destinations Traveling As A Passion

[Anaheim]

sabi nga nila, when in bangkok, think of the 4s (sex, shopping, sun and spa).

I'll try to remember that code, not necessarily in that order :lol:

[storm]

apreng storm, the theme parks here are not in the same league as hongkong's ocean park. medyo luma and all it has are a zoo, a fake wave, a giant pool, and carnival rides. nothing at all exciting. but there is a snake and crocodile farm that's popular with tourists...ever see a man put his head between the massive jaws of a croc? amazing.

Thanks Pareng Sally for the info. I really want to go back to Bangkok but my forever bride doesn't want to. For her, once is enough, there are other place to go to. Me, I'm more fond of people than places. I'm willing to travel long distance just to be with people dear to me.

 

I have a dear cousin who's been there since 1972. He's a journalist and lives near the Chao Phya River.

[sally bogna mathay]

I have a dear cousin who's been there since 1972. He's a journalist and lives near the Chao Phya River.

pare, mabibilang ko sa daliri ang mga pinoy na nabubuhay sa panunulat dito...who is your cousin?

[storm]

Ganoon ba? I'll PM na lang sa iyo. I'll ask his permission muna. Or you can PM me yung mga kakilala mo na nabubuhay sa panulat jan.

 

One thing I can say is that he's well traveled, been to almost all the best destination. Kaya lang he liked Thailand most so he settled there.

[bods1000]

that's because bkk is now the unofficial sex change capital of the world. dati singapore, pero ngayon mas mura dito...as you have seen! but don't be depressed...dami pa ditong bars worth a visit.

I heard about those sex change thingies and the way it was described makes you think why they have to go through that ordeal

 

Well we had no guide in 2000 so we were wary of going into unfamiliar places then...

[bods1000]

pare, you should, to discover just how diverse rp is. masaya pag madami kayo. it'll be almost impossible to visit 7000 + islands, pero 73 provinces sounds feasible. actually, kung straight manila-cdo-davao, mga 30-36 hours by bus.

well going solo shouldn't be a bad thing in itself as long as I get to travel, but 30 hours seem daunting

[bods1000]

I agree with this observation. I think the traffic in Manila has now become worse than Bangkok.

 

If you're not careful, some of those transvestites look even better than some of the women. They can certainly fool the uninitiated. Specially the farangs who are not familiar with Asian male/female features Be very careful mga pards . . .

hahaha yeah they really do look better than some women...that plus the cumulative effect of alcohol on a long night can make you part with your better judgment which my friend did hehehe. The first noticeable features are that they have wider shoulders and slim thighs....

 

I really don't know why traffic here has gone worse eh meron na din tayong mga elevated rail transports. I think it's still the drivers' attitudes here that leads to street anarchy....One thing I noticed in Bkk traffic is that even in the worse traffic, seldom do I hear drivers honking their horns. Does that tell you something about the patience of Bkk drivers or what. Dito at the slightest driver discomfort, puro busina na maririnig mo

[sally bogna mathay]

well going solo shouldn't be a bad thing in itself as long as I get to travel, but 30 hours seem daunting

i know...a looooong bus trip can be boring. you'll have to make do with a book, a walkman, and lots of chichirya to munch on. kaya mas masarap kung may wheels ka. you can stop, eat and stay anywhere. ideally, set aside about a week in order to enjoy the whole trip. actually, meron na akong nakilalang dalawang pinoy who have riden a bike up to samar...twice!

[sally bogna mathay]

I really don't know why traffic here has gone worse eh meron na din tayong mga elevated rail transports. I think it's still the drivers' attitudes here that leads to street anarchy....One thing I noticed in Bkk traffic is that even in the worse traffic, seldom do I hear drivers honking their horns. Does that tell you something about the patience of Bkk drivers or what. Dito at the slightest driver discomfort, puro busina na maririnig mo

pare, you are right. the thais are more patient that the pinoys. why? everyone i've asked here says it's about buddhism, where patience, tolerance and respect of all things living are virtues. the thais also consider honking as a very rude thing to do (yup, it's about respect). the drivers here do not have that pinoy attitude of "mas mabuti ng makalamang kay sa malamangan". they don't consider driving as a competition but rather as something more of right that must be safeguarded (again, respect of one's right to exist and do what is deemed of him/her). yes, i occasionally encounter a taxi, bus or motorcycle driver that reminds me of their counterparts in manila, pero bihira. plus, the cops are always there. visibility makes drivers think twice about commiting a violation. it is also very rare that someone will cut into your lane here or make sudden turns or try to go ahead of the queue. in essence, it boils down to attitude.

[Grimace]

WHen i was younger..i travelled a lot! i competed in surfing competitions for 13 consecutive years...its like back and forth Australia,Hawaii and other beaches in USA ,currently is the one in Tennessee and they even got surf spots in Thailand, whats good about this is that when you actually are active and you got these sponsors reeling in competitions and you have to give your best shot! I think the best surf spots i've been to is Bali...

 

Ever since those time, many people have been attracted to Bali because of the great surfing it has to offer, and it is now one of top surf travel destination in the world. Bali is ideal for both “hard one” surfers who are keen to ride huge waves that are equal to the best, as well as beach goers who are content just to float in the warm waters.

 

Having its roots as alternative lifestyle, surfing has created huge commercial spin-offs. Finding high quality surf gear from a range of well-known surf-wear companies should be the least of the problems for surfers. Understandably, most of the surf shop are in the Kuta area. Newer shops like surf Girl, No Fear, The Curl, Seven Shore, Da Hui and Aloha are even better than the best shops in Australia, USA, Europe, and Japan, and this is no exaggeration. Quiksilver, Billabong, Rip Curl, Spyderblit, Volcom, and all the established brands are yours for the picking. Brands bought from such shops are guaranteed genuine, and best of all, their prices are lower than the American, Australian, and Japanese price.

 

 

Hang-outs catering exclusively for surfers are thriving in many parts of the island. Many surf restaurants and warungs offer menu items such as “surf-and-turf” and Californian hamburgers and cocktails like Rip Curler and Smooth Swells. Continuous surfing videos, an array of surfing memorabilia, and life-sized fiberglass boards on larger – than – life molded waves (providing the opportunity to immortalize a surfing move on camera) are now common in surfers establishments.

 

 

So popular is surfing that contests are even held every year in Bali. The surfing scene is not dominated by foreigners. Local surfing heroes who have made an impact internationally such as Made Kasim, Wayan Suenda, Ketut Menda, Wayan Ganti, and Made Switra are often seen in hot action at Bali beaches. Rizal Tandjung, Ismael Dooley and Made Adi Putra are among the new talents who have potential of world Champions. Tandjung shot to fame when he scored a perfect 10 in the 1996 and 1997 Quiksilver Pro against the best surfers in the world.

[sally bogna mathay]

hey uchisy, i have a question. how does one go to lombok? do you fly to denpasar and catch a boat, or is there a flight from jakarta? also, please given an idea how much three days and nights in lombok will cost (food, transpo, accommodation) if on a budget. i've heard some people say that you can live on $5 a day in bali??? is that true?

[sally bogna mathay]

Day 4

Oct. 19

2:39am

 

As I thought it would be, it was an uneventful drive around Samar. Too bad I couldn’t admire the scenery. Everyone wakes up from a deep slumber as the driver announces that the two-kilometer long San Juanico Bridge is just around the corner. Am just about ready to collapse.

 

6:03am

 

I wake up, walk to the balcony outside my hotel room and wonder whether such scenes can be seen often. I contemplate the still setting; the Leyte Gulf shimmers in the distance while the sun splashes its rays on the quiet waters. I then focus my attention on the lone banca and its occupant, who takes time to harvest the bounty offered by this precious body of water.

 

Considered the commercial and industrial hub of the eastern Visayas region, the capital city of Tacloban is located between the San Juanico Strait and San Pedro Bay, making an ideal harbor site. Standing here made me think of the Riviera on the southern coast of France.

 

This week is a busy one and tomorrow a significant day for the people because it will be the 55th anniversary of the Leyte landing. Oct. Oct. 20, 1944, US forces arrived at Red Beach, about 12 km south of Tacloban City’s center, and liberated the nearby town of Palo. Veterans are to be honored with a parade and banquet.

 

Other than meeting with city and provincial officials, today will relatively be a light day. Shopping is of the highest priority and we will certainly be checking out the nightlife.

 

Day 5

Oct. 20

2:02pm

 

Really had a long night. Several cocktails and two parties hosted by the mayor and governor pack a wallop and recovery takes quite a while. I woke up very late and miss the festivities at Red Beach and wake up just in time for our departure for Maasin, capital of Southern Leyte, almost 200 km away. The province is the gateway to Mindanao and is just above the Surigao Strait.

 

Three hours later, we take a break at Sogod, the first town one enters upon crossing the provincial boundary. Another three hours and we are at Maasin where the governor is expecting us.

 

11:15pm

 

What can I say? Gov. Rosette Yniguez Lerias is the perfect host. She spoke to everyone in our group individually and expressed regret that we were only literally stopping in town to eat and run. But those few hours in Maasin made us all feel great. Much as we wanted to stay, we had to leave for Liloan, another three-hour trip where we are to ride a ferry next morning for the last leg of the trip. Mindanao beckoned and we only had less than 48 hours before flying back to Manila.

 

Day 6

2:30am

Oct. 21.

 

It was 2:31 am when we arrived in Liloan and proceeded to three houses where beds had been hastily prepared to accommodate us. Since there are no hotels, here homestay is the alternative. We all woke up at six for breakfast as the sky darkened and a drizzle began. At a quarter past eight, we board the Maharlika II, the ferry that will dock at Lepata, Surigao del Norte. The rain ends abruptly as the ferry silently traverses the azure waters of Sogod Bay. On my left is Panaon Island, which is a not-too-well-known dive spot. On the right is Limasawa, the island where first mass in the Philippines is supposed to have been held soon after the arrival of that famous Portuguese, Fernando Magallanes (the name Ferdinand Magellan is Anglicized).

 

I had only three hours of sleep and yet do not feel tired. In the distance, several dolphins are frolicking and diving. Not having breathed polluted air in the last five days has seemingly made my lungs cleaners. Like on the previous ferry, I stay on deck and watch the remains of the quiet storm’s fury.

 

12pm

 

At noon, we reach Surigao City and stop there for lunch. From here, we’ll drive through the two Agusan provinces before arriving in Davao City where I will meet some former schoolmates, the hijos de Davao as they are known, many of whom I haven’t seen for more than 15 years.

 

9:42pm

 

Finally, we arrive at the last stop. The bus has logged more than a thousand kilometers and everyone now seems eager to go back to Manila. Just one more

Night in what is unofficially the biggest city in the world. Nothing on tap until noon tomorrow other than the lunch to be hosted by the mayor Rod Duterte himself. Once again, the rain greets us.

 

Postscript

 

The drive may have been long and bumpy at times, but the sights and sounds were well worth it. I look back and see the smiles of the people we met and the sadness expressed on the same faces when they realized we were about to move on to another town. I visualize the Mayon Volcano and its perfect cone and try to comprehend its occasional wrath and eternal magnificence.

 

I recall the mysterious attraction that is Samar and its paved but lonely highways. The islands I saw from the wharf at Matnog, from the San Juanico Bridge and those that lie on either side of Sogod Bay are all indications of just how different the country is. As the former Indonesian president Sukarno said, there is “unity in diversity.”

[Zerreit]

I just came back from a weekend in Davao City for the Kadayawan Festival. We were booked at the Royal Mandaya Hotel. Lucky us because the festivities were right outside our hotel! Everything was colorful, the parade, the floats, the streets. The people were very friendly and helpful. Everything is cheap! The food were cheap, drinks, booze. There were parties everywhere.

 

The airport was very impressive. It's shaped like a vinta. Very clean, and fairly new.

 

There are a couple of nightspots worth visiting. This place called the Venue is very much like Eastwood here in Manila. Liquid Bar at the Lobby of the Apo View Hotel is hip and happening too.

 

Colasa's Grill is also worth visiting. They've got one of the best tasting chicken barbecue among all other things.

 

I wouldn't mind going back to Davao again for another longer vacation.

[bods1000]

i know...a looooong bus trip can be boring. you'll have to make do with a book, a walkman, and lots of chichirya to munch on. kaya mas masarap kung may wheels ka. you can stop, eat and stay anywhere. ideally, set aside about a week in order to enjoy the whole trip. actually, meron na akong nakilalang dalawang pinoy who have riden a bike up to samar...twice!

I'd really like to take that bus rather than drive as I don't have time to reflect and enjoy the scenery when I drive. You're right - a book and some great ECM jazz is all I need to while away those long hours on that trip....You know what sayang wala na tayong rail dito...I've been reading some and my ultimate dream is to ride one of those fantasy rail rides. Two of them stand out - the Trans-Siberian Express - which would take you from Istanbul (?) in Europe, down through the steppes of Russia and up to the very bitter cold of Vladivostok. Ilan ba yun - mga 5000kms yata yun The other is the Indian Pacific rail in Australia - all 3000kms plus of it - from Sydney, through the Outback and down to the other side of the Australian continent - Perth. It's got daw the longest single stretch of STRAIGHT railway track in the world - some 100+kms. Now how's that for boredom pero I think I'll enjoy it!

[sally bogna mathay]

You know what sayang wala na tayong rail dito...I've been reading some and my ultimate dream is to ride one of those fantasy rail rides. Two of them stand out - the Trans-Siberian Express - which would take you from Istanbul (?) in Europe, down through the steppes of Russia and up to the very bitter cold of Vladivostok. Ilan ba yun - mga 5000kms yata yun

sayang talaga...wala na yung northern part ng pnr rail. when we were young, my dad would take us to baguio via damortis, la union where the train from tutuban stopped. accdg to the pnr people, hindi kasi na maintain yung tracks for several years kaya nasira, ninakaw...grabe, pati yung mga wooden planks ninanakaw! i rode the pnr to legazpi back in 1999. really nice, even though luma na ang tren. actually may "bagong" 2nd hand trains ang pnr that were donated by japan. as for the trans-siberian rail, an aussie woman i met here said the ride was great and cheap daw. the best views, she said, were in central asia and china. ito raw ang part of the route (the silk road) that marco polo took. medyo mahal na raw sa russia ngayon.