tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90083230980611287222024-03-17T02:52:12.097+08:00The Travel JunkieYou Only Live Once So Travel While You're YoungCzarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-17371487133784059632019-09-19T20:42:00.003+08:002022-03-21T22:02:46.099+08:00How to Apply for Multiple-Entry US Visa for Filipinos (UPDATED)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wnXoHJ1yaU/XYLx71fuMYI/AAAAAAAAGK8/jsm22f9-hpwH_woQ_PtqArpi1S1NlJoewCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_8606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wnXoHJ1yaU/XYLx71fuMYI/AAAAAAAAGK8/jsm22f9-hpwH_woQ_PtqArpi1S1NlJoewCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_8606.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">Revenge travel after more than 2 years of lockdowns? I think it's time!<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">OMG I'm so happy to be updating my blog after years! I hope you are all healthy and my only wish this 2022 is that we all get to enjoy the outdoors once more.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Anyway, I am updating this post mainly because I recently applied my daughter for a US tourist visa. I believe that the US Embassy in Manila still has limited options for those applying for a tourist visa. As for renewals, I'm unsure how it works but read online that this can be done through "drop box" option.<br /></div>
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Here's how I did it:</div>
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1. Sign up and start your application at the <a href="https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/default.aspx" target="_blank">State.gov</a> website. You will always need to state your location and enter the right captcha code for logging in. Afterwards you will be redirected to another page where you'll get your Application ID, please take note of that because you'll need that as secondary login detail.</div>
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Apart from the Application ID, take note as well of the names of your mother's mother. This one was a struggle for me since I was basically alone handling the application for the whole family. Get ready for some information overload.<br />
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2. Once you're in, just answer all the questions. The questionnaire contains basic questions so it's fairly easy to fill up. If you have a relative or friend in the US, you need to put their names there so give them a heads up if you'll use their information. Make sure that you answer correctly and most important of all, HONESTLY. You will also need a 2x2 photo which you'll upload by the end of the application form.</div>
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Once you're done, you'll need to print the confirmation form to be presented at the bank for payment of application.<br />
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3. The easiest way for me to pay is by going direct to the bank (RCBC) instead of transferring payment online. You must print the US visa application deposit slip available <a href="https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ph-niv-paymentinfo.asp#feepaymentoptions" target="_blank">here</a>, click on the <a href="https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/pmisdepositslip.htm?amount=160&country=philippines" target="_blank">Deposit Slip - $160 MRV</a> link. If you're applying as family, you need to print one copy each (you'll notice that each deposit slip has a unique Receipt Number). So as of March 21, 2022, the tourist visa application fee costs ₱8,320 per pax.<br />
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4. There are two options for setting your scheduled interview. The fastest would be calling their hotline at (02)8548 8223 or (02)7792 8988. Calling is recommended for those applying solo only but for some weird reason no one has been answering the hotline. If booking a schedule for the whole family, sign up <a href="https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Philippines" target="_blank">here</a>. They will ask for your passport number, the MRV fee payment receipt number, and the ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Since I'm applying for a minor, I have the option to drop the application through LBC (check the drop-off locations <a href="https://www.lbcexpress.com/LBCBranchesODZ" target="_blank">here</a>.) You must bring the <b>Interview Waiver Confirmation Letter</b> that you get from US Travel Docs website (you can only get this once they confirm payment), <b>DS-160 Confirmation Page</b>, <b>2 pcs of 2x2 ID photo</b> with white background, <b>passport</b> and other personal docs to support your application. <br />
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<u><b>So what do you expect on the day of the interview?</b></u></div>
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First of all, you need to prepare the documents needed to support your application. I won't be able to list all the docs here, they usually ask for the same stuff anyway, please refer to my previous posts about <a href="https://www.thetraveljunkie.info/search/label/Visa%20Application" target="_blank">visa applications</a>. All of our documents were placed inside a clear envelope.<br />
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Moving on, we were scheduled for the 9:45AM interview on a Monday. So by 8:00AM, our car was parked on the empty lot beside Emerald restaurant, which was across the US Embassy. By 8:30AM, we decided to go and luckily they were already accepting applicants for the 9:45AM schedule.<br />
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Technically, bags weren't allowed but the Embassy made an exception for those like us who have babies in tow. Speaking of babies, we were automatically lined up in the priority lane which didn't really take long. If I remember correctly, we were done by 11:00AM.<br />
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<u><b>So what questions were asked during our interview?</b></u></div>
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My husband was asked <b>where he works</b>, <b>what was his position in the company</b>, and <b>how much was his monthly salary</b>.<br />
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I was asked too, and I humbly said the I was JUST a housewife. The interviewer corrected me and responded that <i>"It's not JUST a job. It's one of the hardest jobs ever!" </i>And I couldn't agree more! Haha. The guy also asked how old was my son.<br />
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And for his last question, it was about our <b>previous travel</b>. Lucky for us, my husband and I are obviously well-traveled so we were bragging so much that we've been to Europe last summer and even visited Japan and Australia in the past. LOL<br />
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<u><b>So do you get an answer right then and there?</b></u></div>
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YES. But we didn't asked if we'll be given a multiple-entry that's valid for 10 years. The guy mentioned to expect the delivery of our passports in a week. Take note that our scheduled interview was last September 9 and our passports were delivered by September 11.<br />
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Sadly, I've seen some that got denied on the spot. It was kind of easy to see them 'coz they received letters that are printed in a light blue paper. If in case you get denied, don't lose hope. You can always apply again after 6 months if I remember correctly.<br />
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<u><b>Tips in order to get an approved US tourist visa?</b></u></div>
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Well, I believe that you gotta be honest from the start 'til the finish. I do have a feeling that applicants are prescreened even before the actual interview. Presenting a hefty amount of cash honestly helps too, as proof that you can travel on your own. You must have a reason to come back to the Philippines as well. Like for example, you have a business or working for a company. You basically need to show them that you have no intentions of living the American dream.<br />
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That's all for now and good luck with your application! ;)</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-31337490677416385012019-09-06T10:16:00.001+08:002019-09-11T19:36:36.938+08:00My Favorite Travel Buddy: Intimina Lily Cup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gz9IfhFetHM/XXG0dOiJyqI/AAAAAAAAGIo/b7hsE12DlzwPUnaEE2kjnlvZkLgXKPE7ACLcBGAs/s1600/cups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1000" height="464" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gz9IfhFetHM/XXG0dOiJyqI/AAAAAAAAGIo/b7hsE12DlzwPUnaEE2kjnlvZkLgXKPE7ACLcBGAs/s640/cups.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Available in the Philippines through <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MenstrualCupPH/" target="_blank">MenstrualCupPH</a></div>
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As girls, getting our monthly periods has got to be the most annoying part of our lives. I'm a regular since getting my period when I was 12 or 13 years old meaning I've been "suffering" monthly from this phenomena for the past two decades! But my life changed back in 2015, the year that I discovered menstrual cups!</div>
<a name='more'></a>A menstrual cup is a feminine hygiene product that's made from high-grade medical silicone which is the best alternative from sanitary pads or tampons because they are reusable for up to 10 years! There are a lot of brands in the market today but I've been lucky enough to find the perfect cup for me during my first try.<br />
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Intimina Lily Cup Compact</div>
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The Lily Cup Compact is the world's first collapsible cup that folds flat and fits into a small protective case. Toss it in your backpack, purse or pocket, and you're good to go. Then, when you need it, it can be popped open for up to 12 hours of non-stop protection.</div>
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My main reason for switching to cups was that I'm on tight budget and tampons are becoming way too expensive for me. Little did I know that I'm not only saving my finances, but I'm also saving Mother Earth! What a bonus! It was definitely a life-changing decision that if given a chance to go back in time, I'd totally start using menstrual cups when I was younger.</div>
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To be honest, it takes quite a while to get used to it but it does the job so well that I've been recommending it to all my girl friends! It's best that you read and watch videos about Intimina Lily Cups beforehand so that the transition will be a bit easier. Information is key!</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z8lAhlizyl4" width="560"></iframe>
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Fast forward to 2019, I'm married and have one baby (planning to have another one by the end of the year!), and also reselling these menstrual cups for a living. For questions, you may leave comments down below or send us a message on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MenstrualCupPH/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>. ;)</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-89559451264116868562019-05-24T22:55:00.001+08:002019-05-24T22:55:09.248+08:00Traveling In The Philippines During The Rainy Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0VLjrZjnoE/XOgBhRbIYGI/AAAAAAAAGEM/SL-NgnvhXjMH51qK4assjS_3t5ycRB01ACLcBGAs/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0VLjrZjnoE/XOgBhRbIYGI/AAAAAAAAGEM/SL-NgnvhXjMH51qK4assjS_3t5ycRB01ACLcBGAs/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Summer is the favorite season for travelers but that doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy exploring places during the rainy season. However, in a tropical country such as the Philippines, this type of vacation requires careful planning. With the rainy season now quickly approaching (between May and October) – it is time to book your trip just like you did when you scouted <a href="https://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2015/05/best-summer-destinations-in-philippines.html" target="_blank">the most popular summer locations in the country</a>.<br />
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Don’t let the gloomy weather stop you from exploring the beauty of the world. Instead of focusing on the bad side of the rainy season, you should be focusing on the good things. Remember that you can get huge discounts on your flight tickets during the monsoon season. Hotels are also much cheaper during the low season, and you can easily find gorgeous islands which are much less affected by the rain.<br />
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<b>Best destinations to visit in the Philippines during the rainy season</b><br />
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If you are planning to visit the Philippines during the rainy season then you should surely visit these places listed below. Sadly, popular places such as Palawan are not recommended as they are quite remote and badly affected by monsoons and typhoons. Instead, focus your itinerary on islands which are relatively sheltered, or largely populated areas where you can still enjoy your time even if it rains.<br />
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<b>1. Visayas</b><br />
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With a collection of large and small islands, Visayas is considered as the cradle of the country. Out of all the places in the Philippines, this is one of the main destinations that are worth visiting. The scenic beauty of the place never fails to mesmerize its visitors. All it takes a single ferry ride to reach the island. Anywhere you turn, you are surrounded by long patches of coral reefs and stunning beaches waiting to be explored by you.<br />
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That's me on a <a href="https://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2016/08/going-solo-in-bohol.html" target="_blank">solo trip to Bohol</a> back in August 2016.</div>
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Thanks to its location, the whole Visayas region is relatively sheltered by the monsoon. It can still rain and most days will be cloudy, but it is much better than other places in the Philippines. This means it is a good opportunity to visit islands such as Cebu, Bohol and Boracay and pay only a fraction of the price you’d pay during peak season.<br />
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<b>2. Siargao</b><br />
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Sohoton Cove, the heart and soul of Bucas Grande. Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.awanderfulsole.com/sohoton-cove-guide-itinerary-budget-bucas-grande/" target="_blank">A Wanderful Soul</a></div>
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If you have canceled your plans of surfing in the Philippines because of the rains, think again. With the rainy season around the corner, you are going to witness some huge waves, approaching the shore. If you are out for some adventure, this is the best time for you to go out and surf. Speaking of which, Siargao is the topmost destinations when it comes to surfing. At Siargao, you cannot only satisfy your surfing urges but you can also dive into the blinding beauty of the place. For non-surfers, there is no need for you to be upset as the place has a lot of other things in store as well. For example, you can opt for a day trip or go <a href="https://www.awanderfulsole.com/sohoton-cove-guide-itinerary-budget-bucas-grande/" target="_blank">explore Bucas Grande</a>.<br />
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<b>3. Cagayan De Oro</b><br />
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The best way to enjoy the Philippines during the rainy season is to participate in numerous water sports. When it comes to water sports, there is no denying that Cagayan De Oro is the place for you. Water sports are always more fun with a bit of rain. If you are game for some water adventure then you should definitely try out river rafting in the Cagayan River. Other than that, you can also enjoy some breath-taking sights around the city.<br />
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<b>4. Manila</b><br />
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My friend Francisco making a quick pit stop at the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park, Manila.
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Manila is one such place in the Philippines which can give you a great experience during the rainy season. There are dozens of <a href="https://www.karlaroundtheworld.com/exploring-manila-one-fine-rizal-day/" target="_blank">things that you can do in Manila</a> and this is what draws the attention of the visitors. If you happen to visit Manila, you can explore some of the museums around the place. Other than that, you can also enjoy other spots including Paco Park, Rizal Monument, Escolta Street and more. Even if it rains, it is very easy to travel around the city without getting wet.<br />
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<b>5. Camiguin</b><br />
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The seasons in Camiguin are somewhat reversed to those of other islands in the Philippines, making it an ideal choice for a short vacation during the rainy season. This tiny island has a few nice resorts, decent nightlife and food options. But above all, the nature and attractions in Camiguin are simply superb. The island has no less than 7 different volcanoes you can hike at, and the underwater world is simply stunning as well.<br />
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<b>Tips To Follow For Low Season Travellers</b><br />
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Now that you have made up your mind to visit the Philippines in the rainy season, you should once take a look at the tips given below.<br />
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1. Since you are going to travel during a heavy downpour, you should come wet-prepared. In other words, you should pack clothing suitable for rainy days along with raincoats and boots.<br />
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2. You should carry and wear lightweight clothes. This is to ensure that you are feeling comfortable while exploring the place.<br />
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3. You should also make a list of places that are worth visiting during the rains.<br />
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4. Consider <a href="https://www.philippinestravelpackage.com/vacations/" target="_blank">planning your vacation in the Philippines</a> with the help of a local expert. Delays and cancellations are common during these times, so it would help a lot if you have booked through a travel agency which will help you re-adjust your itinerary, and possibly even get some refunds!<br />
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5. One of the main things which you must do during the rains is to go surfing. This is something which you don’t get to enjoy every day. Also, the experience is totally worth it.<br />
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If you have plans to visit the Philippines during the rainy season, go along with it. There are plenty of things that you can do out there even during the rains. Well, that’s one of the best things about the Philippines that it never upsets its visitors.Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-974017471806704232019-04-10T22:47:00.000+08:002019-04-10T22:47:07.457+08:00How to Apply for Multiple-Entry United Kingdom Tourist Visa for Filipinos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ2Os1tkCZM/XK3mLoV0dGI/AAAAAAAAGCo/yts8HUSNXX880lkbJG3xEpaLU4GOElqDwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eQ2Os1tkCZM/XK3mLoV0dGI/AAAAAAAAGCo/yts8HUSNXX880lkbJG3xEpaLU4GOElqDwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_6301.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As mentioned in my come back post few weeks ago, I have a new passport and I'm off to getting new visas. After applying for Schengen visa, we needed to apply for United Kingdom visa as well. It was fairly easy to be honest but you need to have patience to do it on your own. ;)</div>
<a name='more'></a><b>1.</b> First step is you need to answer a few basic questions <a href="https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa" target="_blank">here</a> to make sure that you're applying for a UK tourist visa. Once you're done, you'll be redirected to this <a href="https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/visit" target="_blank">page</a>.<br />
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You'll end up in this page which is basically their online application form. Just answer all questions truthfully and honestly.<br />
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<b>2.</b> Pay the visa fee online which costs USD126.00, as of March 2019 that was around ₱6,700. After paying, you need to prepare all documents. You must have a scanner too because you need to upload the documents online. I will share docs we uploaded in a little while.<br />
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Here's how my UK visa folder looked like. I tried to organize because I was applying for 4 pax.<br />
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<img height="400" src="https://i.imgur.com/FvcfJgw.png" width="640" /><br />
You will then be redirected to the VFS UK website where you need to upload all scanned documents. This is the most tiring part because you need to scan all documents and make sure they have the right file names. If you don't want to scan, it's ok too because they can scan your docs at the VFS Center. As of March 27, 2019, they don't charge fees for scanning but they may do so in the coming future. It's best to just scan and upload docs on your own to save money.<br />
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If you're in a rush to get an appointment, you have an option to do so first and upload the scanned docs later.</div>
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<img height="200" src="https://i.imgur.com/upFP6RU.png" width="320" /> <img height="200" src="https://i.imgur.com/R5JAq4W.png" width="320" /><br />
Time slots are color-coded, make sure you choose the time in <b>BLACK</b> so that you don't need to pay extra fees when getting an appointment.<br />
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Here's a list of documents that we scanned for online upload:</div>
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1. Biographical page of the passport including travel stamps. We also scanned our old passports that contain old visas as proof of travel experience.</div>
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2. Flight and hotel details.</div>
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3. Personal bank statements, must be updated for at least 3 months.</div>
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4. Affidavit of Support including his/her bank statements and Certificate of Employment.</div>
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5. Birth Certificate and Marriage License</div>
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6. Certificate of Residency (proof that we live in a condo owned by my in-laws)</div>
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7. Travel insurance, my husband got ours from FPG Insurance.</div>
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8. Consent to Travel (for my son in case his application ends up with another consul).</div>
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9. 35x45mm passport photo with light grey, pale blue or white background. NOTE: They did not use our photos and they just took our photos together with the biometrics)</div>
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Once you've uploaded ALL of these, <b>you don't need to bring hardcopy</b> on the day of application.</div>
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<b>3.</b> Be at the VFS Center at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Leave your bag and just bring the important stuff like pen and mobile phone. You need to bring the printed copy of your confirmed appointment, document checklist, and application form. Since we did not scan all docs, we still brought all our documents with us and they scanned it there for free. Take note that we applied last March 27, 2019 so there may be a chance that they'll start charging for scanning in the future.</div>
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<b>4.</b> Once your number is called, they will check again the docs you submitted for verification. Once they think that your docs are enough, you need to pay for the extra fees the VFS will charge you like the courier fee. If I remember correctly we had to pay ₱500 per pax, it will save you time instead of going back and lining up again just to pick-up your passports. Also, do not sign-up for the email and SMS updates, it's a waste of money. They failed to update my sister about her Schengen visa application.<br />
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<b>5.</b> After paying for the courier fees, you'll need to wait again for your biometrics to be taken. Since we had our 15-month old son with us, we were upgraded to the VIP area and assumed that we instantly became priority applicants. The whole process took about 2 hours only which wasn't so bad.<br />
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So we applied last March 27 and the passport got delivered on April 10, meaning it took almost 8 working days to process our application. That wasn't so bad since the usual waiting time is 15 working days.</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-21733926248855853152019-03-20T15:09:00.001+08:002019-03-20T15:30:58.604+08:00How to Apply for Multiple-Entry Schengen Tourist Visa for Filipinos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lPhTZR4ssn8/XJGvICj5UCI/AAAAAAAAGAM/iVWSIhZzQ3YK_lbVWX99i2x1ZdckMGLEACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_5940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lPhTZR4ssn8/XJGvICj5UCI/AAAAAAAAGAM/iVWSIhZzQ3YK_lbVWX99i2x1ZdckMGLEACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_5940.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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OMG. It's been a while! Hello to all my readers! After getting married, giving birth, and actually enjoying the life of a stay-at-home mom I am finally back to blogging. My apologies for the extremely long hiatus, 2 years to be exact! It's just hard to find time lately specially now that my son is almost 15-months old and his current favorite playmate is me and only me alone. Moving on to the much more important topic...</div>
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I have a new passport and my first "stamp" is our approved 1-year multiple-entry Schengen visa that we applied through VFS (via The Netherlands). There's a rule before that you should submit your application in the country of entry but I think that doesn't apply now. Today, you should apply where you're staying the longest. Here's the step-by-step guide on how you can apply for tourist visa on your own without the assistance of travel agencies:</div>
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1. Download and print (in A4) the checklist <a href="https://www.vfsglobal.com/netherlands/philippines/pdf/Tourist-visa-check-list-1.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. You don't need to provide all documents mentioned here though. I will share another list of the docs we presented in a little while.</div>
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2. Fill-up the online form <a href="https://consular.mfaservices.nl/schengen-visa/XWGWVT/form/Advisor/Advisor/Advisor" target="_blank">here</a> and print (in A4 too!). It's highly recommended that you fill this up using a computer, much easier to than writing.</div>
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3. Prepare your passport and photocopy the personal details page, expired visas, and entry/exit stamps.</div>
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4. Present Evidence of Legal Residence - So we asked the admin of our building to give us a proof of residency certificate. You may also add an original copy of your PSA birth certificate. Another option is to present copies of billing statements.</div>
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5. 35x45mm passport photo with light grey, pale blue or white background.</div>
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6. Proof of Travel - We presented our roundtrip airline tickets as well as hotel bookings together with a sample of our itinerary. Please do take note that they ask for hotel bookings if you plan to visit other Schengen countries. We failed to present our proof of transfers though, as in train or airline bookings. Because.. it's gonna be expensive to book when we're not even sure if our application will be approve.</div>
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You also need to request for bank statements, make sure you keep the receipt from the bank because some look for it. For employees, you need to present an employment certificate with approved leave of absence within the duration of your trip.</div>
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7. Travel insurance that at least covers €30,000 and is valid all throughout the duration of your trip.</div>
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Since I'm a stay-at-home mom and can't produce other documents, I requested my husband to provide an Affidavit of Support for both me and my son. Of course I needed to ask my husband extra copies of his bank statements apart from mine as financial proof that he can indeed support all expenses for the trip.</div>
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Another document that was asked from us was to provide a letter of consent from my husband that he's allowing me and my son to travel abroad. I think this is totally optional since we already have an affidavit of support but then the lady from VFS insisted that we write one in case our application ends up in the hands of different consuls. Maybe they don't process group bookings? I'm not so sure.</div>
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Once you've completed all documents needed, you need to register and schedule an appointment with <a href="https://online.vfsglobal.com/GlobalAppointment/Account/RegisteredLogin?q=shSA0YnE4pLF9Xzwon/x/MI24mBrB3J1rBC1vdDKa5IQdrJXKYTs+DdVJBpH9l4l62M0TgE5po+LX1/0hJuhA6+nmjrIM1+2GS2oVCGJJsU=&_ga=2.21950203.1544164664.1553052012-1833054416.1553052012" target="_blank">VFS</a>.</div>
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What to expect once you're in VFS? You'll need to line up for verification and your number. Please take note that bags are not allowed inside so it's best that you leave your stuff in the car or have a companion willing to carry and wait for you outside. They do have lockers for rent but then I read somewhere that she lost her phone after leaving her stuff in the locker so better be safe than sorry!</div>
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Once they call your number, just approach the counter and they will check again your papers. Please make sure you have the original document and extra copies of your submitted docs. You wouldn't want to to pay extra charges whatsoever. I remember we needed extra photocopy of the passport and they charged us at least ₱10.00 per copy. If in case you forgot one of the needed docs, VFS will give you an hour to produce it or else you'll need to setup another appointment for your application. If you need access to printers, there's a shop across VFS that can help with the printing.</div>
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Last but not the least, you must prepare at least ₱6,000 per person, that's inclusive of courier delivery straight to our house so we don't need to go back to pick up our passports. After payment, you'll need to wait for your biometrics to be taken so yes you need to be present even if you're applying as a group. It takes 15 working days to process each application. We applied last March 12, 2019 and got our passport on the 20th of March so it was processed for less than 7 working days.</div>
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P.S. If you want a multiple-entry visa, you basically just need to ask for it by ticking the right boxes in the application form. This isn't my first time to travel to Europe but we're lucky enough to get a multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year. ;) Goodluck with your application, Travel Junkies!</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-23378487816725589632017-01-03T21:13:00.000+08:002019-03-20T15:11:11.676+08:00Tokyo to Sapporo via the Hokkaido Shinkansen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our latest trip took a total of <a href="http://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2016/12/10-days-in-japan-for-only-php50000.html" target="_blank">10 days</a> and 2 of them were literally spent inside different types of shinkansen to get to Sapporo and Fukuoka from Tokyo. The photo you see above is the latest train to be added to the list of many bullet trains in Japan and it is called the Hokkaido Shinkansen. This train takes you from JR Tokyo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto station in approximately 4 hours. But from Shin-Hakodate, you need to transfer again to another train to get to Sapporo and it takes another 4 hours. So how was the experience like? F-U-N!</div>
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Here's our itinerary as mentioned in my previous post. I know there's an option to just hop on a plane and fly to northern or southern Japan but where's the fun in that?! Naddaaa.</div>
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Riding the shinkansen will always be a fun experience and I'm loving the vibe on this new train.</div>
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The train feels very much new since it was launched last March 2016. And did I mention spacious too?</div>
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So how does one survive almost 10 hours inside the train? Snacks of course! Load up! Haha. It is best to buy food in train stations (better if you get it outside the station since it's cheaper) instead of buying one inside the train. My usual meal? Tonkatsu with rice <i>siyempre</i>!</div>
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Here's my boyfriend looking very comfortable in his seat. See the grocery bag on the right? ;) It's our survival bag filled with Japanese food from the grocery. It's a hassle to carry excess baggage but trust us, you'll need food to survive. HAHA.</div>
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The standard one-way shinkansen fare from Tokyo to Sapporo will cost you ¥31,520 but since we have a JR pass (that we got for ₱13,682), it practically costs nothing. The goal of the trip anyway is maximizing that JR pass and I believe we nailed it! So if you've ever thought of train hopping in Japan I say go for it! ;)</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-59045632480964915542016-12-06T23:35:00.000+08:002016-12-07T12:11:42.806+08:0010 Days in Japan for only Php50,000<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It may sound crazy but yes, I finally did it! I just came back from Japan where I took advantage of my 1-week JR Pass and went to Sapporo, Tokyo, and Fukuoka.</div>
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But before I completely lay out our itinerary, let's first talk about the JR Pass. The JR Pass is exclusively available to all tourists visiting Japan. You can't buy it upon arrival, you must purchase it before entering Japan. This pass authorizes the holder to have unlimited train rides under the JR line so it's very recommended to those staying for a week or even a month! ;)</div>
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Before, we used to buy our passes from <a href="https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/" target="_blank">Japan-Rail-Pass.com</a> (London-based travel agency), but now we prefer buying direct from <a href="http://www.attictours.asia/japanRailPass.php" target="_blank">Attic Tours</a> here in Manila. The rate of the JR Pass depends on the forex so by the time we got our 1-week JR Pass, it already costs us <b>₱13,682</b> (per pax). To know more about the JR Pass click <a href="http://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2014/12/our-first-shinkansen-ride.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<span id="goog_1297012519"></span></div>
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Our point of entry was in Tokyo via Narita Airport. This was also my first time to see the beautiful facade of Tokyo Station.</div>
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Halloween is always fun in Tokyo and I'm glad my fiancé agreed to stay here for a couple of days. </div>
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For our accommodation in Tokyo, we stayed with my cousin so obviously, we did not have to pay anything for that. But based on our previous trips, you can find a decent Airbnb in Tokyo CBD for <b>₱3,500 </b>per night. For the benefit of this blog post let's just say we spent <b>₱10,500 </b>for our 3-night stay in Tokyo<b>.</b></div>
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The real adventure started on November 1 when we had to leave Tokyo for Sapporo. This video was taken around 8:20AM and was uploaded on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheTravelJunkie.info" target="_blank">The Travel Junkie Facebook page</a>. Our estimated time of arrival in Sapporo Station was around 5:30PM but there was a bit of a delay (SURPRISINGLY!) and we arrived at our final destination (<a href="http://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2016/11/spacious-airbnb-in-sapporo.html" target="_blank">which was our Airbnb</a>) around 7:30PM.</div>
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Our Airbnb was located in the red light district of Susukino in Sapporo, you may read the review <a href="http://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2016/11/spacious-airbnb-in-sapporo.html" target="_blank">here</a>. We stayed here for another 3 nights for a total of <b>₱11,200</b>.</div>
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Sapporo is beautiful but I'm gonna reserve photos for another post so watch out for that.</div>
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November 4: We checked out early just to make it in time for our 6:00AM trip going back to Tokyo. This one was quite memorable since we had to take a cab to get to the station. We never ride taxi's in Japan 'coz we know it is expensive. If I'm not mistaken we paid around ¥800 for a trip that only took like 5 mins. HAHA. We actually have the option to walk but it was freezing cold outside and it's been raining during our stay. Better safe than sorry folks!</div>
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TIP: Save time by getting reserved shinkansen tickets at least a day before the trip.</div>
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The regular express trip from Sapporo to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station takes around 3.5 hours and from here we're riding the Hokkaido Shinkansen that will take us back to Tokyo. This is Japan's newest bullet train with a maximum speed of 300km/h. I'm gonna blog about this in another post too so please watch out for that. ;)</div>
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By 2:30PM we finally arrived in Tokyo and here's a selfie before riding another train that will bring us to Osaka. You really need a ton of patience if you want to experience this kind of trip! Haha.</div>
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Here's another video but this time from Osaka Station. If I'm not mistaken this was around 6:30PM and we had to transfer to another train for one last time before reaching Fukuoka Station. The train you see above is called the Sakura Shinkansen.</div>
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By 8:30PM we finally arrived at the Hakata Station in Fukuoka. You have no idea how happy I was to be finally walking around. LOL. I think the trip took almost 15 hours. We had to skip parts of central Japan since we've already been to Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya.</div>
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Good thing our <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/5232019" target="_blank">Airbnb</a> was literally just 5 minutes away from Hakata station and was walking distance from nearby tourist spots. This one costs us <b>₱16,000</b> for 4 nights.</div>
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Let's add up everything, shall we? So <b style="text-align: center;">₱13,682 (JR Pass) </b><span style="text-align: center;">+</span><b style="text-align: center;"> </b><span style="text-align: center;"><strike>₱10,500</strike><b> </b></span><b style="text-align: center;">₱5,250</b><b style="text-align: center;"> (Tokyo) </b><span style="text-align: center;">+</span><b style="text-align: center;"> </b><span style="text-align: center;"><strike>₱11,200</strike><b> </b></span><b style="text-align: center;">₱5,600</b><b style="text-align: center;"> (Sapporo) </b><span style="text-align: center;">+</span><b style="text-align: center;"> </b><span style="text-align: center;"><strike>₱16,000</strike><b> </b></span><b style="text-align: center;">₱8,000</b><b style="text-align: center;"> (Fukuoka) = </b><b style="text-align: center;"><u>₱32,532</u></b><span style="text-align: center;"> NOTE: </span><u style="text-align: center;">Accommodation was divided to two since my boyfriend and I share all the expenses. Airfare and food not included in the computation.</u></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">But to give you an estimate, we more or less spent </span><b style="text-align: center;">₱50,000</b><span style="text-align: center;"> each if we will include food in the computation. This just goes to show that it is indeed possible to travel around Japan within that budget <u><b>(or even lesser than that!)</b></u> for 10 days. The best way to do so is to definitely book in advance. Our accommodations were actually booked while we were already in Japan so it was a bit expensive as expected.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Overall, I think this was one of our most productive trips. It might sound crazy at first (taking the train from Sapporo to Fukuoka) but it was actually fun hopping from one train to another. This type of trip is not for everyone but if you're feeling adventurous then I highly recommend that you go!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">P.S. According to Google Maps, our trip to Fukuoka from Sapporo would've cost us almost ¥45,000. The JR Pass might sound expensive at first but once maximized, you'll realize that it is actually worth it. ;) </span></div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-20801495399036006012016-11-29T19:52:00.000+08:002019-09-19T20:42:46.546+08:00Spacious Airbnb in Sapporo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ohayou gozaimasu! I just got back from a trip to Japan (for the 3rd time this 2016!) but this time around I went to Sapporo. Check out our <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4654974" target="_blank">Airbnb</a> which is just a minute away from Hosui-susukino Station.</div>
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Let's first talk about the spacious living room. I love that there's a heated table provided. It felt so comfy just sitting there while having our breakfast or dinner.<br />
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My only complaint so far with the bed is that it was too low and had limited pillows.<br />
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As expected from every Japanese apartment, toilet and bath have separate rooms.<br />
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The kitchen had complete amenities but of course, we did not bother using most of them since it's obviously easier to buy food from nearby restaurants.<br />
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As for the location, it was perfect. The apartment was walking distance to nearby tourist spots as well the <a href="https://www.apahotel.com/hotel/hokkaido/01_sapporo/english/" target="_blank">APA Hotel Sapporo</a>.<br />
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The rate differs per season but during our stay this November, it was already around ₱5,500 per day which is good for 2 pax and is inclusive of tax and other charges. If you're interested to book this apartment, click <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4654974" target="_blank">here</a>. For first timers, you may get additional discount by signing up <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/c/cmariano" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-37722134912791942422016-11-23T21:45:00.000+08:002019-09-06T10:17:23.187+08:00El Nido Resorts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the many surprises that our Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) familiarization tour has in store for us was actually our 2-nights stay in El Nido Resorts. El Nido Resorts is a group of luxury and sustainable island resorts in Palawan. They have a total of 4 resorts located in different islands around El Nido namely <a href="http://www.elnidoresorts.com/apulit-island/" target="_blank">Apulit</a>, <a href="http://www.elnidoresorts.com/miniloc-island/" target="_blank">Miniloc</a>, <a href="http://www.elnidoresorts.com/lagen-island/" target="_blank">Lagen</a>, and <a href="http://www.elnidoresorts.com/pangulasian-island/" target="_blank">Pangulasian</a>. For this trip, we stayed at Lagen and Miniloc. Let's start the hotel review with El Nido Resorts Lagen, shall we?</div>
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Lagen Island has the densest forest over limestone out of the 45 islands and islets of Bacuit Bay. It serves as a home for a diverse variety of birds and mammals. They have a total of 50 rooms that includes these water cottages built on stilts above the water.</div>
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I stayed in their Forest Room which was located pretty much beside the forest. The room is quite spacious, probably around 60sqm in size.</div>
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My room has an extra sofa bed so it can easily accommodate up to 3 pax.</div>
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All rooms have their own veranda as well. Say hi to my neighbor <a href="http://www.pohtecktoes.com/" target="_blank">Hendric Tay</a>, he is the puppet master/founder of <a href="https://www.thetravelintern.com/" target="_blank">The Travel Intern</a>.</div>
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Their bathroom feels a little bit old and needs refurbishing. Must be the lights?</div>
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As for the buffet, it was ok. It had the usual stuff, I expected more seafood though.</div>
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We had a pleasant time in Lagen despite spending only one night in the island. According to Agoda, a night in El Nido Resorts Lagen costs around ₱20,000-₱26,000 per pax. Again, I did not pay anything as this was part of the familiarization trip hosted by TBEX and the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB).</div>
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Let's move on to El Nido Resorts Miniloc Island, shall we? Say hello to Larmie, she works for the travel agency that organized our trip. :)</div>
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Before I begin, I'd like to give a moment of silence for my favorite swimsuit that I left in Miniloc. It took me a week to realize that I left it in the resort. They tried to look for it in my room but obviously, someone must've already gotten it. I love you swimsuit! It was nice traveling around El Nido with you.</div>
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I stayed at one of their Deluxe Seaview Rooms and for some weird reason, I am digging the rustic vibes or native interior design. This room felt a bit more spacious compared to the one in Lagen. <i>May paandar pa na fruits, kaso hindi ko naman nakain. </i>A night in Miniloc will cost you ₱20,000-₱25,000 per pax.</div>
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The best part of staying in Miniloc is that it's literally like 2 mins away from the Big and Small Lagoon with a speedboat. We actually had the said tourist spots to ourselves since tours from El Nido town proper were suspended due to bad weather.</div>
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I apologize in advance if you don't see any food photos in this post. I was probably so hungry to even think of taking photos. Like I said earlier, they serve the usual buffet spread you see in a Filipino restaurant. It's better than none actually. I heard from a friend that they weren't satisfied as well with the meals served in Pangulasian during their stay few months ago, to think they ordered ala carte since buffet was only available during breakfast.</div>
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Overall, I appreciate the time we spent in both El Nido Resorts. I'd highly recommend it to honeymooners or families who have extra $$$ to spend. Thank you once again to TBEX and TPB for hosting our stay. ;)</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-33423274430882139522016-11-16T16:11:00.000+08:002019-05-24T22:55:46.662+08:00Experience Palawan with Tao (3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnUKEVfzWD0/WCvn8MmWAFI/AAAAAAAADC0/wnTbEitYMbA_uBuwy1OmBPpCZufrtZfagCLcB/s1600/27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnUKEVfzWD0/WCvn8MmWAFI/AAAAAAAADC0/wnTbEitYMbA_uBuwy1OmBPpCZufrtZfagCLcB/s640/27.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our last stop for our private Tao tour is Daracotan Island</div>
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Daracotan Island is right across Tao's main base camp and the photo above is just one of the many base camps that Tao Philippines offer their guests during expedition season. The moment we arrived on the island, I instantly felt at home. :) </div>
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To those wondering how on earth do we hop from one island to another, see the photo below. The majority of our stuff is hidden safely inside the boat. It's ok to leave them behind since crew members sleep there at night. </div>
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We were given instructions few days before the trip to bring a separate (dry) bag that contains all the essentials we need while on the island. Please refer to the list on <a href="http://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2016/10/experience-palawan-with-tao-1.html" target="_blank">part 1</a> of this post.</div>
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You have an option whether to swim or ride a kayak to the shore.</div>
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We weren't able to do that much on the island since the weather wasn't cooperating. The bad weather was brought to us by the tail-end of Super Typhoon Haima (locally named as Lawin) that passed by the Philippines last October 2016.</div>
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I tried snorkeling because there's a small shipwreck (as mentioned by the locals) roughly a hundred meters away from the shore (see lower left part of the picture). I did not stay long, though, since I spotted a few jellyfish and hundreds of sea urchin below.</div>
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Speaking of sea urchins, one of the Tao crew read our minds when he got us a <i>batya</i> full of them!</div>
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I'm not exactly sure what type of sea urchin are those and I didn't really care anymore because I LOVE ALL THINGS UNI.</div>
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Since there weren't any activities left to do, all of us basically just chilled and shared stories with the rest of the group. I failed to get tons of photos since I was into that moment of feeling disconnected and just going with the flow. Moving on..</div>
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Before leaving, the crew allowed us to hop on the 72-ft native sailing boat which they call the Tao Paraw. It recently underwent a few repairs and refurbishing to keep it in tip-top shape for the next sailing season.</div>
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Here is Gener Paduga, he is Tao's Engineer, bamboo craftsman, and captain of the paraw. I guess one of his goals in life is to revive the lost art of native sailing in Palawan. I remember him telling me that he can go around the seas of Palawan even without a map. He knows where to go just by looking at the stars!</div>
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It would've been fun if we went to Linapacan Island onboard the paraw. Sadly, we were allowed to sail only around Daracotan Bay since typhoon signals were up.</div>
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I have a love-hate relationship when traveling with other bloggers. Why? There's just so many cameras around! Haha. I love how crew members are so used to taking pictures with a camera or dslr.</div>
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If you were to ask will I do this again? Definitely! Joining Tao Philippines has got to be the best retreat if you want to take a break from everyone. It's not every day that I get a chance to reconnect with the environment and totally get disconnected with my social life online.</div>
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One last group pic with the crew before we go back to the town of El Nido.</div>
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To be honest, it's a bit expensive (for Filipinos, obviously!) since joining fee ranges from ₱26,000-32,000 (roughly around $650) depending on the season, it does not include yet the transfers from Manila. But trust me, you get what you pay for. 25% of the company income goes straight to the environmental and social projects of the Tao Kalahi Foundation. That's a big help for the crew and the rest of the community that helped built Tao.</div>
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Once again, I'd like to thank the people from <a href="http://www.tbexcon.com/" target="_blank">Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX)</a> and the <a href="https://www.tpb.gov.ph/" target="_blank">Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines</a> for making this trip possible. Joining a <a href="http://www.taophilippines.com/" target="_blank">Tao Philippines</a> expedition was always at the top of my travel bucket list and I still can't believe up to now that I finally did it. :) </div>
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A big thank you also to the crew and everyone behind Tao. The trip never felt like it was an expedition but more of a retreat where we get to go back to our roots. It was a good break from reality and I look forward to joining again soon.</div>
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Last but not the least, thank you to all my fellow travel bloggers. It was a pleasure meeting you all in person and getting to know each and every one of you. I hope I get travel again with you all soon!</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-31959675690808351272016-11-13T16:58:00.000+08:002019-04-10T22:47:42.751+08:00Experience Palawan with Tao (2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before heading straight to Tao's main basecamp, we made a quick stop at Cabuli Island to check out their project which is called the Tao Academy. The learning center was made possible by the Tao Kalahi Foundation in cooperation with the families based in rural islands around El Nido, Palawan.</div>
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Tutors are based on the same island and were actually trained by a retired teacher who willingly shared her knowledge about school curriculums.</div>
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People behind Tao believes that education is the solution for elevating poverty and I couldn't agree more. If people are educated then they can make their own informed decisions to better their own lives. These learning centers are open for any children of any age, giving them the chance to learn and catch up with the curriculum until they are ready to move to the government schools.</div>
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What's more awesome is that after graduating high school, Tao offers talented students full scholarships to university and colleges in Palawan and Manila. :)</div>
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Moving on, Cabuli Island also hosts Tao expedition-ers and the hut you see above is called Tuka (bird's beak) which was designed by Tao's Engineer and bamboo craftsman, Gener Paduga.</div>
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We have a few minutes to spare so I had time to walk around to chat with the locals. I also saw these kids picking up a few seashells from the shore.</div>
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Here's <a href="http://www.pohtecktoes.com/" target="_blank">Henrick Tay</a>, Sean Nolan, Shera Karim, and Boom Garcia swimming after a long day in Cabuli Island. I wasn't in the mood yet to jump in since I haven't fully recovered from the rashes I got from jellyfish stings/sea lice bites from an earlier trip also in El Nido.</div>
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It was getting dark by the time we arrived at Tao's main base camp. Here you can see the chefs from other boats, all working together to prepare dinner for expeditioners.</div>
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I was quite impressed by the food they served us for dinner. The photo on the left is probably one of the best tasting spring rolls I've ever had in my entire life! To think I hate vegetables! It was that good! ;) I'm craving for it as I type this post. And for our main course, roasted pork ribs, and pork loin. They're both juicy and flavorful. Everything is organic by the way, all were harvested from the Tao Farm.</div>
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By 10:00PM it was completely dark in the island since the generator is available from 6-10PM only. While others get their beauty rest, we've decided that the night is still young so they set up a bonfire for us complete with an acoustic performance from the boat crew.</div>
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I was settled inside my own tuka by midnight. They've set up our bed complete with mosquito nets which made it a bit uncomfortable but still comfortable, you get what I mean? Haha. It started raining hard in the early morning, probably around 3:00AM. I got a bit worried but then I assured myself that I'm in a safe place (at least on an island and not inside a boat) despite the howling winds.</div>
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After a great dinner we had the night before, I was very much looking forward to breakfast, and boy they did not disappoint! Their homemade bacon was a bit on the fatty side but tasted ohhh sooo good!</div>
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We also had a chance to meet one of the co-founders, Eddie Brock, who even gave us a tour of the Tao base camp and their farm.</div>
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We had a short briefing and introduction about Tao inside their Foundation Center which could possibly be the biggest bamboo structure in the Philippines. This was designed by Architect Jack Foottit which also happens to be one of the co-founders of Tao.</div>
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Here's Eddie with Tao crew Jeff giving us a walking tour around the base camp.</div>
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The Tao farm is self-sufficient in terms of producing their own goods. This production is called Permaculture, where humans don't fight against nature but understand it, work with it and live within it. Everything here is organic. I'm also quite amazed by the fact that their piggery does not smell at all. ;)</div>
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The Tao Farm and main base camp are located somewhere at the northern part of El Nido island, right across Daracotan Island, which will be part 3 of my post about Tao Expedition. Watch out for it guys! ;)</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-50725533972949260952016-10-25T21:04:00.000+08:002017-01-03T21:14:05.586+08:00Experience Palawan with Tao (1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Onboard the paraw is David Stock of <a href="http://www.divergenttravelers.com/" target="_blank">Divergent Travelers</a>, Anton Diaz of <a href="http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/" target="_blank">Our Awesome Planet</a> and Jeff, our guide for our private <a href="http://www.taophilippines.com/" target="_blank">Tao Expedition</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://tbexcon.com/2016-asia/" target="_blank">Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX) Asia Pacific 2016</a> has officially come to a close. Congratulations to the organizer, <a href="https://www.tpb.gov.ph/" target="_blank">Tourism Promotions Board</a>, for successfully hosting this event in the Philippines! ;)</div>
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I've been following TBEX for quite some time now. It is one of the largest conference and networking event for travel bloggers, travel brands, and industry professionals. I was excited to attend this event and hurriedly signed up to take advantage of the early bird rate when they announced back in October 2015 that they're coming to the Philippines. I attended a few talks and got inspired by <a href="http://www.mikesroadtrip.com/" target="_blank">Mike Shubic</a>, <a href="http://www.thetravelcamel.com/" target="_blank">Shane Dallas</a>, and <a href="http://www.1000places.com/" target="_blank">Patricia Schultz</a> just to name a few.<br />
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But the thing I was looking forward to the most, and probably other travel bloggers too, are the post familiarization tours around the country. FAM trips were held between October 17-21, 2016 and we had to choose one from seventeen different locations. Out of almost 400 travelers, I luckily got picked to join the Tao Expedition. To give you a brief background about Tao, please watch the video below:</div>
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Tao means “people” in Filipino and is pronounced as Ta-O (not as the single syllable, tao). It was founded by Eddie Brock and Jack Foottit and their primary goal is to immerse participants in the authentic Filipino island life. The expedition usually takes place in Coron, Culion, Linipacan, and El Nido - for 5 days and 4 nights - but since we're on a private tour it was shortened to 3 days. The rest were spent in another luxury resort but I shall reserve that for my next post. ;)</div>
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Upon arrival in El Nido, we went straight to the Tao Office where we met with our guide Jeff for a briefing on our upcoming expedition. <b><u>Basically, there's no plan.</u></b> Every trip differs from the other. It will all depend on the mood of all the participants and of course the weather.</div>
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Below is a list of essentials you need to pack when joining Tao Expedition:</div>
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1. <b>Dry Bag</b> - This is a must-have to keep your gadgets safe and sound.</div>
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2. <b>Towel</b> - Another must have since they don't provide towels, probably for hygienic purposes. Make sure they're the light and fast drying ones. My favorite is the <a href="http://www.seatosummit.com/product/?item=DryLite+Towel+%26trade%3B+&o1=0&o2=0&o3=271-37" target="_blank">DryLite Towel™</a> from Sea to Summit.</div>
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3. <b>Refillable water bottle</b> - Save the world, stop using plastic cups and use a water bottle to keep yourselves hydrated!</div>
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4. <b>Clothes</b> - Choose the quick drying type of clothing. Bring extra just in case you get stranded somewhere.</div>
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5. <b>Rash Guard</b> - It might depend on the season but jellyfish and sea lice are quite rampant in different parts of Palawan.</div>
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6. <b>First-Aid Kit</b> - Must contain the basics including meclizine (to prevent motion sickness), insect repellents, and other ointments (for jellyfish sting).</div>
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7. <b>Headlamps</b> - You're visiting remote areas so there's a 100% chance that there's no electricity on the island. I do regret not bringing mine since I thought cell phone flashlight will do but no, it just drained my battery.</div>
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8. <b>Power Banks</b> - Make sure all gadgets are fully charged before leaving the house. Another option is to invest on those solar chargers that come in handy when electricity is not regularly available.</div>
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9. <b>Sandals</b> - The problem with trek sandals is that they smell overtime which is not good. Plus they don't look cool. I have yet to find a fashionable pair of beach sandals so after berating Crocs for years I have caved and bought a pair of <a href="http://www.zappos.com/p/crocs-sexi-flip-black-black/product/7735463/color/183092" target="_blank">Crocs Sexi Flip</a>.</div>
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10. <b>Sunscreen and Sunglasses</b> - Need I say more?</div>
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Our first day started in the port of El Nido where we met up with the Tao crew. Check out Kuya Jhun filling up the coolers with booze! On the right are my new found friends namely <a href="https://www.instagram.com/seanmgn_/" target="_blank">Sean Nolan</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/boomgarcia/" target="_blank">Boom Garcia</a>, both from <a href="http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/" target="_blank">Our Awesome Planet</a>. And the lovely <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ilovezade/" target="_blank">Shera Karim</a> from the Tourism Promotions Board.</div>
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Our first stop is Nacpan beach which is approximately 20kms away from the town proper of El Nido. It took us an hour to get here by boat, other modes of transport to Nacpan are either by car or scooter.</div>
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This part of the island is also famous for its Twin Beach. Nacpan beach is on the left while the other is known as Calitang beach.</div>
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Nacpan reminds me of the early days of Boracay, unspoiled and unexploited. It boasts a long beach (around 4kms long) with beige to white sands. We had the beach practically to ourselves and less than a dozen tourists.</div>
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We had an hour in Nacpan and it might not look like it but all of us were actually "doing our job". Check out the other half of Divergent Travelers, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/divergenttravelers/">Lina Stock</a>, waiting to catch their drone. And of course, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ourawesomeplanet/">Anton Diaz</a>, founder of Our Awesome Planet. Here he is sharing a beer to other tourists passing by. I'm sure he's promoting the beauty of El Nido and the Philippines! ;)</div>
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After our quick stop in Nacpan, it was time to hop on the boat for lunch! ;) All these dishes were prepared onboard by the talented Chef Mike. Not in the photo is a favorite of the Filipinos which they call Filipino Power a.k.a steamed rice.</div>
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Moving on, I am ending the post for now because I don't want to bombard your screens with hi-res photos. :p But don't worry coz as you read this post I'm already uploading part 2 and 3 of my Tao Expedition experience. See you in a few, Travel Junkies! ;)</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-67743892312539574972016-09-26T14:03:00.000+08:002016-11-29T19:52:34.597+08:00How to Apply for Australian Tourist Visa Online<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi, there! Paolo here, Maye's boyfriend. I rarely blog but I'd like to share my experience on how to apply for an Australian tourist visa online. The first thing that needs to be done is to create an account with the <a href="https://online.immi.gov.au/lusc/login" target="_blank">Australian Government Department of Immigration (IMMI)</a>. Be sure that you write correct and accurate details as you may not be able to edit this anymore.<br />
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After creating an account, a confirmation will be sent to the email address you provided. Just click on the link found on the email and your account will be confirmed.<br />
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Now, proceed to website’s dashboard and select “New Application”.<br />
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Select “Visitor Visa (600)”- assuming that you are visiting Australia for recreation or tour purposes, otherwise, select the option that best applies to you.<br />
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This is basically an online version of the subclass 600 (<a href="http://www.border.gov.au/forms/Documents/1419.pdf" target="_blank">form 1419</a>) tourist visa application form. Make sure to fill up all spaces. If the question is not applicable to you just type in NA.<br />
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Since this is an online application, you now have the option to pay via credit/debit card as long as it’s Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, or Diners Club International. Please be reminded that there are additional charges for online payments. It ranges from 1.08% to 2.91%, depending on the card that you will use. That’s an additional AUD1.40 to AUD3.78, to the original application fee of AUD130 for the Visitor Visa 600. With my application back in July 2015, I got charged a total of PHP 4,715.54. That's obviously cheaper than applying with VFS Global.<br />
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After paying, you now have to submit scanned copies of the required documents. If you are unsure of what is being required or if you just want to double check, just click on the question mark (?) on the right side. You don’t want your visa application to be denied because you submitted a wrong document, right?<br />
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Here are the documents I uploaded online. You don't necessarily need to provide everything since these are basically the same docs that you submit when applying with VFS Global.<br />
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The online visa application took approximately a month, more or less, for processing. In my case, I started my application on June 23, 2015, and completed all the requirements on June 29, 2015. I got my visa grant notice via email on July 29, 2015.<br />
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I remember one of our blog readers mentioned that his online application took only a day of processing. I guess he applied back when this online service was introduced to the Filipino market. Sabayan mo na rin ng swerte! ;)<br />
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So will I recommend applying for an Australian Visa online? Definitely! I just love the convenience of doing everything online and being able to save a small amount of money for mailing the physical documents to the Australian Embassy. <a href="http://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2014/01/how-to-apply-for-australian-tourist.html" target="_blank">If you want to submit the traditional way then you may view that post here</a>. I hope that you learned something from this blog and I wish you good luck in your visa application!<br />
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P.S. This application is for Philippine passport holders only. If you have any questions, just <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheTravelJunkie.info" target="_blank">'LIKE'</a> my Facebook page and you may send me a PM there. Thanks! :)</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-65212784095894509652016-09-16T12:15:00.000+08:002016-11-23T21:46:15.003+08:00Ride Along Motorcycle Tours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Travel Concierge Philippines (TCP) introduce the Ride Along Motorcycle Tours (RAMT)</div>
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As an Anonymous once said, "Never be afraid to try something new, because life gets boring when you stay within the limits of what you already know.", and that's exactly what I did when I got invited to join a motorcycle tour to Taal, Batangas.</div>
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TCP is a boutique travel agency that is the first to offer motorcycle tours in the Philippines. When I say motorcycle, I'm talking about the big guns, just like the Harley Davidson you see above. They currently offer tours to Tagaytay, Zambales, Batangas, Baler and Baguio just to name a few.<br />
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There are two options when signing up to join a tour; you can rent and drive your own motorcycle or be a back rider. Obviously, I'm new to this so I had no choice but to be a back rider.</div>
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Passenger safety is always TCP's top priority so upon arrival at the office there was a pre-ride briefing for us newbies, plus they provided all the necessary riding gear and accessories. Don't forget that they provide travel insurance too! ;)</div>
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Our ride destination is the heritage town of Taal, Batangas which is approximately a hundred kilometers away from Manila. If I remember correctly we had two stops (one in Shell SLEX and Twin Lakes Tagaytay) but our ride got delayed by almost an hour because of moderate to heavy rains along Diokno Highway in Lemery, Batangas.</div>
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Stopover at Twin Lakes for breakfast at Bag of Beans. Happy to meet the people behind Ride Along Motorcycle Tours and fellow bloggers, <a href="http://www.mylifeonboard.net/" target="_blank">Mike</a> and <a href="http://www.caferacer.ph/" target="_blank">Alwyn</a>.</div>
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By 12 noon we finally arrived at the Heritage Town of Taal, which is famous for its old ancestral houses. According to Wikipedia, Taal is also known as the Balisong (butterfly or fan knife) and Barong Tagalog (formal shirt for men) Capital of the Philippines.</div>
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We also made a quick stop at the Basilica of Taal commonly known as the Basilica of St. Martin de Tours. It is dubbed as the largest Catholic church in Asia and I couldn't agree more. My Huawei P9 struggled to take a photo of its facade!</div>
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Our last stop in Taal was in Feliza Taverna y Cafe for lunch.</div>
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Feliza is named in honor of Feliza Diokno, personal secretary of Filipino revolutionary president, Emilio Aguinaldo. She served as Secretary-Treasurer General of the Asociacion de los Veteranos dela Revolucion. Apart from the restaurant, Feliza also offers <a href="https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/9889867">bed and breakfast</a>.</div>
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Food served was superb and prices were pocket-friendly too! ;)</div>
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Before I end this post I'd like to share a selfie with this guy who made this tour possible. Meet Mr. Pat Favoreal, Founder and CEO of Travel Concierge Philippines, also the brainchild of Ride Along Motorcycle Tours. Thank you for inviting us and I hope to ride with you guys again soon! ;)</div>
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Our tour ended when we arrived back at the Travel Concierge HQ around 5:30PM and felt literally tired as fuck! I actually got sick the day after since we experienced warm, wet, and cold weather along the way but it was all worth it. The ride itself was definitely an exhilarating experience and I can't wait to ride again. For those interested to join their tours you may visit their website at <a href="http://www.travelconcierge.com.ph/" target="_blank">TravelConcierge.com.ph</a> or follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/travelconciergephilippines/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!</div>
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P.S. Take advantage of the ₱500-1,000 discount promo for ALL motorcycle tours from October up to December 31, 2016. Check out the complete published rates <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5t0wexemuh6k97n/AAA8vQp6TWg-PyMsWpbDqG-ta?dl=0" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-54724114135910203102016-09-09T18:07:00.000+08:002016-09-09T18:15:50.806+08:00Tours Around El Nido<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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That's me waiting for the others to come back from the Hidden Beach.</div>
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"Skip tour B...", suggested by a friend when I asked which tours to take a for 4D3N stay in El Nido. As a first timer, I don't usually google or research the places I'm about to visit. I prefer feeling and seeing things with my own eyes and not because of other's judgement. Yung feeling of excitement kapag on the way ka na.. iba! :)<br />
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There are <a href="http://ipilsuites.com/elnido/tours/" target="_blank">3 different island tours</a> offered in El Nido, we signed up for Tour A on our first day which costs ₱1,200 per pax inclusive of lunch. The boat is shared with other tourists and guides will take you to the Big Lagoon, Small Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon and Seven Commandos Island.<br />
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First stop was the Big Lagoon where we only had less than 20 minutes to stay and take photos.<br />
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Next stop was the Shimizu Island where we had almost an hour and a half for swimming and lunch.<br />
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Be careful when swimming, there were sea urchins hidden beneath rocks and my sister's friend Kim accidentally stepped on one. Good thing the other boats had white vinegar in stock so that's what we used as first aid instead of peeing on her foot! LOL. Sea urchin spikes dissolve anyway so it takes a few hours before the pain goes away.<br />
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We had a very heavy lunch of chicken and pork barbecue with grilled seafood like fish and squid.<br />
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After a very heavy lunch, it was time to exercise in the Small Lagoon. We had an hour to swim or go kayaking. Rental fee per use is ₱300 per kayak, good for 1-2 pax.<br />
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Last stop for Tour A was the beautiful Seven Commandos Island that reminded me so much of Boracay. The sand may not be as white but it felt powdery. I wouldn't mind just hanging out here all day.<br />
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To those looking for Secret Lagoon pics, just visit this <a href="http://www.thepoortraveler.net/2012/03/secret-lagoon-miniloc-island-el-nido-palawan/" target="_blank">blog</a>. I did not bother bringing my camera since it wasn't waterproof plus we were required to walk/swim to get to the lagoon itself. Sadly, it was very crowded when we visited so I did not appreciate it that much. Para ka lang naglakad sa binahang bahay. LOL. Let's move on to Tour C, shall we? The rate for Tour C is ₱1,400 per pax inclusive of lunch. :)</div>
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First stop was Helicopter Island. I think the name of the island is self-explanatory already but then I think they should rename it to Drumstick Island. Puwede 'no? Haha.<br />
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We only had a brief stopover in Helicopter Island. I think we were given 30 mins there for snorkeling.<br />
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Next stop was Hidden Beach where we had to swim/walk a few meters from the boat to see the hidden beach hiding behind the limestones. The 100-meter beach strip is also known as Kulasa Beach.<br />
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After visiting the Hidden Beach, we had lunch on Star Beach which was across Matinloc Shrine. Matinloc Shrine used to be a part of Tour C but then it was recently acquired by a private company meaning you need to pay an extra entrance of ₱100-150 per pax. The group decided to skip this part of the tour and went ahead to our next stop which was the Secret Beach located also in Matinloc Island.<br />
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Note: From this moment on, photos posted were grabbed from other travel blogs since my camera died on this part of the tour. I'd like to thank in advance <a href="https://wanderfong.com/" target="_blank">Deb Fong</a> and <a href="http://www.thepoortraveler.net/" target="_blank">Yoshke Dimen</a> for their photos. Please feel free to visit their awesome blogs as well. :)<br />
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Getting to the Secret Beach has got to be the most exhilarating part of Tour C. This part of the island is facing open waters of the West Philippine Sea so expect a bumpy, jumpy, rough ride when coming here, especially later in the afternoon. Photo Credit: <a href="https://wanderfong.com/2015/06/22/paradise-found-stunning-enchanting-el-nido-palawan/" target="_blank">Wanderfong.com</a><br />
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To get to the beach you need to swim at least 50 meters from the boat to that tiny hole as seen in the photo. The struggle was real! One of us almost drowned because of panic after she realized that waters were too deep for her. Good thing she was wearing a life vest.<br />
Photo Credit: <a href="http://www.thepoortraveler.net/2012/02/secret-beach-el-nido-palawan/" target="_blank">ThePoorTraveler.net</a><br />
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Here's another photo of what to expect when swimming on your way to the Secret Beach.<br />
Photo Credit: <a href="https://wanderfong.com/2015/06/22/paradise-found-stunning-enchanting-el-nido-palawan/" target="_blank">Wanderfong.com</a><br />
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Anyway, Mama (who doesn't know how to swim) was getting too paranoid of our situation (we were basically left floating in rough waters for approximately 45 mins) so as I expected I became too chickenshit to try and swim to get to the Secret Beach even if I had my life vest on. I ended up floating beside our boat to lessen that feeling of nausea.<br />
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Mini souvenir from El Nido</div>
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One last thing before I end this blog post. Make sure you're wearing the proper swim attire when swimming in El Nido. I came home with a few spots of rashes all over my body. At first, I assumed these were bed bug bites from Ipil Suites. But according to Dr. Google, I think I got stung by sea lice or other types of algae floating in the sea near Secret Beach. :( They're almost healed now, I used Bactroban ointment which you can buy over the counter at any pharmacy.</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-34551831605011137482016-09-09T14:08:00.000+08:002016-09-09T14:10:48.305+08:00Ipil Suites, El Nido<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I asked around friends who've been to El Nido, Palawan to recommend a nice hotel. <a href="http://www.elnidoresorts.com/" target="_blank">El Nido Resorts</a> would have to be the best option if you don't mind staying on an island and of course paying a minimum of $500 per person, per night. But then Palawan is all about going on an adventure like island hopping for example.</div>
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So from Puerto Princesa, we hopped on a private van and traveled around 6 hours to get to El Nido. I highly recommend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/camarihpalawan/" target="_blank">Camarih Palawan</a> if you're looking for a shuttle service going to El Nido. Their service roundtrip rate is ₱9,000 (Puerto Princesa to El Nido).<br />
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Ipil Suites is located right smack in the middle of El Nido town proper.<br />
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I booked with <a href="https://www.agoda.com/ipil-suites-el-nido/hotel/palawan-ph.html" target="_blank">Agoda</a> since they offer a bit of discount. We got a family suite for a group of 4 and specifically stayed at room 406:</div>
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Room 406 is basically a deluxe room that I wasn't really expecting to stay at.<br />
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The room was small for a (literally) big family of 4.<br />
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I had to sleep on a makeshift loft located on top of the master's bed, definitely not recommended for old travelers. I'm only twenty something yet I struggled to go up and down the damn stairs. It is hazardous, especially to the clumsy ones. Good thing my sister decided to stay in the other room with her friends or else we'll have a harder time moving around.<br />
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Toilet and bathroom are spacious but then had second thoughts on using their towels. Towels look overused, konting babad pa sa Zonrox please! It's either they need to look for another and better laundromat OR replace them with new ones. I know you get what I mean...<br />
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Despite all the red flags, <b>I did not complain</b>. We just literally got what we paid for. It's not like we're gonna stay inside the room for 4 days straight anyway. Our total bill for a 4 days 3 nights stay was around ₱13,100 with breakfast for 4.</div>
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I like that they served different kinds of food each day, at least nakabawi ng konti dahil buffet! :)<br />
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Ipil Suites also offer tours around El Nido but I'll be blogging about that in another post. Do take note that tourists are required to pay the environmental fee of ₱250 per pax (valid for 10 days), which you can pay at the hotel lobby.</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-68621773815688563442016-09-06T01:56:00.000+08:002016-10-25T21:05:41.418+08:00Other Things To Do in Boracay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Boracay is known for its white beach, fun water sports activities, awesome night life, souvenir shops and different kinds of good food from all over the globe. I bet you've done almost every touristy thing! But ask yourself again.. have you? ;)</div>
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Check out Boracay Suncruiser, currently the top tourist attraction/activity in Malay, Aklan.<br />
Photo Credit: <a href="http://boracaysuncruiser.com/" target="_blank">Boracay Suncruiser</a>.<br />
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Our #AzaleaGroupGetaway kicked off with an outdoor sunset party with Boracay's ultimate pleasure party boat, the Boracay Suncruiser! Opened to the public back in May 2015, it is the first of its kind in the Philippines. The boat offers an indoor/outdoor dance floor, air-conditioned VIP room, full bar service and onboard catering, etc. all on a spacious 65-footer motor yacht. Featuring, of course, the super slide and the jump-off launch pad. :)<br />
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We were welcomed by the awesome crew and deck stewards.<br />
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We literally had the boat to ourselves. How cool is that?! ;)<br />
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If I'm not mistaken, rates start at ₱1,300 but try to pre-book in advance so you only pay ₱1,000!<br />
For those interested to rent the Boracay Suncruiser, you may contact them <a href="http://boracaysuncruiser.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Another activity in mind would be beach hopping. :) <a href="http://boracaycompass.com/beaches-guide/" target="_blank">There are around 17 beaches on the island</a>, some are public and private, and this one is called Ilig Iligan Beach.<br />
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Ilig Iligan beach is located at the northeastern side of Boracay Island.<br />
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Another beach I recommend you check out is Diniwid Beach. While you're at it, you might wanna try hanging out at Spider House Resort. This photo was taken from their view deck overlooking the turquoise blue waters of Boracay.<br />
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Love the vibe in the Spider House! It was so relaxing just hanging out with fellow travel bloggers.<br />
Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thejuanmanila/" target="_blank">Juan Manila</a><br />
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Food served was also on point! ;) Love their choco peanut milkshake!<br />
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Our next activity was to go on an off-road ATV and buggy ride with Boracay Adventure World.<br />
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It was actually my first time to drive a buggy and I like it! It's easier plus much more comfortable than riding the ATV.<br />
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The off-road trail led us to another private beach called Bil-at Beach. It is located in between Ilig-Iligan and Puka Beach. :)<br />
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Since we started our Boracay adventure with a party, it should also end with a party right? We partied the night away this time with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BoracayPubCrawl/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Boracay Pubcrawl</a>. It's basically a tour of all the famous bars in Boracay. You get a shot or two per stop, definitely recommended for first timers! ;)<br />
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To wrap this post up, Boracay isn't just about the white beach! I'm so happy that I get to experience other things that the island has to offer. ;) It truly is more fun in the Philippines! See you soon, Boracay!</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-7462932063465363912016-09-05T21:47:00.000+08:002016-11-16T16:12:19.809+08:00Kuya J's at Azalea Boracay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As mentioned from my previous post, <a href="http://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2016/09/azalea-boracay.html" target="_blank">Azalea Boracay</a> offers apartment style hotel rooms wherein you get your own kitchen where you and your friends or family can prepare your own meals. No corkage fee folks! ;) But when you're not in the mood to get dirty in the kitchen there's always Kuya J!</div>
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Kuya J is located on the ground floor of Azalea Boracay.</div>
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Kuya J's started in Cebu back in 2005 where they specialize in Filipino cuisine. Currently, they have almost 50 branches all over the Philippines including this one inside Azalea Boracay. According to the manager, owners of both establishments are related to each other and Kuya J's serve as an in-house food and beverage concessionaire for the hotel.</div>
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It gets quite a bit chaotic every morning since everyone comes here for breakfast.</div>
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They serve buffet by the way, and I notice that dishes change regularly! ;)</div>
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When you're too lazy to go out I'd also recommend dining at Kuya J's. I LOVE their grilled scallops which I heard are flown in from Cebu. And of course their best selling crispy pata! Mapapa-kanin ka talaga! ;)</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-73399366431697281172016-09-01T14:24:00.001+08:002016-11-13T16:58:16.077+08:00Azalea Boracay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was recently invited by Melo Villareal, owner of <a href="http://outoftownblog.com/" target="_blank">Out of Town Blog</a>, to join a bloggers trip to Boracay. This was made possible by our good friends from Azalea Hotels & Residences headed by their marketing communications manager, the lovely Ms. Jo Fabello.</div>
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I just arrived from Hong Kong and had exactly a day to pack for Boracay. I was really looking forward to this since I rarely, RARELY, experience sponsored trips. :)<br />
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Azalea Hotels and Residences is the freshest addition to the flourishing hospitality industry in the Philippines. Their first property is located in Baguio and just recently they opened their doors on the beautiful island of Boracay.</div>
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We were warmly welcomed by the hotel staff upon arrival. I was quite amazed by how spacious the property was, check out the lobby! Arriving guests were also given a refreshing mug of Kuya J's fruit shake special as a welcome drink.</div>
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Moving on, Azalea Boracay offers 284 value-for-money vacation accommodations for groups of families and friends with its spacious hotel rooms.</div>
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Azalea Boracay's 30sqm deluxe room is good for 2-3 pax. It offers 2 double-sized beds and a comfortable sofa bed. Rate starts at ₱7,500 per night.</div>
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Toilet and bath are spacious as well as the kitchen area.</div>
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Azalea Boracay's 45sqm one bedroom apartment suite is recommended for honeymooners or a small family of 4. Rate starts at ₱8,500 per night.</div>
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The room is obviously much bigger than the deluxe wherein you'll get a separate living room. Sofa can be converted to a sofa bed too! Sending a shoutout to my new found travel blogger friends, <a href="http://www.juanderfulpinoy.com/" target="_blank">Chino</a> and <a href="http://www.weekendsidetrip.com/" target="_blank">Mc Pol</a>. :)</div>
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The room I stayed at was a two bedroom apartment suite, it was extremely spacious at 60sqm that offers 1 king-sized bed per room..</div>
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..with our own private toilet and bathroom. :)</div>
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I shared the room with the super friendly fashion blogger <a href="http://www.chaocampo.com/" target="_blank">Cha Ocampo</a>. Maximum occupants for the room are up to 6 pax. Rate starts at ₱15,000 per night.</div>
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Azalea Boracay's three bedroom apartment suite consists of 1 master's bedroom with its private bath and two other guest rooms with 2 double-sized beds in each room.</div>
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The room is recommended for a group or family of 8 pax. :) Rate starts at ₱20,000 per night.</div>
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Azalea Hotels and Residences is located at Station 2 in Boracay Island. Please do take note that posted rates are good for off peak season/travel. For updates on latest rates and list of inclusions please go direct to the <a href="http://www.azaleaboracay.com/rooms-rates/" target="_blank">Azalea Boracay</a> website or 'LIKE' their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AzaleaHotelsResidencesBoracay/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a> page.</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-22264009090610647812016-08-15T14:00:00.001+08:002016-09-26T14:03:25.119+08:00Hello, Hong Kong!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been almost 4 years since my last trip to Hong Kong. So happy to be back!</div>
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My sister just finished the 1st year of her college life and is on a one-month term break. As a treat (or whatever this trip is called), my mother agreed to fly to Hong Kong to take a few days off from work and spend time with her. As for me, though, I wasn't part of this and was kinda forced to book a flight at the very last minute. HAHAHA. Again, you don't say no to free trips especially if given by your parents. :)</div>
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These are just some of the perks of traveling with parents, you get to stay at 4-5 star hotels. LOL. Review of Marco Polo Hong Kong will be posted tomorrow.</div>
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Since we've been to Hong Kong quite a few times already, I decided to bring them to Ngong Ping Village in Lantau Island where they haven't seen in person the famous and humongous Tian Tian Buddha. From Tung Chung station you can pass by Citygate Outlet to look for bus no. 23. If you don't have an octopus card you need to prepare exact amount of HKD17.20 (weekday rate) per way. Be sure to have smaller bills on hand since they don't give change. The trip takes around 30-40 minutes per way and bus the leaves/arrives every 30 minutes.</div>
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It was cloudy that day but Hong Kong was still very much in summer mode with max temperatures of 32C.</div>
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Mama accepted the challenge to climb up the stairs (268 steps to be exact) and we both made it to the top! A little exercise while on vacation is good for the heart and body! ;) I guess you know who was feeling lazy and got left behind. Haha.</div>
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Surrounding the Tian Tian Buddha are six smaller bronze statues known as "The Offering of the Six Devas" that are posed offering flowers, incense, lamp, ointment, fruit, and music to the Buddha. They symbolize the Six Perfections of generosity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom, all of which are necessary for enlightenment.</div>
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Before heading back to the city we spent a few more hours in Tung Chung where we window shopped around Citygate Outlet. When shopping, watch out for sales associates at the entrance because they give out coupons that offer additional discount! ;)</div>
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One of the fastest ways to get around Hong Kong is obviously by train/subway. I highly recommend getting an octopus card for convenience since you can use that for selected shops and restaurants.</div>
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While my mama and sister are resting back at the hotel, my afternoons were mostly spent walking around Kowloon. I really look forward going on a photo walk because it is one of the most satisfying things to do when traveling. :) I love capturing photos of locals in their element or even moment of zen.</div>
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There's nothing much to see in Hong Kong as compared to other places I've visited like Tokyo. Options are you just walk and enjoy the view or sit and play around with your phone while resting. </div>
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Others prefer to shop. And by others, I mean those rich people from mainland China. If you have extra cash to burn please be reminded that there's <a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1752512/everything-you-need-know-about-hong-kongs-new-plastic-bag-levy" target="_blank">a rule implemented back in 2015 where stores charge additional 50 cents per bag</a>. If not, just bring a shopping bag and go help save the environment. If you plan to shop in Hermès I'm sure they wouldn't dare charge you extra. LOL</div>
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When window shopping is not an option, just eat. There are lots of hawker stores around Kowloon and I really enjoy eating street food once in a while.</div>
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But when you're really, badly tight in cash, just go to the Avenue of the Stars to enjoy the view of Victoria Harbour. There's also a 3D light show called Hong Kong Pulse which runs every August, November, and December at the Hong Kong Cultural Center. The show starts at 8:20PM and runs every 30 mins or so. :)</div>
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August felt like my luckiest month this 2016! :)</div>
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This Hong Kong trip was the perfect time to test my Huawei P9. All shots you see in this post were taken by it! I honestly don't mind ditching the fruit for this! ;) Check out some comparison shots taken as is, no filter. I just had to tweak a little since Huawei produces bigger images versus Apple. If you want to zoom in you may do so by right-clicking a photo to view the image in another tab.</div>
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To view the rest of the comparison shots, please visit my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheTravelJunkie.info/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> or click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheTravelJunkie.info/photos/?tab=album&album_id=972097832936256" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-64544715313021978312016-08-08T15:42:00.000+08:002016-08-08T16:17:34.625+08:00Jetstar: Manila to Singapore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Flying to Singapore from Manila via Jetstar? Read this post!</div>
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I just read a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maejay.agaran/posts/918763918246999" target="_blank">random post on Facebook</a> complaining that Jetstar did not allow this lady passenger to check-in and board a flight to Singapore just because she only had a copy of the credit card (CC) used upon booking. If I was that lady I'd be pissed too but then I researched more about the issue and found this:</div>
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According to the Filipino customer service representative working for Jetstar, this rule STRICTLY applies to flights bound for Singapore from Manila/anywhere in the Philippines. I was a bit bothered by the rule but then you can't blame the company if this is their way to reduce fraudulent transactions online.</div>
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Moving on, I think Jetstar forgot the fact that one cannot enter our airports unless you have a ticket on hand. So how on earth can they verify the credit card used upon booking?</div>
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<li>If CC owner is based in the Philippines he can go direct to <a href="http://www.miascor.com/contact-us/" target="_blank">MIASCOR</a>. If I'm not mistaken they provide passenger and baggage services for different airlines including Jetstar. CC owner can drop by few days before the flight for early verification.</li>
<li>Ask CC owner if he/she has time to drop you off at the airport and give assistance upon check-in. You may need to beg airport security to let CC owner come with you inside though.</li>
<li>If CC owner is based in SG he can drop by any Jetstar check-in counter inside Changi Airport or drop by the Jetstar office located at Terminal 1.</li>
<li>If going to MIASCOR is a hassle (which it is, to be honest) for both CC owner/passenger, just make sure you have cash on hand. You're allowed to pay for the flight upon check-in and Jetstar will refund the payment made online. Not sure if you still get the same rate though...</li>
<li>Last option is to buy tickets direct from Jetstar booking office (not sure if they have one in the Philippines) or go to a reliable and trusted travel agency.</li>
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Lesson of the story? Double check the requirements needed days before flying and don't expect too much from a budget airline. :)</div>
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P.S. I'm not suggesting that you stop flying with Jetstar because this incident can/could happen with other airlines too.</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-6047812761669858492016-08-05T09:30:00.000+08:002016-09-16T12:16:18.530+08:00Going Solo in Bohol<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUoEmSezn0w/V7-f4RvkbGI/AAAAAAAAB2I/YOd_IxAaVjYk6IIarNHpvePUtGMwPMAMgCLcB/s1600/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUoEmSezn0w/V7-f4RvkbGI/AAAAAAAAB2I/YOd_IxAaVjYk6IIarNHpvePUtGMwPMAMgCLcB/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the perks of traveling solo is that you get to choose your itinerary or route for the day, that's exactly what I did in Bohol. Momo Beach House offered their daily rent-a-car service that costs ₱2,500 wherein you get your own car with a driver. That's not too bad since I got to see most of the tourist spots in Bohol in a day! ;)</div>
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My solo tour started around 9:00AM and my goal was to check-out the farthest destination first which was the Chocolate Hills located at the northern east from Panglao Island. The trip took approximately 1 hour and 45 mins. My driver dropped me off at a small travel agency that offered all-terrain vehicle (ATV) tours. This wasn't part of the plan, to be honest, because I did not have enough cash on hand during this trip.<br />
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ATV tour rates start at ₱450 (30 mins) but I ended up paying ₱900 (1 hour) to see the 3 sisters, 8 sisters, and the mini rice terraces. I paid through credit card 'coz like I said this wasn't part of the plan. Sadly, I wasn't that impressed with the last stop (mini rice terraces) so don't bother getting this tour if you have high expectations.</div>
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This is what you see at the end of the tour. It literally was a mini rice terrace.</div>
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If you really, badly, want to experience this tour.. may I suggest planning in advance? I find it quite a bit expensive, I'm sure there are cheaper rates somewhere. I wanted to get mad at my driver for bringing me here but then I realized that at least I was able to contribute a little something for the local tourism of Bohol. Think of it as another way to see the Chocolate Hills, not everyone sees them as close as I did. *positive thinker all the way!*</div>
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After the ATV tour, we drove straight to the Chocolate Hills National Monument. There's an entrance fee of ₱50.</div>
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The Man Made Forest is along the way if you're going to the Chocolate Hills and back to Panglao. I did not bother stopping for photos since there were too many people waiting at the sidelines. Plus it wasn't the safest area since cars are regularly passing by. Buwis buhay ka if gusto mo talaga ng shot diyan! :p</div>
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By 1:30PM I was in Loboc waiting in line for the Loboc River Cruise. Lines were long but my driver kindly asked the girls in the registration booth if I can cut the queue since I was traveling solo. Lucky for me there were empty seats left for the next cruise and they let me in. ;)The tour costs ₱450 which includes a lunch buffet.</div>
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The experience was exactly how I expected it to be. Food was ok and the band playing got a big tip from me (it's not like we're forced to give but then a crew was going around literally asking for it) just because I didn't have smaller bills! That's another tip, make sure you have smaller bills for tip! Haha.</div>
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By 3:00PM I arrived at the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, Inc. I can't exactly remember how much was the entrance fee but I'm sure it was less than ₱100. If I'm not mistaken there are two places to see tarsiers but I specifically requested for this one since you get to see them in in their natural habitat, not in a cage.</div>
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According to the staff they have 8 tarsiers roaming around the property but I only got to see 5 that day. Luckily I saw one hanging out and about like a boss. I had to ask why he was awake though (they're nocturnal) and the staff said some tourists were just too noisy and can't follow simple rules like be quiet, turn mobile phones to silent mode, turn off camera flash, etc.</div>
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Here are some interesting facts to take note about the Philippine tarsier:</div>
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1. They are nocturnal animals and should not be disturbed at day time.</div>
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2. Their main diet is insects and should not be fed with meat.</div>
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3. They commit suicide during captivity due to trauma from touching and loud noise.</div>
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4. They’re one of the slowest fetal growth rates of any mammal, taking 6 months to reach a birth weight of 23 grams</div>
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I hope my buddy up there survived the throng of tourists that arrive after I left. It was a bus full of Chinese tourists. Eeeeeeeep! @_@</div>
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Before going back to the hotel I asked my driver to bring me to the Baclayon Church to offer a prayer. I didn't bother taking photos of churches since most of them are under construction and restoration after the devastating earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol back in October 2013.</div>
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Some of the tourist stops that I intentionally missed were The Sandugo (blood compact shrine) and Hinagdanan Cave. You might ask why? I didn't have much time. The car I rented is good for 7 hours only so if I left around 9:00AM, I should be back in the hotel by 4:00PM. Overall the total cost of my solo DIY tour is <span style="text-align: center;">₱3,900. It's probably cheaper if I had companions who can chip-in and share for the rent of the car.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">P.S. I did not give any tips to my driver.</span></div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-17141409613381087462016-08-02T12:01:00.000+08:002016-09-05T21:47:55.186+08:00Momo Beach House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZXLNae6uPU/V7pw5NouwQI/AAAAAAAAB10/IHDvsH4-9Rsd0i7Lh1A3cg6O_WZ-vbatgCLcB/s1600/DSCF1317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZXLNae6uPU/V7pw5NouwQI/AAAAAAAAB10/IHDvsH4-9Rsd0i7Lh1A3cg6O_WZ-vbatgCLcB/s640/DSCF1317.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Bohol is one of those provinces in the Philippines that I've been wanting to visit for quite some time now and I'm glad I finally did! :) Took advantage of the points I earned with my </span><a href="http://www.getgo.com.ph/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">GetGo</a><span style="text-align: left;"> card from Cebu Pacific and paid only ₱700 for round trip tickets to Tagbilaran from Manila. I flew solo once more, taking advantage because this might be the last time I get to do it while I'm still single. ;)</span></div>
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Remember that time I attended the <a href="http://www.thetraveljunkie.info/2016/06/asia-premium-travel-mart-2016.html" target="_blank">Asia Premium Travel Mart</a> back in June? I approached one of the booths there, Momo Beach House, and asked for off-peak rates for a solo traveler. To make me sound more legit I gave them my card and introduced myself as a travel blogger. Later that afternoon I was surprised to get a quote from them that I honestly couldn't resist!</div>
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Fast forward to the end of July I arrived in Tagbilaran and checked-in at Momo Beach House.<br />
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This is the common area where guests can hang out and eat. I love how it feels very cozy and homey.<br />
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Here's the pool overlooking the sea. :) If I'm not mistaken this used to be a surf resort before.<br />
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I stayed in a standard/deluxe room good for two. My only complaint is that wifi connection is bad inside my room, as well as 3G/LTE for mobile, which was understandable. I mean, who has time to work when you're on vacation? LOL. At least I had cable tv for entertainment.<br />
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The bathroom was clean and provided the all the toiletries you need. :)<br />
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Kayak and paddle boards are available to use at no extra charge.<br />
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But if you're feeling extra lazy you can just lounge around at the beach where you get an awesome view of the calm sea.<br />
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Breakfast was great! They serve ala carte meals with coffee or hot chocolate.<br />
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My only issue with food so far is that it badly needs improvement, especially in taste and styling. I remember ordering this shrimp pasta for dinner and it tasted blah. :( There's no restaurant or nearby grocery in this side of Panglao Island so you better bring whatever stuff you need like chips, drinks, etc.</div>
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If I remember correctly I paid ₱10,500 for my 4 days 3 night stay in Momo Beach House. It includes transfers, daily breakfast, one-time dinner, welcome drinks and government taxes. The rate was good for two even if I was traveling solo. Not bad right? ;)</div>
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Moving on, I really enjoyed my stay here. It's quiet and there were less than 10 guests during my stay. Employees were very friendly too which made my stay feel even more at home. :) I definitely recommend this hotel if you want to have a nice and quiet vacation on your own or with the family.</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-45034153937340535022016-07-21T12:27:00.000+08:002016-08-24T11:46:24.604+08:00Pacsafe Flagship Store<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pacsafe opens its flagship store in Manila!</div>
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Pick pockets, strap slashers, bag snatchers and identity thieves.. what do they have in common? Well they're every travelers worst nightmare! I'm sure you've heard stories from friends losing whatever important stuff they have which instantly turns their dream vacation into a disaster. So how on earth can we protect ourselves? Of course by traveling smart!</div>
<a name='more'></a>There are a lot of anti-theft bags out there but my aunt (who is obsessed with protecting her stuff, even her identity!) would have to agree that Pacsafe products help travelers outsmart those darn thieves.<br />
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With Pacsafe products, you have the confidence and peace of mind that your stuff is secured.<br />
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And what I like most about their product is that they're simple and stylish enough for everyday use! Their bags are tried and tested and guaranteed to protect your belongings! ;)<br />
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I recently attended the Pacsafe store launch in Glorietta, Makati wherein they also promoted their latest campaign #GoFearless. The campaign taps into the insight that everyday travelers can be their own hero with Pacsafe. Like a
superhero who fearlessly fights crime, patented anti-theft technologies from Pacsafe empower travelers to
enjoy invincible confidence so they can go fearless and take on the world! <br />
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At Pacsafe, the sea turtle symbolises the intrepid, global traveler and as part of their community service they launched the PacSafe Turtle Fund (back in 2014). Their goal was to support the conservation of endangers sea turtles and this year they (Pacsafe Co-Founder/Managing Director Magnus McGlashan) have awarded it to the Bataan Peninsula Tourism Council Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with Bantay Pawikan, Inc.</div>
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Foundation President Ms. Victoria Garcia accepted the check worth P235,000.00, said contribution will be used for continuous development and rehabilitation of the conservation center in Morong, Bataan. She even invited us to check out the Pawikan Festival that happens every end of November!<br />
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Don't you just love companies who give back to mother nature? ;) Moving forward, get your gears secured and be one of the first to shop as they open their flagship store in the Philippines. Pacsafe is located at the G/F of Glorietta 5 in Ayala, Makati.</div>
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Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008323098061128722.post-25288139993848805832016-07-19T15:11:00.000+08:002016-08-21T09:23:25.626+08:00YI Smart Dash Camera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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YI Smart Dash Camera from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gotstain/" target="_blank">Zero Stain</a></div>
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I recently got a new car and was a bit excited to accessorize it. By accessorize I meant putting additional stuff that I think are useful just like a dashboard camera. Few hours ago, journalist/car enthusiast <a href="https://www.facebook.com/james.deakin/?fref=nf" target="_blank">James Deakin</a> set up <a href="https://www.change.org/p/make-dash-cams-mandatory-in-all-vehicles-in-the-philippines" target="_blank">a petition to makes dash cams mandatory in the Philippines</a>. I agree with everything he said, "No more he-said-she-said. Let the cameras tell the story. We have gone way past the point of taking one word against the other. It’s time we take back our right to remain silent."</div>
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Perfect timing 'coz it's been a month since I got the car so I'd like to share my review of the Xiaomi Yi smart dash cam which I purchased direct from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gotstain/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Zero Stain</a>. For starters, here are the specs of the camera:<br />
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Topgear Philippines once blogged about it with the title, "If Apple made a dashcam, it would be the Xiaomi Yi." You can't go wrong with the sleek and stylish design of the camera. It fits very well with my brand spanking new Mazda CX-5!</div>
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The unit I got from Zero Stain was a Chinese model so you may follow this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w-TTXOrey8" target="_blank">tutorial</a> to change it to english. Also, please take note that the <u><b>package DOES NOT include a memory card</b></u>. I highly recommend the micro SD cards from <a href="http://www.lexar.com/microsd-633x?category=5778" target="_blank">Lexar</a>.</div>
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For quality check, play sample video above. If I'm not mistaken my camera is set to hi-res recording. I also disabled sound recording just because I like to keep my conversations in private. Got that, Taylor? #TeamKimYe forlayf!</div>
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Apologies for the background music, I was extremely bored while stuck in traffic. Here's another video from last week when we attempted to go to Tagaytay but had to turn around because traffic was sooo bad. I blame the assholes on my left (for counterflowing on a two-way street) causing much more traffic. Time to expose the stupid drivers!!!</div>
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Moving forward, I'm really happy with my purchase so to share the satisfaction, our friends from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gotstain/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Zero Stain</a> has a treat for you guys! :) Get a Xiaomi YI smart dash cam from Zero Stain (₱3,500) and instantly get FREE shipping anywhere around the Philippines (excluding remote areas of course)!</div>
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Just copy the link of this blog and mention "travel junkie" upon inquiry and you're good to go! :) This rainy day promo is valid until July 31, 2016.</div>
Czarina Mayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08011445896976205959noreply@blogger.com0