Destination : Davao!

I finally got to visit my Aunty Tita in Davao City. I missed her son and daughter's respective weddings  and previous trips with my family, so I was so excited to see what Davao had to offer.

Bohol: Beyond the Chocolate Hills

I had a great time in the island of Bohol. I thought the province only boasted of its 1286 Chocolate Hills, mounds of limestone and clay, which appear as brown as one of the most-loved desserts of all time.
We went there via Zest Air, landed at Tagbilaran a few minutes ahead of our scheduled arrival at a little past 11 AM.My sister who was in Bohol a few months ago arranged for us to be fetched and driven by the same person who drove her around Bohol before. We had brunch at a local Ihawan, similar to Mang Inasal, which served barbecued chicken and java rice.
Since the Panglao Island resort we booked was about 2 hours away from the airport, we had a leisurely drive along most of the tourist attractions we passed on the way.
We stopped and took pictures of the breath-taking view of the sea where The Blood Compact Marker was situated,(Quoted from boholphilippines.com: Tagbilaran, specifically the district of Bool, witnessed the forging of the first international treaty of peace and friendship between two nations of different race and creed. On that fateful day of March 16, 1565, Captain General Miguel Lopez de Legaspi of the Spanish expedition and Datu Sikatuna, a native chieftain of Bohol, sealed their friendship in a native ritual, the Blood Compact. As is the native custom at that time, the two sealed their friendship through the shedding of blood wherein both draw two to three drops of blood from their arms, mix the blood with the wine and then equally drank from the cup. Other historians say that the blood-wine mixture was divided equally between the two and then they both drank the contents up to the last drop.)
We also went to the Loboc River, instead of riding the boat where one can have a buffet meal and be serenaded by a choir made of local children, we decided to live more dangerously by going ziplining above a ravine. It took us several minutes to muster enough courage in buying our tickets, actually climbing to the platform, when we were finally over the treetops and saw the tiny river below, after we stopped screaming, we enjoyed it sooo much because we felt like flying...I enjoyed the cool breeze on my face and the different vantage point.We also had our photos taken as a souvenir of the experience.It was so exhilarating, I would gladly do it again!!!
After the adrenaline rush, we went to visit the Tarsier Sanctuary.They tiny primates were sooo cute, if the guides weren't looking and keeping watch, I would have taken one in my pocket.
We bought some souvenirs here. The Tarsiers were on trees on a sloping terrain, one of my Steve Madden slippers' strap broke, it was a good thing, our luggage was in the rented car's trunk so I was able to change my footwear.
Next stop was visiting Baclayon Church, the second oldest in the Philippines, which was built in 1771 and was finished ten years after during the Spanish Era.It's made of coral cut into blocks.Next door was the Baclayon Museum where antique relics where displayed.
We also went to the Pasalubong shop past Baclayon where we bought peanut kisses and other delicacies.
When it was getting dark, we visited another historical church, Daois, which was in Panglao Island.The church secretary helped us get a bottle each of the water said to be miraculous that came from a well around a spring that was spewing water near the altar.
The wide and grassy churchyard, where kids were playing soccer, had a lovely view overlooking the part of the sea separating Panglao and Tagbilaran.There was an al fresco restaurant that was built around centuries old trees. The lanterns emitted a romantic glow on the dining area and the sea.We both said it was a perfect venue for a garden wedding. The local craftsmen also sold their handwoven bags, hats and fabric in the restaurant's gallery cum souvenir shop.
When we arrived at Alona Beach, (the locals said Alona Alegre, a bold nymphet in the 1970's, shot some scenes there) where Lost Horizons, a dive-resort, we booked in, we were tired but satisfied with all the sights we already covered.

The next day we went island hopping. We brought our snorkels so we didn't have to rent ones. We also saw a group of dolphins playfully frolicking in the deep waters.
We went to Balicasag Island, for snorkeling. The waves were a bit rough then so I didn't dare venture too far out of the bay.
We also went by boat to Bohol Beach Club, the resort's pristine beach and clear aquamarine waters were featured on tourist posters and postcards, we just had to visit it.

We had a hearty buffet lunch there, we were only a handful Filipino tourists, mostly were from China, other Asian countries, and Caucasians.

We just lazed by the pool and their macrame hammocks, afterwards.

Next day, we took a tricycle to Bohol Bee Farm, where we enjoyed visiting the organic herb gardens and the flower beds for the bees.We also had a quick lesson on apiary and how honey was made.

Their gourmet shop was a foodie's paradise, with the unique ice-cream flavors and delicious honey-based food products. My favorites were the honey-basil spread, honey-mango spread and freshly-baked breads which we brought home as pasalubong.But I must never order the ginger ice-cream again, which was too spicy for my taste. Next time,I'll stick to fruit flavored ice-cream and veer away from spice or veggie based ones.The view of the sea from the cliff was really awesome, we took lots of photos, there were busloads of Asian tourists who were enjoying the view.Then we ate a salad made from flower petals, and some other yummy dishes.
Next time, we might book our rooms there.

Manila Bay Cruise & Mall of Asia's Pyromusical Show

My boyfriend and I had a busy schedule last February, so much so that we had to postpone our Valentine date to the first week of March.
I booked two tickets from Suncruise Travel Agency, for their Manila Bay Cruise back in January.
I had a confusing and unpleasant time dealing with their booking officer, I asked what was the best time to watch the Fourth Mall of Asia, Pyromusical Show from the bay, 6PM or 8PM? The woman said we can either book on a Friday or Saturday and it would be best to join the 6PM sailing.
Before I bought tickets, I wanted to be sure, so I called other travel agencies who were offering the same deal, P550 per person, for an hour and fifteen minute cruise by the Manila Bay. The ticket included a set dinner.
The consensus was, better get the 8PM sailing, and the Pyromusical Shows were only held every Saturday, starting from February 16th, to March 23rd.
Fast forward to February, my sister, who was even more of a travelbug than I was, attended the SMX Travel Expo.She asked me via text if I wanted to join her in going to Corregidor Island. After a few seconds,  I said yes.I asked her if it's the same travel agency that's offering the Manila Bay Tours and asked her to book two tickets for me.We booked tickets to Corregidor and was glad to find out that they also gave us two complimentary tickets for the Manila Bay Cruise!
I called their booking office a few days before March. It was the same confused reservation officer I spoke with! After getting our name, contact number, and address, she asked where I bought the tickets.I explained that they were free when we bought tickets for their Corregidor Tour.I mentally said to my self, "Uh-oh, her she goes, again!"...True enough, she said "Uh, Ma'am, hanggang March 1 lang po pwede yung tickets na yan, " I overheard someone correct her "Booking starts on March 1." She then stammered, "Uh, Ma'am, I have your number naman, tawagan ko na lang ikaw." That was around after 3PM. I waited for a callback that never came.
I was really irritated, I didn't bother calling back but sent an email stated on their website, instead.Soon enough, I received a reply, apologizing for the way their employee handled the situation. I got the confirmation that my boyfriend and I had reserved slots for the 8PM sailing of their boat for Saturday, March Third.But I was told via email that we had to pay P100 extra per person.I sent them another email, I asked if the fee was for the fuel surcharge.They replied and explained it was for the meal.I asked again, I thought the ticket included dinner.I got another reply.They explained that since my chosen date was on a weekend, they only serve a buffet dinner.I sent them another email stating how confusing and troublesome it is dealing with them, now we are told we had to pay extra P100 for a buffet meal that was not in the terms of service printed on the ticket.
That Saturday morning, I received a phone call from one of their employees. The girl, named Ambell was really pleasant and seemed the only one who knew what she was talking about.Once more, she apologized in behalf of her bungling co-workers, she said the extra P100 was only optional.The ticket, indeed included a set meal, but if we wanted to upgrade to a buffet, eat-all-you-can meal, and occupy the upper deck, we can pay the extra P100. The other employee who was corresponding with me via email did not state that, I said.

Ambell, profusely apologized and aside from that, we were also upgraded to the upper deck, and we were also given access to the buffet meal at no extra cost.
My boyfriend was able to avoid the horrendous traffic along Roxas Boulevard by passing through the side-streets of Malate. We arrived at 7:20 PM and found an available parking slot at the side of The Folk Arts Theater.The guard at the parking lot should brush up on his customer service skills.

We finally boarded MV Spirit of Manila at quarter to eight, the airconditioned lower deck was almost full, there was even a guy with a bouquet of flowers for his girfriend. We were glad we occupied the upper deck, because we enjoyed the cool sea breeze more.The first batch of fireworks were being lit and I thought we'd miss the fireworks show since we were still in the pier.

We finally left our berth and cruised leisurely by the bay.The Mall of Asia grounds, including the MOA Eye (the huge ferris wheel) looked really nice, with all its lights.

We took lots of pictures. Finally, the crew announced that dinner was served.We looked at the limited choices, rice, pancit bihon with squid balls and a few veggies, fried chicken in a red sauce, pork in a creamy sauce, fish fillet that didn't taste very fresh  and  almond jelly with one piece of lychee served in ramekins for dessert.The chicken was the most palatable.The rest, I think a carinderia would serve better tasting fare.We were asked to go back for seconds but we didn't bother.They should get a better cook or switch to a better caterer.Service water was available.Drinks were not included, canned softdrinks and bottled iced-tea were available for P50.
At around 9PM, we heard the first boom...It was the second set of the Pyromusical Show!
The clear skies lit up with the magnificent fireworks show.

I found out later, that the first set was by the United Kingdom, the ones we witnessed were by Korea.

After all the hassle with the travel agency and the unremarkable food, the spectacular fireworks show and the soothing Manila Bay Cruise was well worth it.
I saw a deal offered on Metrodeal for a Manila Bay cruise at fifty percent ((regular price is P650) by Prestige Tours.The ad also boasted they've won rave reviews for their sumptuous buffet (not sure if they really taste better, but the food was better arranged and the array was more diverse.) The fine-print stated: Booking date starts in April 1st.
I'll check customer reviews first before I buy tickets, next time.

Falling in Love with El Nido

I've been to Palawan several times because my sister-in-law and favorite niece live near Puerto Princesa, but I only had a chance to visit El Nido last year, in August.

My sister and I booked a room in The Ipil Lodge, a new hotel which was a few minutes walk away from the Puerto Princesa Airport.

http://www.ipiltravelodge.com/ 

The rates were reasonable, the common areas were well appointed with modern wood and Pinoy-themed decor and furniture. The rooms were spacious and clean and it also has a restaurant.The rooftop bar and restaurant were still under construction so we had our meals in the ground-floor restaurant. The meals could have come in bigger proportions but taste was above average.Service was a bit slow, we asked for vinegar for our tapsilog and longsilog breakfast which took about twenty minutes to arrive, (enough time to finish the entire meal). The waiter apologized and said the kitchen was located on the top floor. The manager should have anticipated this and should have served the condiments together with the food.

We spent two days in Puerto Princesa, so we can attend my niece's Fifth Birthday Party at Jollibee, Puerto Princesa.

We bought souvenirs like cultured and south sea pearls, sarongs, keychains and t-shirts from the tourist shops in Magsaysay Avenue and  pasalubong like fried and roasted cashew nuts, cashew tarts, lamayo fish marinated in vinegar and garlic, low-salt danggit and spicy dilis, among others.

Back in Ipil, we booked our El Nido Tour with their hotel staff. We booked a room in their El Nido branch, for three days.We paid P800 each way for an aircon-van rental.We went on the 5AM trip and asked the Ipil Puerto Princesa branch to prepare our breakfast to go, to be ready at 5AM.

The van arrived just before 5AM to fetch us but after several requests from the receptionist and the kitchen staff, we were told that they were not informed to pack our breakfast, which was very irksome. We were disappointed with the staff's short-lived efficiency.

The trip to El Nido took more than five hours because we had to pick up several passengers along the way, also from hotels and inns, and the van terminal near Sabang. (The port where boats going to the Underground River were moored. I heard of stories from irate tourists who booked months ahead, only to be told by their travel agency that they were not able to secure permits for the Underground River Tour. It's a good thing, we already visited the Seventh Wonder two years before, when fewer foreign and local tourists were lining up to see it.)

We arrived in El Nido before 11 am, we asked the Ipil staff that the breakfast which was included with our room rates weren't prepared by their Puerto Princesa counterparts, their staff was good enough to acknowledge our request to have the breakfast there instead at no extra cost.

This is the view from the El Nido, Ipil Lodge's rooftop restaurant called 360 degrees, which as the name implies, gives one a 360 degree view of what the enchanting place has to offer.

One will enjoy the breeze and the breath-taking views of the sea, and the limestone cliffs where the expensive  Balinsasayaw birds-nests are gathered (thus the name of the dish, Nido Soup.) Too bad the restaurants and the cafes in this small seaside town do not serve the soup.

After lunch, we went on a thirty-minute boat ride around the beautiful islets off El Nido. We  spent several hours in a private beach owned by Ipil, it was eponymously named Ipil Island. We had a delicious lunch prepared by the hotel staff, made up of rice,grilled meat, freshly-caught fish, fresh vegetable salad, and a vegetable dish (they always served cucumbers wherever we went, so I guess the veggie was abundant here) We shared the boat with a couple from Germany, college students who were in their school break. The girl was half-Pinay, her boyfriend was of Polish descent. She said she spent her childhood years in Bicol and other Philippine islands when she was on holiday with her Bicolana mom and German dad.

At Ipil Island.

They have a Pawikan or Sea-Turtle sanctuary here and we had a chance to hold some of the hatchlings.

With baby sea-turtles.

We drank buco juice straight from the tree, we intended to go snorkeling after lunch but we dozed off on our sun-loungers under the palm trees, and were only woken up by our guide, when he told us we had a few more minutes before the boat that will take us back to the main land will arrive. I guess we were too tired after the five-hour roadtrip. 

At the El Nido Art Cafe

That night, though tired and sleepy, we checked out the many cafes and restaurants dotting the town. We stumbled on El Nido Boutique and Cafe, a souvenir shop cum gallery for the local artists, cum dive shop and a bar and resto which is a favorite hang-out of the many expatriates who never left the place. Their spicy Chicken Tikka Masala so jolted our tastebuds, we were envigorated! We had to order extra rice and more fruitshake.

They also had free wifi and the Caucasian owners who also served some of the food made their guests feel at home. We just had to taste the yummy looking cakes in their showcase.We were really pleased!

That time, El Nido has a power outage scheduled every 6AM-2PM, so the town comes alive after 2PM, where most shops open. 

One can have a massage for P150 per hour in one of the many improvised massage spas, side by side the sari-sari stores. The set up was, there were several  narrow papag or bamboo beds with thin matresses, each covered by curtains and the local womensfolk would give one a choice of thai, swedish or hilot massage.We preferred to have ours in our room which costed more.

JECA members and my sis, on the boat to the dive spot.

About to go under.

Fish feeding: "Here, fishy, fishy!"

The next day was spent snorkeling and scuba diving.We shared the boat with nice Japanese women, fresh grads who spent months in the Philippines doing volunteer work in depressed areas of the city and poor communities in the provinces.

While the good weather held, we spent the next day island hopping.Miniloc, Helicopter, Simiso Islands provided us a great time taking photos, kayaking, snorkeling and swimming.

Resting after lunch, at  Commando Island.

At the mouth of Big Lagoon.

Look closely and look for the Sea Turtle.

Sipping Coconut Juice at Miniloc Island.

There's a sea snake!

Kayaking near the beach.

I would recommend this place to everyone.Both local and foreign tourists will surely fall in love with El Nido, no wonder, Rachel Weisz, the Hollywood actress who starred in The Bourne Legacy, which was partly shot here, whose crew stayed in Lagen Resort in El Nido, still mentions how she was enchanted with the place when a Filipino journalist interviewed her for a new movie she was promoting.

The long stretch of white sand on Miniloc Island, hurry, visit it before the Shangrila Group of Hotels build one of their resorts here.

I would gladly visit El Nido again and hopefully bring more of my loved ones here, next time.