Project Gora: 2013

2013: Year in Review

Sunday, December 29, 2013

My head raced back to many months earlier, when I would spend hours and hours drafting an itinerary for my upcoming trip. I would work late into the night, with coffee brewing in the kitchen, while I patiently estimate how much would I need to finance my next adventure and how much left to allocate on my savings.

checked off my bucket list :)

2012 is my first year of travelling. It was like an amazing race kind of year because I tried to visit as many places as possible (without thinking if I really wanted to go there or not). 2013 is quite different. This year I finally able to grasp the concept of budget backpacking. I resolved to go to the places I really want to (included in my bucket list) and NOT TO BOOK every destinations on Cebu Pac's seat sale. :)

Another one checked off my bucket list :)

I would like to highlight the things I checked off my bucket list:

Conquer Mt.Pulag ✓

Joined the coolest community in the blogosphere, Pinoy Travel Bloggers ✓

Travel Solo ✓

Domain Upgrade: From blogspot.com to a self-hosted dot.com :) ✓

Experience camping at the happy beach Calaguas ✓

Survive cave connection in Sagada ✓

Witness the Panag-apoy in Sagada ✓

See dolphins in their natural habitat ✓
Own a Prime Lens (Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G) ✓
Compare Maya Bay (Koh Phi Phi, Thailand) and El Nido (Palawan, Philippines) ✓

achieved! :)

If there's one thing I learned from travelling, it is that being young is an opportunity. I may not have the latest Iphone or Samsung galaxy note, or I may not have my own car, but I know when I grow old, I have something great to remember. I still find myself smiling whenever I remember the places I've been to and the people I met along the road. PRICELESS.

the only decent photo I took :)

So, in a nutshell, 2013 has been a wonderfully jam-packed year. Cheers to another wonderful or if not more epic 2014! And wishing for many highs and fewer lows, if I am allowed to wish for that :)

Happy New Year!!!

2013: Year in a Review from Milet Miranda on Vimeo.

This is my entry to Pinoy Travel Bloggers' Blog Carnival for December 2013. "The Pinoy Travel Bloggers Closing the Curtains on 2013: Love, Learn and Living" as hosted by Brenna Bustamante of The Philippine Travelogue.

ASIA

Witnessing the Begnas Ritual in Sagada (Mountain Province)

Saturday, December 07, 2013

We had enough luck credits when we were in Sagada. We were there to witness the Panag-apoy, a unique observance of all saints day. Little did I know, we will also witness an interesting ritual that is still being practiced in the Mountain Province.

led by the elders and followed by the younger men of Sagada

Begnas is a ritual for good harvest and thanksgiving. We found out about it from our tour guide who works for SAGGAS (Sagada Genuine Guides Association). Our cave connection was scheduled in the afternoon so he suggested we watch the ritual in the morning. According to him, there are at least 5 begnas each year and there are no fixed date as to when it will happen. The elders will decide the schedule of Begnas and will declare community holiday, usually 2-4 days before the event.

first time to see so many men dressed in their wanes (most tagalog call it bahag, a traditional loincloth)

After breakfast, we arrived in the rice fields just in time. The elder leading the procession shouts at the top of his voice and the rest will follow. They walk towards the Patpatayan, the community sacred ground. See the photo above, it is the tree on top of that hill.

carrying a piece of sacrificed animal with their spears

At the Patpatayan, pigs, chickens, carabaos among others are slaughtered as offerings.

the young ones can join too!

the host dap-ay

While they form a single line procession in the rice fields, the old men in the host dap-ay will perform the ritual and recite a prayer. Dap-ay is a sociocultural center which can be found across neighbouring towns in the Mt. Province.

elders from the host dap-ay preparing the sacrifice

While the sacrifice is on going, the elders will start the merry making. The locals play gongs as the elders dance to invoke the Gods for good harvest.

this gasul was used to remove the pig's hair at the dap-ay

sliced meat carried towards Dap-ay

I love this photo! This elder wears the complete traditional clothing :)

I recently found that the Begnas celebrations are recognized by the local government of Sagada as part of the agricultural schedule. It's great to know that this type of cultural celebrations are still being practiced each year. And I felt lucky to observe this old ritual. In this day and age, I am quite relieved Sagada's old tradition is still ALIVE :)

This is my entry to Pinoy Travel Bloggers' Blog Carnival for May 2014 entitled "Luzon Lovapalooza" as hosted by Pinoy Adventurista.

Super thanks to SAGGAS!

*Travelled to Sagada from November 1-4, 2013*

ASIA

A short trip to Banaue Rice Terraces

Monday, November 25, 2013

ASIA

Things to bring to Sagada

Saturday, October 19, 2013

ACCOMMODATION

Chill Out Guesthouse (Panglao, Bohol)

Monday, October 14, 2013

Whenever I plan a trip to any destination in the Philippines, I always make sure our accommodation is budget-friendly and owned by a local. I have nothing against foreign resort owners, It's just my way of supporting Philippine tourism. Naks! So Imagine my disturbed face when I found out we are going to stay in a foreign owned guesthouse in Panglao, Bohol.

our own balcony :)

My travel buddy Rod did the research and made the reservation. He knows I don't like the idea but I tried not to whine. I told him it's fine as long as we have our own comfort room and there are no bed bugs. *Arte Much*

Welcome to Chill out! :)

I was really impressed when we arrived in Chill out. We were welcomed by a lovely garden, a bamboo bench with pillows and a friendly receptionist (Krissy). The two-storey guesthouse is bordered with bamboos and beautifully decorated with nature-inspired furniture.

way to the main house

We reserved a fan room for three nights. Upon arrival, Krissy told us we are going to be transferred in an aircon room because the room reserved for us is still occupied (the guest decided to stay a bit longer). She told us there will be no additional charge. Saya! :)

RATES : FAN ROOM (1,000 PHP PER NIGHT)
AIRCON ROOM (1,300 PHP PER NIGHT)

Going to Alona Beach is a 10 minute walk. If you don't fancy walking, there are many 'Habal-habal' that can take you anywhere. The minimum fare is 10 PHP. You also have an option to rent your own motor cycle for 300-400 PHP for 24 hours.

clean restroom

5 Things I love about Chill Out Guesthouse:

1. Clean and Nice comfort room. Once we got the room key, I immediately went and checked out the comfort room. The shower water heater is functional. The wooden floor is very nice.

shower area

wooden floor

2. The staff are friendly and helpful. There is always available staff during the night. So if you are staying late, you can always find someone to ask for a coffee or order food. You can always ask directions, food choices and tours. They will also tell you how much is the reasonable price for everything. Which is a great help to avoid being ripped off.

lovely curtains

3. I love the idea of a guesthouse that resembles a "Bahay Kubo". In the Philippines, "Babay Kubo" is a basic native house constructed out of bamboos with a roof made up of palm tree. My mom used to say she prefers to live in a "Bahay kubo" than in a concrete house. I'm sure mom would love to stay here!

my favorite hammock

4. Peaceful and relaxing environment. Thanks to its strategic location, this guesthouse is away from bars and restaurants. You'll wake up to the sound of birds chirping in the morning. You'll fall asleep at night to the sounds of palm trees rustling. I personally enjoyed the beach hammock where I stayed during the night to watch the stars.

at night

5. It is a home-away-from-home experience. What I really love about Chill Out Guesthouse is that it feels like home. Yung feeling na gusto mong syang uwian. Sure there are a lot of things you can do in Panglao, so staying indoors is not a good idea. But when I was there, I wanted to stay longer in Chill Out.

Will I recommend Chill Out Guesthouse?
I would definitely recommend this guesthouse without hesitation. Because of this experience, I realized staying in a hotel or guesthouse should also be a memory in itself. It should be something that you can happily remember just like the first time you set foot on a beach.

For reservations and inquiries, you may contact Chill Out Guesthouse at

Phone Number: +63 (38) 502 4480

Mobile Number: +6391 2926 5557

Email: chillout.panglao@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.chillout-panglao.com/

ASIA

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Monday, September 30, 2013

If you are in KL and you are heading anywhere south, say Singapore or Malacca, then Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) is the place to go. This airport-like terminal is situated at Bandar Tasik Selatan, about 10 km away from KL Sentral.

This photo is taken at the pedestrian bridge connecting TBS and the train stations.

Prior to 2011, the main bus hub in Kuala Lumpur is Pudu Raya(A Pudu Sentral). But because of traffic congestion in the area, Pudu Raya was assigned to serve North-bound buses and the newly built TBS for South-bound buses.

Going to the pedestrian bridge

I was really impressed when we arrived in TBS. It is equipped with elevators and escalators which is a real treat for passengers carrying heavy luggage. It is far from the usual hot and noisy bus terminal. There are three different train services that stops at Bandar Tasik Selatan: ERL(KLIA Transit), KTM Komuter and RapidKL(LRT line). That makes TBS easily accessible by road or by train.

ticket booth

There are several bus operators for south bound passengers. My personal recommendation is Transnasional Coach Services. I highly recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time, you can book online here. Alternatively, you can also purchase tickets at counters 1-18. Counters 19-20 are dedicated to passengers who purchased tickets online.

very useful electronic boards

It was my first overseas trip and I was unfamiliar with this type of transport system. It was like a maze in the city. Good thing, there are clear signage everywhere. There are also electronic boards that lists all departures and arrivals. It's really like an airport!

bili muna baon :)

Once our tickets were verified, we checked our gate number. The departure area is one level below the ticket booth, so we bought snacks first.

There are touch screen kiosk as well. Shalah!

sit comfortably while waiting for the bus

Transportation Guide

By Taxi
This is the easiest but not the cheapest way to get to TBS. If you are coming from KL Sentral or around Bukit Bintang area, the taxi fare should range from 15-20 RM. (Reminder: There are many taxi drivers who prefer to haggle rather than use the meter. So if you think the taxi fare is not reasonable, go find another taxi)

By Train
This is perhaps the cheapest way to get to TBS. A good option to avoid the traffic. Reminder: Travel time can take 30 minutes

just focus on the three train services (blue, black and yellow lines)

From KL Sentral -> Take KTM Komuter -> alight at the fourth stop which is Bandar Tasik Selatan (note: make sure to take the train going to Seramban)

From KL Sentral -> Take ERL (KLIA transit) -> alight at the first stop which is Bandar Tasik Selatan

From Bukit Bintang -> Take RapidKL (LRT) either in Masjid Jamek or Plaza Rakyat -> alight at the seventh stop which is Bandar Tasik Selatan (note: make sure to take the train going to Sri Petaling)

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan at Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBSBTS)
Official Website: http://www.tbsbts.com.my/
Address: Jalan Lingkaran Tengah Ii, Bandar Tasik Selatan, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ASIA

The Beach: Koh Phi Phi vs El Nido

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Living in a tropical country made up of 7,107 islands makes it impossible not to find a private patch of paradise. When I say paradise I refer to the beach. You would probably notice by now how much I love the beach. I can say the Philippines has the best beaches in the world, that's why I can't help but compare it to other countries. I know it's wrong to compare, but because a lot is asking which one is better, I decided to create this blog post.

L - Photo taken at Maya Bay R - Photo taken at Shimizu Island

I was lucky to visit both El Nido (Philippines) and Koh Phi Phi (Thailand) this year. Making a comparison of these two destinations is included in my bucket list. To make it more objective, I came up with 6 criteria and I will choose between the two based on my own experience. But before we do that, let's have a quick intro :)

Purple Marker - Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is a small archipelago comprised of six islands located in the southern part of Thailand. It is administratively part of the Krabi province, not Phuket. Koh Phi Phi leh, one of the six, is the home of the famous Maya Bay. 'Koh' means island in Thai language.

Purple Marker - El Nido

El Nido, on the other hand, is a big archipelago comprised of 45 islands and islets. It is situated in the northern part of Palawan in the Philippines. The town was first called Talindak and later renamed by the spaniards as Bacuit. In the 1950s, the name of the town was changed from Bacuit to its present name El Nido, which means "The Nest". These nest, found mostly in the crevices of limestone cliffs, were used as a main ingredient for an expensive gourmet soup.

Maya Bay is the filming location of the movie "The Beach" starring Leonardo DiCaprio. They say the novelist Alex Garland actually took the inspiration from EL Nido where he lived for six months. I'm not sure though why he chose Koh Phi Phi, Thailand as the setting of the film. So now which one is better? Koh Phi Phi or EL Nido?

Let's find out!

ACCESSIBILITY

Note: Refers to the ease of reaching the destination, access to public transport, travel cost and distance from point A to B. Point A is Manila.

Manila to Koh Phi Phi

There are no direct flights from Manila to Krabi, where Koh Phi Phi is situated. There are two options if you are coming straight from Manila. It's either you fly to Phuket or you fly to Kuala Lumpur. From KL, you can fly to Krabi which takes about 45 minutes to an hour. From Krabi International Airport, you can take a bus going to the port. Then catch a ferry to Koh Phi Phi Don, the only inhabited island in Phi Phi. Total travel time is approximately 7 hours.

Manila to EL Nido

El Nido has its own airport that serves Manila to El Nido route. This route is the fastest way but very expensive. Most tourist would fly to Puerto Prinsesa, the capital of Palawan, then take a bus or van to reach El Nido. Total travel time is approximately 7-8 hours.

Verdict: El Nido has a very slight edge against Koh Phi Phi. Transfer in the latter is quite exhausting, whilst in the former, you just have to endure the long bus ride.

BUDGET

hire your own speedboat in Koh Phi Phi

Thailand is one of the cheapest travel destinations in the world, but in Koh Phi Phi, almost everything is expensive. For first timers, it maybe a challenge to travel on a budget.

Contrary to what most people know, El Nido is not an expensive destination. This quiet and laid back beachside town offers several budget accomodation, cafes, pretty decent restos and carinderias. Tour operators have standard rates for island hopping. When I traveled in August 2013, I only spent Php 6,000 for a 4D/3N stay including airfare.

Verdict: El Nido is the winner.

ACCOMMODATION

Note: I used the Thai Baht Conversion rate as of April 2013 (1 THB = 1.38 PHP)

The White Hotel in Koh Phi Phi Don

Most tourist would opt to stay in Koh Phi Phi Don, the only inhabited island in Koh Phi Phi. There are several accommodations for every budget and taste, but don't expect as much cheap as is in the rest of Thailand. We stayed in a budget guesthouse that goes for THB 1,500 per night during Peak Season (Nov to April) and THB 1,000 during Low Season (May to Oct) good for 2 people. So that is Php 1,400 approximately.

Marina Garden Beach Resort

El Nido offers a wide selection of accomodation. The cheapest I found goes for Php 300 per night, a very basic room with shared bathroom. Most resorts are beachfront giving you the stunning view of the Bacuit bay. My personal recommendation is Marina Garden Beach Resort. A native cottage good for 4 people costs Php 1,340 per night during low season (June to Sept) and Php 1,420 during Peak season (Oct to May).

Verdict: For me, the biggest bite in Koh Phi Phi is accommodation. Most beachfront accommodation costs an arm and leg. Sure there are cheap accommodation below 1000 THB per night, but the location is far from Ton Sai pier. Who the hell is going to trek with a 15+ kg backpack on their back? El Nido wins!

ISLAND TOUR

note: we take a look at package inclusions such as free meal/lunch, use of snorkel set and kayak

going to Maya Bay

The Phi Phi islands can be explored in one day. There are three island tours that are commonly being offered by travel agencies. These are the Plankton Sunset Tour, Maya Bay Camping Tour and Phi Phi Day Tour. The day tour would normally include free lunch, snorkel set and use of kayak. The price depends on the type of boat you require. The most expensive is the speed boat. For budget travelers, you may choose the public tour boats and the iconic long tail boats.

at Shimizu Island

El Nido is famous for its island hopping tours. Tour operators offer 4 different kind of island hopping tours, which they call Tour A, B, C and D. Each would take you to different parts of the Bacuit Archipelago. Boat rental, tour guide and snorkel set are all included. At noontime, the boatmen will turn to cooking masters. They would serve grilled pork, fish, rice, veggies and fresh fruit platter with watermelon, bananas, pineapple and a lot more. Take note, lunch is included in ALL island tours in El Nido.

free lunch in El Nido

Verdict: For me, El Nido wins. I was really disappointed with the free meal included in our Maya Bay day tour. We were served with a meal box with mixed rice and about 7 tiny pieces of meat. In regards to the tour, there's really not much to see in Phi Phi except for Koh Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay.

FOOD

There is a wide variety of food choices in Koh Phi Phi Don. If you don't fancy thai food, there are several restaurants catering to foreign tourists. Seafood resto, buffets, bakeries, pizzerias, steak house, fruit shake stalls and ice cream shops are among your other choices. My personal recommendation is Ton Sai Seafood. Check out some food photos here.

at Ton Sai Seafood

El Nido also offers a wide array of good value restaurants. Altrove Pizzeria is one of the famous restaurants in town. Another must try is El Nido Boutique and Art cafe, a quirky place known for pizzas and pasta.

Verdict: For me, the winner is Koh Phi Phi. I really like Thai food and everything I ate when I was there. It was refreshing to eat something new. I splurge in Thailand which was a deviation from my usual scrimping on food.

THE BEACH

For many, a perfect beach depends on the quality of the sand and clarity of the water. The scenery must also be extraordinary and it should offer variety of activities for all ages. With that in mind, we now take a look at 'The Beach' of Koh Phi Phi and EL Nido.

at Maya Bay

Maya Bay in Koh Phi Phi Leh is far from the booze soaked crowds of Koh Phi Phi Don. However, because of its popularity since 'The Beach' was filmed here in 1999, this very picturesque place was somehow ruined by the huge number of tourist who flock to its pristine sands and turquoise water. If you want to avoid the crowd, your best bet is to avail Maya bay camping tour. Though crowded, I still appreciate Maya Bay's Grandeur. I love the stunning stretch of fine white sand, towering limestone cliff and turquoise water.

at Shimizu Island

If you like your beach vacation on the quiet side, El Nido's tranquil charm is a perfect fit. As you sail to Bacuit Bay, you may feel as if you are being transported to paradise. Trimmed with 45 Islands and Islets, you can find your own secluded beach where you can refresh and rejuvenate.

Verdict: The beaches of El Nido wins! Unlike in Koh Phi Phi where I can only name one single island as gorgeous, in El Nido there's a lot to choose from. My favorites are Shimizu Island, Hidden Beach and Talisay Beach.

The Winner

Yosh! Based on the vote count, EL Nido wins this battle!

5 stars for El Nido!

If you want the best bang for your buck then choose El Nido. Its laid back vibe is just perfect for me. But I must say, Maya bay is one of the best I have seen. :) We all have different preferences and my choice might be different from yours, so if you think the other is better, then I'd love to hear your thoughts. ^__^

2013: Year in Review

Witnessing the Begnas Ritual in Sagada (Mountain Province)

A short trip to Banaue Rice Terraces

Things to bring to Sagada

Chill Out Guesthouse (Panglao, Bohol)

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

The Beach: Koh Phi Phi vs El Nido

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