There's Danger Ahead - Anawangin

HELP! I'm drowning!

I heard someone say that as I was swimming to shore. From the corner of my eye, I saw two figures struggling to keep themselves afloat. At first I thought it was a joke. But, when the scream came again, I knew it was for real. Suddenly, I realized that the two people were our companions who were just a few meters from the shore where my family was. I tried to swim to them to help but realized I wasn't in a good shape to help and might even cause more trouble if I go nearer. As my thoughts raced through my mind, it occurred to me that Ikee had brought her kickboard with her. "Dad, the kickboard!" I shouted to my husband who immediately acted on what I told him to do although I also asked him to not go too near lest both of them drown. I kept telling the girls to swim toward shore but they were getting weak from struggling and shouting. When I reached shore, I was exhausted and felt my heart beating so fast that I thought I was going to faint myself. It was too scary. Anyway, to cut the story short, the girls got to land safely. We returned to the camp and told our story to the others. It turned out that there was another similar incident that happened that day.

After we had come back from Anawangin, Boyet and I found other stories on the net of people who either died or almost drowned. According to one person, there had been about 6 or 7 deaths over a period of two months. Some say it was the strong waves of the China sea that got so high and so strong at times that engulfed the swimmers. Or, it must have been the strong undercurrent that seemed to pull anyone out into the sea. Or it could also be the sea floor which suddenly becomes deep and entraps the unknowing beachgoer. On both sides of the cove were high stone formations and some mounds of rocks that perhaps had been fallen off the mountain. Anyone could easily be smashed into those by the waves. The fact that Anawangin is a cove and can be reached either by trekking a for 4 to 7 hours depending on the person's skill or by taking a 40 minute ride makes it almost inaccessible to any health or medical facility. What makes it even worse is even if you get to the nearest town which is Pundaquit, it still is a 30-minute bumpy ride by tricycle. Anyone who drowns has only a few minutes to survive. Thus, it would take a miracle to get anyone from danger should something happen.

Nature has its way of preserving itself and I do believe there are beautiful things and places that are best left alone. Anawangin is a good example. During the pre-departure orientation with our trip organizers, we were told that we shouldn't go far from shore because there had been a number of deaths that occurred in the area. But those girls were not even 50 meters away from the beach. Apparently, there is a deep part in the middle of the shallow waters. It caught the girls by surprise because I was even farther from shore than they were and it was just waist deep where I was.

I love Anawangin and I would love to go back to the place. But I love my family and their safety is more important than anything else. So, I guess, it will be a long, long while before we ever go back there. After the incident and after reading the stories, we might not even consider going.

A Special Article - My 100th Post!

Yep, this article is pretty special to me because it is my 100th. For this blog, that is. I have been thinking of some ways to celebrate my milestone. So, maybe I'll just show you some of our blooper pics from way back. I hope you like them.



Who's there? This pic was taken at the Snow City in Singapore. We got something that looked like a rubber tire and got to slide downhill. Of course, we were too fast that the photographer, my husband, was not able to get a good shot. hehehe



Where's Mama! Well, I was supposed to stay by Ikee's side but the shot was taken before I got there. This pic was taken at the Museo Pambata.



Eating cotton candy is a challenge when it's bigger than your face! This pic was taken in Tagaytay.



Butts Up!
This pic was taken at the Tagaytay Highlands pool. You wouldn't want to know who those guys are. hehehe...



Scaring Dada?
That's Ikee's hand which got caught while I was taking a picture of Boyet making their signature on the sand. This one's at the Pearl Farm in Davao.

Well, guys. I hope you enjoyed the pics. I'd add more but blogger won't let me. hehehe... Till next post.


Jane

Exploring the Outdoors at Anawangin (Part 2)

continued from part 1


It was a good thing we took the package from Voyager Adventures Club. They had prepared practically everything. Food, van to and from Pundaquit, boat from Pundaquit to Anawangin to Capones Island and back to Pundaquit, and the tents. There were a few things that were missed during the orientation like we were not told that we needed to bring our own plates, cups and utensils. Thus, we ended up borrowing the wares from the organizers (it's a good thing they had some), and had to eat with our hands too. Another thing they missed telling us was that we should have brought something to make our sleeping area softer. It wasn't our first time to camp but it was a first time for us to join an outdoor adventure group. But those are minor things which didn't affect how much we had enjoyed the trip.



So, as I was telling you guys earlier (last night actually), we went for a swim at the river. Some say it is a lake but when you get to the end of it, you'll find out that it actually drains to the sea, unlike lakes that do not connect to any other body of water. Both sides of the river had pine tree or fir trees if you prefer to call it that. This particular river has varying depths because the water level is affected by the tide - high tide equals deep water, low tide means no water.



We ate lunch at 2 pm. Everyone was just so excited to get as much of the place as possible. I noticed that the later in the day it got, the more people came in. In the afternoon, what seemed to be an almost deserted forest was filled with tents of different sizes and colors. There must have been a hundred or so of those dome type ones. It was a good thing we got there ahead of the crowd and got to pick a nice spot for ourselves. There was even a large spot in the middle of our group's camp to hold a bonfire. But of course, our organizers, being mountaineers and nature conservationists, did not really want one. Noone wanted any anyway. I guess most of us were tired.

The following day we got up at 5:30 am. The call time was at 5 but I didn't hear anyone call me. hehehe... anyway, we packed all our things and rode our boat to Capones island without breakfast. The schedule was that we'd go there for a short 1- hour trip and would proceed to Pundaquit where we would have breakfast and lunch. But our boatman, old man Amando, didn't want to bring us to a part of the island close to the lighthouse. Naturally, we walked without any idea that it would take more than an hour to get there. I didn't get to the lighthouse because my daughter tripped on some rock and I stayed with her instead.

It was already 10 am by the time my husband got back to the drop off place. He and the others were picked up by a boat from the lighthouse. I was all fumed up when I learned that it was really possible to be brought to the foot of the hill where the lighthouse was. It was even worse when we couldn't find our boatman when we wanted to leave so we contracted some other guy.




Right in the middle of the sea between Pundaquit and Capones, our boat stopped and wouldn't start. It was the curse of the abandoned boatman! hahaha Almost at the same time, we were met by Mang Amando who was trying to explain why he was late and why he had left. He was urging us to transfer but we didn't want to. In the first place, we didn't want to risk having anyone or anything fall into the water. Sensing our hesitation and stubbornness, he offered to tow us to shore instead to which our new boatman agreed since it was the only way we could get back to the mainland.

When we got to the Pundaquit beach, we paid the boatman 200 pesos just for the effort of trying to do us some favor. He was happy and we were... uhhh... happier of course that we got to land dry and in one piece. Lunch was served as soon as we got there. obviously, they were just waiting for us to arrive to start the feast. It consisted of smoked fish, ensalada of radish and apples, pork menudo, some steamed veggies but to my family, it was the best meal ever... we were soooo hungry!

An Outdoor Adventure At Anawangin, Zambales

We're back from Anawangin. It's been a really tiresome and draining trip. But it was worth it. Anwangin is just as it has been described on the net... the water is pristine, the place is enchanting and appears peaceful but has some dreadful secrets at the same time.

Our trip started from the McDonald's Eastwood where we met with our trip organizers. There were about 40 or 50 persons in our group so I could imagine that herding all those was a challenge. We left the place at 12:45, 45 minutes later than scheduled. But that's the advantage of meeting at Eastwood - you can go around the place so you don't get bored.



It took about 4 hours to get to Pundaquit beach where the boats we were to take were docked. Dhang, our organizer, had pre-arranged for the boatmen to meet us. The man assigned to us was Mang Amando who is maybe in his late 50's, a Cebuano, I was told. He brought us from Anawangin to Capones Island too. But I'll tell you about it later.

Mang Amando's boat, named Leonel, is a small and sits 4 people. If you don't mind not breathing well for a whole 40 minutes, you can squeeze 6 people in. Although it had rained the day before, the sea was rather calm and the weather was fine when we got to our destination. A beautiful fir-lined beach wowed us there. It was just 6 am and there were about 4 tents pitched already. It seemed like they had been there the night before.



We were all hungry already when we arrived. However, my family and I took our nap in our tent because I didn't want them to go for a swim without having breakfast yet. The meal was served at about 10 am. It was late but the food was good. After breakfast, we changed clothes and went for a swim at the river at the back of our campsite. The water was clear, got murky when we walked but quickly became clear again a few seconds after.

- continued on Part 2

Anawangin, Here We Come!

So, we've finally confirmed our booking with the Anawangin organizers last night. There was an orientation at McDo Eastwood with Dhang, our coordinator. Ikee and Len, my sister-in-law, were there with me. Some of the guys from my husband's office attended it with us too.

We discussed the time of departure, what to expect and requests for meals. Dhang answered most of the queries we had and we were assured that everything is under control. Apparently, the organizers are mountaineers and they had gone to the different sites in the Philippines. After that, they tapped the resources and established networks everywhere. Then they came up with the idea of organizing trips to exotic spots for diving, camping and mountaineering. Some of their offerings include trips to Maricaban, and another place in Batangas. We had been told that we'd leave at 12 midnight from the McDo Eastwood. Convenient. McDo there is open 24 hours so we can have some coffee or food while waiting for the others. Dhang would be joining us in the van. Tonight I learned that Len can bring their pick-up and park it at a parking lot just outside Eastwood, in the same compound where Banco de Oro is.

Dhang appeared to be amiable and jolly. I hope everyone else is. We're leaving tomorrow night. Anawangin, here we come!

How To Get To Tagaytay By Public Transport

You know it's not quite known how to get to Tagaytay by public Transportation. That's seems amusing to me because Tagaytay is a really popular place but it looks like the people who go there normally just go by their own car. There are actually 3 ways I know.

The first, is to hire a cab to and fro. This seems expensive but my brother-in-law charges by the hour only. I think it costs about 300 per hour. So, if you don't intend to stay there for like a full day, and spending about 3 thousand for it, this one will be a very good option for you. I think there's a minimum of 3 hours only.

The second is to go to the Starmall, Market Market, or Glorietta fx terminals. There are some vans or fx that go to Tagaytay. I believe it would cost around 250 per person.

The third is to go to the bus terminal near the Chowking restaurant at Pasay, EDS. It's just below the MRT station. According to my source, you ride the Crown Bus (it used to be called Crow, by the way) going to Nasugbu or Tagaytay.

Coming from Tagaytay is actually the challenge. The buses just stop to pick up passengers and there is really no bus terminal. You have to hail the ones that go to Manila or Baclaran or Cubao. I would tend to believe that it is best to take it from the junction/rotonda.

So there. I hope that helps.

The New Viewsite Restaurant In Tagaytay

Ever since my dad introduced us to the Viewsite Restaurant in Tagaytay, we have been going there to treat some friends or just to have a family meal. The resto happens to be one of Tagaytay's cheapest places to dine. Coupled with a view of the picturesque Taal Volcano which is what you normally go to Tagaytay for, it gives the client value for his money.

Now they've built a newer, more beautiful resto very near Josephine's. I haven't gone there myself but from afar, it doesn't seem to have any semblance to the old Viewsite. Anyway, if the management is the same, they'd still have the good food and cheap prices there just like the old one. I'd have to be the judge of that. Hopefully before the summer break is over.

Hot Off the Press: Air Philippines Zero Fare

When it rains it definitely pours! My, oh my, another zero fare special this time from Air Philippines. So, if you want to go to Busuanga, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Cebu or Caticlan or any of the domestic hubs of Air Philippines, you'll just have to pay for surcharges and taxes. The fare is free. You may book anytime between 16-25 May 2008 and the Travel period is between 16 June - 31 October 2008.

This should be perfect for those who are planning to get married in June or those who you wish to give wedding gifts to like maybe your mother-in-law who you don't want to see for a while? hehehe

New Tagaytay Website

I'm currently consolidating all my Tagaytay tips and travel pages at Squidoo. So, guys, watch out for it. I'll let you know when I'm done. I'd like to get your suggestions for it though. Like, what places interest you, what tips you may have, etc. Surely, I'll give you credit for it. If you'd like a backlink to your site, this is your chance so let those tips roll please?

I do hope you've gotten some of those airline freebies. I did't get any because when I had the chance to, we realized that Ikee might not be free on those dates plus the fact that we might go to the US in December. Anyhow, there'll be other days.



- Jane -

Cebu Pacific's Zero fare

Yup! Now Cebu Pacific has a zero fare for both their domestic and international routes. Booking period is from May 15 to 18 and availment is from June 9 to Dec. 31, 2008.

So, unlike Air Asia where you only go to KL or Kota Kinabalu from Clark Airport, Cebu Pac has the advantage of getting you to HK, Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam), Bangkok, Singapore, Hanoi (vietnam), Kaoshiung (Taiwan), Macau, Jakarta, Shanghai, Taipei, and Xiamen. It also flies from the NAIA 1 (unfortunately) so you don't have to travel all the way to Clark.

Let's go!

What A Life!

Today I've come across a mother's blog about her family,kids,life.

The author tells us about what's going on in her family. It's some sort of a diary which a blog is supposed to be in the first place. She has a knack for writing but in one of her posts she says that she just doesn't have any idea what to write on and asks her readers what inspires them. That's being interactive in the posts which is very good. In fact, google is encouraging every blog to let their readers participate. Hmmm... seems like a good bosst for a level up on those PRs.

I love the way the website is designed. It's not heavy on advertising, is very simple but has a lot of meat in it. Well, someday, when I get the urge to focus on learning CSS, I'll probably do the same for this blog. And showcase all my photos. My, there are thousands of those. I wonder if blogger won't breakdown if I do that. What do you say BertN?

Want Free Airline Tickets? Check These Out!

I've received notice that both AirAsia and Jetstar Asia are promoting their sale.

Air Asia will give out free tickets to any of their international Routes. If you're coming from Clark, the places you can go to are Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur, both in Malaysia. However, you have to book the tickets from May 14 to 16, and avail of it next year between Jan. 12 and April 30, 2009. Well, if we can get those tickets free, then why won't we take it huh?

Jetstar Asia, on the other hand, has a buy 2 take 1 promo. You'd have to book and buy your tickets between 13 - 19 May and avail of it between 1 - 30 Jun 2008. Of course, there should be a minimum of 3 persons travelling at the same time.

Well, gotta go! I've got to get hold of some of those too.

Writing For A Cause

Honesty is one of the trademarks of a good blogger/writer. I admire such dedication to write for what one believes is true or valuable. For one, our readers are intelligent enough to detect whether we are writing about the truth or fiction.

The author of Teknosis is one such writer who writes about current events that are relevant and takes a stand when needed. The internet is so full of fraud and make-belief that it is sometimes so hard to find what is real and true. It is a treasure to find writers who will distinguish black from white. Who can't admire someone who speaks his mind on certain things that may actually get him in trouble? If it is just because of their culture, then so be it. It's just unusual for me find such a daring breed.

So if you want honest to goodness reviews or ideas, check the website out.

A Financial Blog

Today, I've come across this blog, jacky's opinion. As you might have known, I love travelling so that one of the reasons I blog is to earn money so I can travel. With travelling, I can get to share more information which I blog about and it becomes a cycle.

jacky's opinion is one site where you can get information about financial matters. One example is how he has endorsed getting loans. To me, a loan isn't one of the options that I would consider in doing business. But jacky's Opinion made me look at the brighter side and gave me tips on how to tap the potentials of that option.

The website is well organized and I envy it. When you want to click on one idea, every blog related to it are there. I wonder if he used wordpress for it.

Looks like the author is serious in making money for himself and helping others get some too. His Opinion are practical which any ordinary person, blogger or not, can apply in his daily dealings. The information the author gives are varied and viable.

Where're You At Mother? - Mother's Day Celebration At RockWell

Yesterday was Mother's Day. I had expected not to go out because we were already at the Manila Shangri-la the previous day. In the morning, both my daughter and my husband were at the ULTRA pool to swim. When they got here, Boyet handed me a red box from Becky's (a well known cakes and pastries shop) and had instructed me to put it in the freezer. They both greeted me and my mother-in-law happy mother's day. So sweet.


Anyway, I was told that we'd be out to dinner. Earlier on, I and my mother-in-law were sort of wishing we could go to Tagaytay. I had wanted so much to try out Taj, an indian restaurant somewhere near the zoo. But we had a late lunch because the two people who came home from swimming were too tired and slept a little before having the meal.

We left the house at 4:20 p.m. Both Boyet and Ikee had to catch the 4:45 pm mass at the Rockwell so we could go to California Pizza Kitchen early. It's a family holiday and we had expected the restaurant to be so full. Boyet tried to get a reservation but the restaurant said they can't give out any reservations because there were so many people.

Nanay and I waited for them at the Fully Booked Bookstore at the 3rd floor. We had some fun together because I was laughing at how she sat on the floor like I did. There was nothing else for us to do but read but it turned out that we hadn't that much time to check out the books we liked. I was looking at some internet books and she, you wouldn't believe it, was browsing some romance novel.

When we all met up, I suggested we go to Rustan's grocery first. We had bought some stuff for the house and for Nanay to bring to Montemar tomorrow. Then we went to CPK. Although there was a line, we didn't have to wait so long. 15 minutes tops. After that we were in. We had the family favorite, the Barbecue Chicken Chopped Salad, an order of white pizza and 2 kinds of pastas, the Roasted Garlic Shrimp and the Ravioli. The meal was superb. When we were done eating, I hinted to the waiter that we be given the mother's day treat. He originally said there wasn't anymore but that he'd give us some dessert. But he came back and told us that the mother's day treat is available already and that he had it made for us. Well, we had 1 additional dish to bring home on a doggie bag. The others were the left over ravioli and pizza. The meal was really good but we were just too full already.

Before we went home, I had to do a quick look at the book I had wanted to buy at Fully Booked. However, Ikee said she was already sleepy so I opted to just go home and go back for it next week. That's where my celebration ended and it was quite fun. How did you spend your day?

Running Around In Cirles

Today we had lunch at the Circles Restaurant of the Manila Shangri-la, Makati. My husband was given 2 gift certificates to dinner buffets with standard drinks by his company and we paid for my daughter's lunch. It cost us about 1600 PHP for her meal. But of course it was a buffet and for Shang, being a 5-star hotel, it was reasonably priced.

I had made the reservation 2 weeks prior. The GC was going to expire on May 15 and we only have the weekends to avail of it because Boyet is busy with work and Ikee has to attend swim training on both weekends and week days not to mention her other activities such as going to kumon classes and learning HTML.

The buffet was as I had expected it to be. Circles was the former Islands Cafe of the Shang. We had gone there in the past, individually and as a family, but since its renovation, this was the first time for us to visit them. They had both western and asian cuisine, mostly Asian though. My first course consisted of Japanese sushi, sashimi, kani salad, some mussels, and others. I have always loved sashimi. But after I had taken up nursing, I've been rather watchful about what I ingest so, much as I'd like to indulge my self on those sweet, raw fish, I had limited it to a few pieces. Just couldn't resist it.

Next came the main course. I had mutton curry, some roti, roast duck, some shrimp tandoori, tempura, and a few others all in small quantities. Through the years I've learned that the technique with buffets is not to eat so fast to allow those food to be churned and digested properly. But the food there looked so inviting and seemed to call me out of my own will. Still, I had the control not to overeat.

Dessert came after that. Oooh, those sweet things were so tempting. Ikee and I tried the crepe - she had apple cinnamon and I had mango. Both were topped with vanilla ice cream and we had asked for whipped cream which the servers gladly fetched for us. The crepes were wonderful - soft but not soggy, freshly cooked and were rather bland which blended perfectly with the toppings. There was a chocolate fountain which was about 3 feet high. Ikee remembered that in one of the parties she had attended there was one such fountain. This one had some strawberries, dried apricots and figs, marshmallows and a few other fruits on sticks. We tried those too. I didn't like that so much and neither did Ikee. She even whispered that our fondue was better. I agreed. The chocolate was smooth but lacked the creaminess that we are accustomed to. I had a slice of meringue roll. It wasn't so sweet but it tasted unusual to me because it had jackfruit in it.

If you've heard of the molecular halo-halo, they have it there too. This one is made of noodle like fruits - fruits that had been blended and passed through a large syringe and dipped in water which they call cold cooking technique. The fruit noodles are placed in small glasses. Scoops of ice cream were placed above it and topped with yogurt. I had raspberry noodles with strawberry and vanilla ice cream. It was quite good.

I thought the dessert would be the last course I'd have. I was wrong. The cheese plate was so tempting that I still had to take some. There were cream cheese, emmental, picorino, blue cheese, and some others which I couldn't even pronounce. I loved the cream cheese and the other cheese which tasted like brie cheese. Both are soft cheeses. While I was having my cheese, a waiter came offering some chicken quesadilla. It mixed well with my cheese although I was full enough that I had only a small piece of it.

Overall, the meal was good. Nothing spectacular except for the desserts which really appealed to me ever since . The place? Oh, it was beautiful and the service was perfect. Every single member of the staff was just willing to please.

Heard of Anawangin?

Have you heard of Anawangin? I have. Its a campsite in Zambales on a beach with a campsite. From the pictures in the internet, it looks like a really nice place. Anwyay, we're going there to stay on May 24 to 25. here's our IT:

Day 1 (May 24)
12:00mn Assembly @ mcdo eastwood
1:00am ETD San Antonio, Zambales
4:00am ETA Brgy. Pundakit
5:00am ETD Anawangin Beach
6:00am ETA Anawangin Beach
Free time
12:00nn Lunch
1-5pm Free time
6:00pm Dinner
8:00pm Socials

Day 2 (May 25)
5:00am Wake-up Call
5:30am ETD Capones Island
6:00am ETA Capones Island
7:00am ETD Anawangin Beach
7:30am ETA Anawangin Beach, Breakfast
9:00am ETD Brgy. Pundakit
10:00am ETA Brgy. Pundakit
Shower
12:00nn Lunch
3:00pm ETD Manila
7:00pm ETA Manila
8:00pm Home Sweet Home

Cost:
Min. 15 person Php2,000
Inclusive of: All Transportation (VICE-VERSA), 5 meal
(Sat breakfast - Sun Lunch), Camping Fee, Capones
Trip, Tent.

For those of you who'd like to join, let me know. I'll refer you to our organizer. I'll post pictures here after the trip.

PAL Express Air

Cebu Pacific's new competitor in the Budget Airline industry is PAL Express Air. It's maiden flight was last May 5, to Caticlan, Aklan - the gateway to Boracay. Why do you suppose they have chosen to fly to Caticlan? To me, it is probably to tell Cebu Pacific (which happens to be their neck and neck competitor) that they intend to regain the throne in the industry. Well, it's about time you guys!

I'm pretty excited about it. In fact today, we're planning to go to Busuanga using this airline. Earlier on, we were planning to go to Montemar but opted to go to the Anawangin Camp in Zambales. But, since I got this email from Mabuhay Miles about the new airline, we're considering to change our plans. Well, I'll let you in on the developments. It's getting closer to the opening of class and we need to have 1 more trip to celebrate Ikee's birthday.

Which Airline? Which Airport? -Budget Airlines in the Philippines

For some people, finding budget airlines to and within the Philippines is really a pain because they either heard about it but did not get the correct name or email or that they have no idea at all. What's worse is that sometimes they book and wish to come to Manila but find themselves landing in Clark which is about 2.5 hours away. Finding these airlines over the internet will be messy too because most of the listings just have individual advertisements. Anyway, for any purpose it may serve, here are the airlines and where they land: (Click on the name of the company if you want to be directed to their website)

International Budget Airline Companies

Cebu Pacific Airways

• flies to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 1 (Old International Airport) in Metro Manila, Cebu International Airport (from HK), Davao International Airport (from HK)



• this airline is recommended for travellers to the Visayas and Mindanao Islands

Jetstar Asia

• flies to and from Ninoy Aquino International Airport 1 (Old International Airport) in Metro Manila



• recommended when you're going to Manila, Makati, Metro Manila, Eastern (Montalban Angono, Rodriguez) and Southern Luzon (Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Bicol, etc. )

Tiger Airways

• flies to and from the Clark International Airport in Pampanga


• recommended for those flying to the North Luzon area (Pampanga, Baguio, Ilocos, Bulacan, Aurora, Sagada, Batanes, etc.


• it is about 1.5 hours to 2 hours to go to Manila


• transportation is available via the shuttle from the airport or by bus from the San Fernando Bus terminal.

AirAsia

• flies between Clark (Philippines) and Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur only.
• Awarded Airline of the Year for 2007

Domestic Airlines

AirPhilippines

• flies to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 2 (centennial Airport) in Metro Manila
• recommended when you're going to Manila, Makati, Metro Manila, Eastern (Montalban Angono, Rodriguez) and Southern Luzon (Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Bicol, etc. )
• the airport which this

Cebu Pacific Airways

I already have this mentioned in the International Airlines so please check it there.

SEAir

• flies from its own airport near the Domestic Airport.
• Has direct flights to Busuanga (gateway to Coron or Culion Island in Palawan) and Caticlan, Aklan (gateway to Boracay)
• flies to Batanes and El Nido from Manila
• has El Nido to Busuanga flights
• the only airline to fly from North Luzon (Angeles and Clark) to Boracay and Busuanga.

Asian Spirit

• flies from Manila Domestic Airport
• flies direct to Caticlan (Boracay hub) and Batanes (Basco)

PAL Express Air

• PAL's newest airline. It's maiden voyage was last May 5, 2008.
• Flies from NAIA 2
• has flights to Busuanga

NAIA 2, where both Philippine Airlines and AirPhilippines land, is the better International Airport. If you're picky, I'd suggest you take these airlines instead. the NAIA 1 is just about 15 minutes away from both the NAIA 2 airport and the Manila Domestic Airport.

Note: This article needs some research but I'm publishing it anyway so that other people may use it already. - jane -

Off To The Island! - Hilton Head SC

I and my family love to travel. Why? Because it makes spending time together more special. What are some ways to having a great family vacation? Here are some tips:

1. Consider what each one wants. Some of the worst vacations we've ever had in the past happened when not everyone's interest was catered to. Like, someone in our family likes going to the beach but hates the sun. Gee! That's tough isn't it? Oh, don't laugh now because that person would be me. Yup, I hate the sunlight because it makes my head ache unbearably. My mother-in-law doesn't like to swim but loves to bask, my daughter is a fish - she swims like one at least. My husband likes to play badminton and basketball. When you have a family like mine, it would be best to consider Hilton Head in South Carolina. Their activities are so varied that everyone will have something to do there.

2. Cost. Unless you are one of those people whose money is more than there is in a bank's vault at any given day, chances are that you're like me. I love going to places but don't like spending too much. You'd have to scout around for promotional sales in the airline companies (here the budget airline is Cebu Pacific and others), hotel, or seek destinations that don't cost too much. For instance, when we were in Hong Kong, we opted to go to museums which, aside from the fact that my daughter and I love those, they cost so cheap. If you're in the US, consider the Hilton Head S.C. and check their website. Hilton Head is a property managment service. They have promotional sales every now and then. What's more, even without the sale, their properties for rent can go as low 1,000 USD for a whole month not to mention that because you're renting a home, that would mean you can cook and be able to save more.

The first time we rented a home in Baguio was in 2003. I didn't quite like the idea at first but it turned out very well and very cheap that I had suggested to rent one every year. I believe it's the cheaper alternative to a hotel. On top of that, a rented property would be cozy unlike a hotel room that so impersonal.

3. Family Activities. While it is a must to have individual preferences served, it is equally important to have activities where everyone can enjoy in. For us, when we were in Batangas, we rented a boat and went to a place where there were lots of fish. We went for a snorkel, while my mother in law threw pieces of bread to attract the creatures to go near us. It was really great. At Hilton Head, people can go dolphin watching or play a round of golf. It doesn't really matter what you do just as long as you're together.

4. Take plenty of candid pictures. It's all about memories. But that would be in the future. However, when you take pictures and view them on tv or on a laptop the same day, you can't really avoid having fun. Great views would make for a perfect background. Hilton Head S.C. has beautiful, beautiful spots that should make your pictures more interesting. One thing about pictures is that it should tell a story to the viewer so take it to make your viewers feel they are there.

5. Consider the weather. Whether going to the beach or to the mountainside, the weather forecasts have to be checked. Too cold or too hot weather can ruin your trip. The advantage of Hilton Head is that the weather is neither too hot nor too cold to have a vacation.

Really, considering all these tips, Hilton Head would be a perfect place to go. Their website has these information and more. You can reach them through their email, fax or phone which are found in the site. It is easy to check whether a property is available for you on your desired dates and if not, it will show which dates are free. They even have a map for you to use to go there and when you get there.

When we go to the US in December, I'll probably want to spend a few days there.

A Bag of Beans

We were in Tagaytay yesterday. It was a holiday and we needed to buy some stuff from Ilog Maria. We also wanted to take some pictures to practice Boyet's photography and for ikee's Triond account. Well, that's really next to the fact that we love going to Tagaytay whenever we can.

One of the things we like doing there is having coffee at the Bag of Beans Restaurant along the main road. It had been some time since we last went there so we thought this time we should. What is visible from the road looks like a rustic cottage. But below that structure is a beautiful garden with 2 large dining areas a few tables with umbrellas and about 2 or 3 covered tables. Covered because it actually is housed in huts with open sides.

When we got to the take out area by the road, it smelled like bread. True enough, I saw some loafs beside the counter and the sales girls said they were raisin bread freshly baked that they were still hot. The bread lovers that we are, we naturally ordered it with the instruction to cut it in half. One half would be sliced and served and the other half to be taken home.

I had ordered hot native chocolate but wanted to order a meat pie which the resto is famous for. Boyet got coffee while ikee ordered some iced tea and a pineapple pie. They had wanted to get the apple pie but I reminded them that we already bought one whole apple pie from Good Shepherd. When our orders came, the bread stood out because it was really really fresh, and the raisins overflowing at the sides. It tasted better that it had looked. Not too sweet with just a hint of cinnamon.

Almost halfway through the meal, I still wanted my meat pie. Boyet said I should just order it so I did. The steak and gravy meat pie was as superb as I can remember it. Crust is flaky, and the filling is flavorful. Yummy!

Next time you're in Tagaytay, drop by their place. It's really a treat to go there.