Ysai was here

WHERE TO STAY

So if you want to hit all spots in one weekend getaway to Surigao del Sur, I best recommend Paper Country Inn.  It’s cozy, budget friendly and is accessible to your essential needs as it’s within the commercial district.

It’s a few minutes away from the terminal as well and you can also book with them tours if you don’t mind sharing the ride with other tourists if you prefer hassle-free but on a schedule.

I learned a fun fact while I was there as well that they called the inn as such as Bislig was once home to the only integrated forest and paper company in the country.  Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines is a 200,000-hectare complex in Bislig City that employed almost everyone here but was eventually shut down due to lack of harvesting permit for more than a year that then led to the decline of the company.  Operations has still not been restored since 1997 but the complex is still there.

If you are interested in booking with them, here are their contact details:

Facebook Page

Phone:(086) 628 2313

ENCHANTED RIVER

Enchanted River is a crystalline stream flowing from hidden spring, rocky brims ’mongst vines, and a canopy of rich green mirrored in water-tinted blue as described by Modesto Farolan from his poem Rio Encantado, hence it earned its moniker.

It’s located in Talisay, Hinatuan and to get there you can ride another bus to the said town from Bislig.  From the terminal, you can then hire a motorcycle to take you up to where the exact location is.  But then again, if you opt for a more comfortable seating, book the tour.

We’ve never heard of this place before not until one of our friends posted a picture in Facebook where he was submerged in crystal clear blue waters and it made us all curious about it.

The Facebook picture that started it all.  Thanks dude! You made this happen! XD

The depth of this river is yet unknown and true enough, you can no longer see what’s on the bottom given the clarity of its waters.  The river runs from a shade of green, blue then black as it goes deeper from our peripheral view in the stands.

Since we were here in November, the waters weren’t so blue as we had hoped it to be.  Summer time is always best to come here.

At noontime, they do a feeding session for the fishes there as well with matching classical music like they were dining at a restaurant.  These school of fish flocking nearest you is another sight to see.

 TINUY-AN FALLS

The next stop we went to was the “Mini Niagra Falls” of the Philippines AKA Tinuy-an Falls.  It is 95 meters wide and 55 meters high.  It has 3 levels of white water where you can get a massage from the highest point when the current is safe enough.  Just pick a spot and you’re off to your much needed R&R.

When we were there, it didn’t have much water flowing anymore though as we made it in the afternoon.  We were coming from Enchanted River and it was about another hour drive from Hinatuan as the falls are in the Bislig area already.

We were told they looked better when it was high tide because then, there would me more water flowing.  Nonetheless, it was still a sight for us to see.

BRITANIA GROUP OF ISLANDS

On the following day, we hoped on a boat and explored the surrounding islands.  And what use would an archipelago be if there was no island hopping?  

There was ton to see and they had a naked island too like the one in Siargao.  It could be because they’re in the pacific already that they tend to form such.  The waters were clear and the beaches were naturally amazing with no obstruction from humans. 

The look on our faces as the sun shined down on us with the islands behind.

We took mostly videos during our island hopping as well as the rest of the trip.  Check out the video below to sneak on our adventure:

See the look on our faces and the whole trip and you’ll see how much fun we had.  

Note:  This was taken in November 2014.

Here’s the link in case the plugin doesn’t play: https://youtu.be/YSVoldxUrE8

Hope you enjoyed my post and helped you entice to experience Surigao del Sur for yourself! :)

Flame It!

                 As far as I can remember, this place was one of the first few burger joints serving what a real beef patty in buns is.  Their first location was in Escario (which have closed down) but more branches have opened in Ayala, SM and Robinson’s Cybergate.

Not everyone may agree with me with how good their burgers might be but the plus factor I have for them is their location.  They are the only ones located in malls where most of the Filipino population flocks to whenever they are out of their own homes.  If they made the rest of my favorites more accessible, chances are, this gets off my list.

Front Gate

My burger crazed friend got this from istorya.net to be one of Cebu’s best.  Indeed, they are pretty great and they had a wide array of choices of burgers to choose from.  Plus, you also have a choice to “build your own burger”, which means you can get to choose what you want on your burger.  But my all-time favorite would be their Bacon Mushroom Melt.

Photo-op with their Bacon Mushroom Melt

Front Gate has a distinctive kind of condiment which I can’t seem to identify that makes their burger taste rather sweet than just the regular taste.  It was the plus factor but it is can also make your meal overwhelming as well.

                    So far, there are only 2 Front Gate branches.  One is in Maria Cristina Ext. (beside Sacred Heart School for Girls) and the other is in Paseo Arcenas in Banawa.

Big Tom’s Charbroiled Burger

Ahh.. Big Tom’s.  Big Tom’s would be my 2nd most favorite as it tastes the freshest out of all of these.  I've read that they never freeze their patties as they handmade them daily.  These are then cooked on a charbroiler which sears in the flavors of the fresh patty well.

Me and the burger crazy

Other than the taste, I really like how serve the burgers to you on a chopping board with a knife to put it in place.  The downside would be that they’re a bit pricier than the rest of the lot on my list.  And they have only one branch as of now and that is in Juana Osmena right behind Penong’s.

This could easily be my most favorite but I'm taking this account as to an overall experience (taste, location and ambience and price wise).

Burger Joint

      Photo taken from: http://www.foodpick.me/BurgerJoint/

And last but of course, not the least, Burger Joint.  Burger Joint used to be where Bread after Bread in Mabolo is located.  My officemates and I usually order takeouts from them and have them delivered in our office as it was just nearby.   

Now, they've moved to the Gallery in Mabolo which is actually better because it has a much friendlier environment there and a bigger space.  They still have the same outdoor type of dining with tables and chairs in an alfresco setting.  It’s great during the night time but I have not dared eating there during the day yet.  It may not be so bad in their new location anymore as it is off the highway and that part of Mabolo is quite breezy.

They have value meals which includes the drinks and fries or wedges ranging from PHP 115 to 199.

Burger Joint would be the most affordable one out of the 4 I have listed but surely, the quality is not compromised.  They have their burgers char broiled as well, topped with fresh tomatoes, onions and lettuce in perfectly soft wheat bread buns.  Now, you should understand why this easily makes it my most favorite.

Do you agree or not?  Do you know any other home grown Cebu Joints yet to be discovered?  Use the comment box.  Speak (or rather type) out your mind and thanks for reading! 

Palm trees everywhere and motorcycles all customized to serve your surfing needs.  Some had compartments on the side for your board while some had canopies to shelter you from the sun.

Their airport is about 40 minutes away from General Luna (their main town) and 1 hr. from Cloud 9 (the surfing capital).  I’ve read that you may take a van to General Luna for php300 and Cloud 9 for php 500, one way.  Transportation is quite pricy as there are no jeepneys or cabs available there.  Main transportation consisted of vans and motorcycles of which you may rent out as well.  Or you can make arrangements with your resort to pick you up as we did with Cherinicole.

MAGPUPUNKO BEACH AND TIDAL POOL 

First on our itinerary was Magpupunko Beach which was an hour and a half away from General Luna.  

During the drive, our guide amused us with fun facts in Siargao and enticed us of the place we were visiting first.  She said that Magpupunko was like a natural infinity pool and is really a must for tourists.  She did warn though that we should make use of the time when it was still low tide for it wouldn't be as nice during the high tide.

I was really curious how it looked like and mind my ignorance for not googling it first.  But it was good that I didn't because it would have spoiled my amazement of the beauty I saw when I got there.  Sure, the beach seemed like the usual but as you go about the path going to the rock formations, you can really see how wonderful God's creations are.

The natural infinity pool with calm and crystal clear waters undisrupted by the waves visible from where we were standing.

Sitting at the "pool ledge" (left) and making poses at the signature rock of Magpupungko (right).  The beach's name got it from this rock because it looked like a man squatting.

One of the many underwater selfies we took with the advantage of the clear waters we were in.

This pool of mixed fresh and sea water was our playground for the whole afternoon.

ISLAND HOPPING IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN

In my whole existence, Siargao would have been the scariest island hopping experience I ever had.  Imagine riding a small trigger boat good for at most 8 people to ride in conquering waves as big as the Chocolate Hills in Bohol?  Well, maybe a bit exaggerated but it left us screaming for most of the hour we were in open waters.

This whole debacle started when one of our mates spoke with David, one of the passengers we met in the plane.  He was half Pinoy, half American from Manila who was a regular at Siargao.  He convinced us that if we were island hopping, we must go to Mam-on Island.  It was quite far (about an hr. from the mainland) but it was perfect for it had clear waters, nice surf breaks and an amazing coral life for snorkeling.

Though our boatman was not so intent for us to pursue this island, we were stubborn and pushed on.  I half wished that we didn't and half thanked David because indeed it was an experience.  I said that to myself going there and on our return because both was a roller coaster ride.

Photo-bombing the Pacific Ocean.

The calm after the storm.  On Mam-on Island.

After our nerve racking ride to and from Mam-on Island, we went to Naked Island and Daku Island.  

Naked Island was in its simplest sense, naked--naked from any trees, rocks and other lifeforms (well except for crabs and sand creatures).  It was just a wide stretch of sand in the middle of the sea.

Failed jump shot at the Naked Island with our small but terrible boat behind us.

And Daku Island was the biggest islet off the mainland in Siargao hence the name.  And there, we had our best buko juice break taken fresh off the coconut trees served by very friendly locals whom we chatted with the rest of the afternoon before we headed back.  

HANG TEN

Siargao equals surfing so it would be so wrong to miss out on this activity while we were there.  But since this sport is not readily available to everyone in the country, we had to turn to the professionals for help.

Our instructors were locals in the island making 500php from each of us for the lessons and board rentals.  They were introduced to us by our driver at the resort for one of them was his son.  It was quite convenient for them because they were making money out of fun.  It was quite expensive though and but we couldn't risk doing it on our own for the rest of us was were first timers.  Though I think, we could have gotten it at a cheaper price if we knew people from there.

At first sight from the shore, Siargao seemed to look scarier for non-professionals because of their reefs but it's not so bad when you go farther into the water where there is more sand and less rocks.

Everyone was scrambling as we tried to catch wave after wave which Siargao didn't seem to run out of.

That feeling of success after making your first stand--the best!

On the famous boardwalk going to where the more famous cloud 9 waves are at.

All in all, my Siargao experience was one of my best summers as it was full of adventures.  And surely, I'll visit it again soon and get stoked.

First up: Cafe Noriter

There is this Korean invasion going on in the Philippines (most especially in Cebu) that a lot of Korean restaurants have opened.  Other than kimchi, samgyupsal and Super Junior, these Koreans have brought us Cafe Noriter as well.

Cafe Noriter is located just across Elizabeth Hotel along Arch Bishop Reyes Ave. which I think opened sometime in September or August.  I said "I think" because my only proof is the spam of photos from this place which flooded my social media feed around the said timeframe.  And as the internet junkie (or more like paki-uso) that I am, I can't not try it for myself.

It was still quite new when we were there so the place was packed and we had to wait a while before we got seated. 

After a long wait, we finally got our space.

Yes, the place was indeed instagram worthy and no wonder people were posting like mad on social media networks.  With the cute stuffed toys, colorful post-it's on the walls and wooden panelled, playpen-like compartments, it's hard not to say "uuyyy, picture ta!" then not post it on the internet.

Though the place was cute and all, their drinks aren't as exciting as their interior design.  They're just normal fraps (illy) and smoothies with nothing really special or anything that would stand out.  I haven't tried their pastries though so you can count those out on this account.

photo originally from zerothreetwo

But since they're not as pricey and their setting is uber cute, this is a great place to just chill and hang out with friends.  I just hope the popularity simmers down a bit though so it won't be as crowded and noisy as how it was when we were there.

Next: Bucket Shrimps

Who love shrimps?  Well, if you do, you better go to the Capitol area and get your bucket of these.

Before and after pictures of the ill fated shrimps with a mission of satisfying human cravings.

Bucket of Shrimps is a simple diner where food is being served in buckets.  Well, technically, what they have are half buckets that look like full lengthed ones from a far, making you think that the other half is just buried under the table but really, there are no wholes.  Sneaky and very economical at the same time with the manila paper as your "plates".

I love how one can be barbaric in their eating methods without being judged because it's best to use your hands here rather than the plastic spoon and fork they hand you.  It tastes better that way too!

Though I'm allergic to shrimp, I still took the risk of eating at least 1.  And surely, I didn't regret it.  The garlic and butter sauce was just heavenly making me curse my allergies again.

Thankfully for the likes of me, they have chicken, pusit (squid) and liempo on their menu to eat instead and you just drool over those who are eating the shrimps.  

But sadly, that's all they have on there.  Probably in time, if they expand, they should expand the menu list as well.

Save the best for last: La Vie Parisienne

La Vie Parisienne in english means, Parisian life.  Hence, you will find here all good things français (particularly Parisienne); croissants, macaroons, cheese and wines to name a few.   

at the coveted spot: the wine cellar

Peach wine + Pain choco = not bad (i love croissants so don't judge :P)

Instagram worthy too right?  Well, despite the fancy looking ambiance, you will find their wines to be affordable.  There are still the pricey ones though but we opted for the sweet ones.

Left: not sure if this is the most expensive one they got but it's what we found at this cellar

As I am no longer much of a drinker, this pace of drinking is more susceptible to me.  With the alfresco setting, it is yet the best venue for me to just chill or catch up with old friends.  

But then, I'm not the only one who fancies it here so it's also usually packed at night.  However if you come before 9PM, it won't be as crowded then; that or you can call them for a reservation.

So out the 3, which would you want to try? Yes, I meant to stir interest to those who are reading this.  And no, I'm not paid for promoting them.  I just love my city and if you are visiting, I hope you would enjoy it as much as I do.

The Ambience

Photo from tripadvisor

We reserved a table for 5 at 8:30pm because that was the earliest time we could get given the holiday rush.  The place was fully booked and thankfully, we were able to set our reservations in time.  

The decor and paintings on the wall were of women who are more Chinese looking than French as their interior is of Indochina inspired.  Despite that, the renaissance in their furniture and table settings were still very much French so it still worked well with the whole ambience.

De Quoi Manger (what to eat)

And of course, we came here to eat.  Unfortunately I didn't find foie gras in their menu so this is what we ordered instead.  

Ordering like a boss with their menu on an iPad.  And yes, we checked if there was a candy crush app on it. (lol)

For starters, we had their Cheese Souffle which was served hot off the pan.  It was soft and well balanced with greens on the side.

We then skipped the entrees and went straight to our individual mains for dinner at 9PM was no longer timely. 

Beef Bourguignon with Dill Rice

Black Pepper Steak with Pasta Sidings

Duck Tadolini with asparagus sauce and potato wedges

And to complete the french dining experience, we can't not have wine with our meals.  So we had Syrah as suggested by our server who was very helpful in all our choices.

Left: Ring the bell if you need anything from the servers (so Queen Elizabeth) ;p

Overall, their food was très bien though it was a bit pricey (our total bill was about 3,5k).  Well, one would have guessed it wouldn't come cheap as they have their menu on an iPad.  Despite the price tag, I could say it was worth with what I paid for as I was satisfied with their overall service.

Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup.

Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly.

A. IN TRANSIT TO EL NIDO FROM PUERTO PRINCESA

6-7 hours on the road with no lamp lights, no road signs for all the blind curves and zigzag roads we passed and mysterious dogs popping out of nowhere into the middle of the road.  How was that?  Stressful.  Plus, we had to endure a bumpy ride on the last 2 hours of the trip because the concrete road had ended before we reached El Nido.

We were seated on the front seat so we had interview sessions with the driver every now and then.  He told us there have been a lot of accidents and deaths especially for foreigners who decide to drive out on their own because of these.  And of course, it's no surprise.  Manong driver did not know either if anything is being done but someone should start putting at least the signs up.

We were dropped off at the terminal where tricycles were lined up to take us to the town proper.  There were a lot of them in que even at that hour (we arrived at 11pm).  The tricycle fare cost us Php50 but we got it exclusive already.

The agency booked us at Casa Cecilia in Rizal St. (non-beach front) where the tricycle delivered us.  We hit the sack right away because we were beat from our long bumpy ride.

I don't want to get into detail for our accommodation here as it was just an average hotel; nothing really special but i'll point one good and one bad.  Good:  Electricity was of service whenever we were in our room.  Bad: There was a leak in the bathroom and the room itself felt moisty (if there is such a word).  

B. ULTIMATE ISLAND HOPPING EXPERIENCE

I'm not such a fan of the town part of El Nido because it just seemed like a typical rural barrio in the Philippines.  At the time we went strolling before heading to our agent's rendezvous, the sight of the shore from there was not very pretty because it was high tide and it left quite a mess on the establishments lined up on the shore.

But everything changed once we set out into the water and that made me say, "This is what I came here for!"

With us were 2 girls from Holland and an American with his Filipina wife.

We went on for Tour A as I've read that this is one of the best sets apart from Tour C.  We would have gone for the latter but because of the strong winds, some of it's destinations were prohibited at the time.  Note to self: come here in the summer time.

Tour A consisted of the ff:  Small Lagoon, Big Lagoon, Shimizu Island, Secret Lagoon and 7 Commando.  This tour is for 700php per person plus an environmental fee of 200php valid for 7 days.  Since the agency took care of our tours already, we only had to pay for the environmental fee on that day.

Entering the Big Lagoon with manong boatman from Bohol leading us.   

We first entered the big lagoon which kept me saying "wow" at the beauty of nature I was seeing.  We weren't allowed to swim inside the lagoon for for some reason I forgot but was not well with our safety.

Since the westerners with us were eager to do some snorkelling, the boatmen took us near Shimizu Island for it.  And yes, called me scaredy cat but I let my fear get the best of me.  I didn't bring down my underwater camera with me while snorkeling to snap pictures or take a video of the beautiful sight underneath the clear blue waters (yeah, so no pictures).

Though, I must say we had the best boatmen/crew on that tour because Kuya was so eager to answer our questions and explain the islands we went to or passed by.  He even helped me conquer my fear of the deep unknown by practically dragging me to where the fishes were so I could fully indulge in the experience.

         Tour guide Kuya and the islands 

We then docked at the islet of Shimizu for lunch.  While Kuya and the other boatmen prepared for our lunch (inclusive of the tour package), we went lounging in the waters, taking in the paradise we were dipping in.

 Lounging in Shimizu Island for lunch

 After lunch, we headed on to the Secret Lagoon.  To enter, the water level must be low enough for the tourists to swim or crawl through the whole on the wall.  You have to be extra careful with crawling too because the edges of the opening are sharp.

Entrance to the Secret Lagoon

After our moments inside the lagoon, we went yet to another lagoon; the Small Lagoon.

The name didn't sound as promising as the last ones but this was the best stop we had out of all the places we hopped on that day.  And one word can sum it all up: magnificent.

We would have had more scenic shots inside the lagoon but our faithful boatman forgot to switch our camera from video to photo so we got video snapshots instead.

Nonetheless, the pictures of how beautiful that place was in our heads will forever be etched in our memories.

After the Small Lagoon we had our last stop at 7 Commando where we just spent our time left lounging at the beach.  

Despite the long 6 hr. not-so-safe drive, El Nido is truly a magnificent place that one must do the effort of coming to.  With its pristine waters, breath taking views and friendly locals to greet you, you can never go wrong.

Ysai was here <3

SIDETRIP - UGONG ROCK

Before we proceeded to the UR, we side-tripped to Ugong Rock for some caving and zipline since our scheduled departure at the port was not until 12:30pm and it was still past 8.  We decided to go with just the caving adventure which cost us 200php each.

The first part was just the kid stuff for it only involved strolling within the caves and formations.  The challenge came when manang tour guide passed us onto the guys for spelunking which gave my legs and upper body quite an exercise. 

When we reached the top, a lady was waiting for us if we were to go down through a zipline or not.  Catch is, it will be for another 250php each.

She asked almost as if we didn't have any other choice on how to get down from there.  We, along with the guys from Davao, were stubborn.  So, she gave us the option of climbing down instead but warned (or even threatened) that it will be much more difficult.  Thrift as we are and as scared as I am of heights, we took on the threat, I mean warning, and followed the guide leading us down.

It wasn't as difficult as we expected; it was much easier even.  The danger part was that the stairway was pitch dark and the guides with the flashlights were our only source of light.  So falling down from there is much indeed tragic than falling through the zipline.  But still, it was worth the experience.

After working up the sweat, we got back in the van to continue our drive to the Sabang port.  

When we arrived, our guide left us by the tents to get our permits from the office but she returned bearing bad news.  She said due to the bad weather last night, it caused the water level inside the cave to rise and the current from the river too strong to make a safe trip for touring.  So without having them or us informed beforehand, our trip got cancelled.

It was really disappointing (the set back) because we've already paid for everything through our agency and we were told it was no longer refundable.  This whole mishap caused our 2nd day in El Nido since they had to reschedule our UR.

There was no point in arguing so I let it go to got back to my "sit-back-and-relax" zone.  I agreed with the proposed reschedule and cancelled our 2nd tour for El Nido since that was refundable.

ATTEMPT 2

            Monday morning, still groggy from our 6 hour drive from El Nido, we were picked up by the agency again by the intersection in Salvacion to pursue our once failed UR tour.

We received unwelcoming looks from the chinoy tourists we were with when we met with our new tourmates.  Sorry for being late, but it was not our fault and I don't want to explain further.  Though, we did find another set of friends from this batch.  They were 3 friends on vacation from manila who were nice and funny too that we clicked with right away.

As we reached the port, there were tons of people on the tents this time as the tours had already resumed.  It took us about 30-45 minutes after lunch to get onto our boats.  It took another 3 hours before we could finally get our turn to go inside the river.  Hence, there were a lot of picture takings, chika-chika and avoiding thief monkeys while waiting.

The UR which is officially known as the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, is 8.2 km long and is considered as one of the 7 wonders of nature in the world.  It received such praise for it is easily navigable by 4.3 km which makes it the longest navigable underground river in the world.

It is magnificent and amazing but it stinks.  I mean literally.  But still it was worth the experience and worth coming for at least once.  Hey, people from all over the world make the effort to come here so why not our own people?  

But I do admire how the people of Palawan preserve this nature and not fully commercialize it despite the popularity it is gaining.  I hope and pray that it gets to be maintained that way that our next generations still get to experience it.  God gave man the rationale for us to be above his other creations so let's pair that power with great responsibility.

Kill nothing but time. Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Burn nothing but calories. Bring nothing but memories. - Ecotourism Motto

They booked us at Natua's Cabin for our budget accommodation (yes, budget, to lessen the cost).  Though our cabin was small, it was clean and attended to our basic needs pretty well.  It kept us warm and cozy despite their damp grassland, fresh from the rain the night before. 

It was pretty neat for a budget accommodation.  Plus, they serve a kick-ass french toast and omelet, free of charge (for checked in guests).  

Natua's is right beside the airport so you just have to walk to get there.  Though, there's a bit of annoyance from the noise while planes are passing by, it's manageable.  Its location was convenient as well for it's on Rizal Street and a lot of restaurants and establishments are lined up there also.

HALF-DAY CITY TOUR

It was past noon and the skies were still grey.  We set out to follow what was on half day city tour itinerary.  The agency picked us up at Natua's and head on to our first destination, Plaza Cortel.

This used to be a military fort during the World War 2 where the Japanese lit up their prisoners alive inside the dungeon on fire when they realized they were losing the war.  

The names of the American soldiers trapped and burned were engraved on the bronze marker placed above the area where the main underground bunkers existed, of which became the cage of their misfortune.

Eleven did get out to escape and one of them came back and erased his name from the marker, deliberately.  He left his artwork on this marker as well to show that he still lives; now as an artist.

We continued on our tour at their Tiannge or public market to do some souvenir shopping.  A drizzle teased us as we pass by their bay where we could've enjoyed a short stroll watching the waves hit the pavement.  And finally, a downpour greeted us as we were dropped off their market.

            (image from www.skylighthotelpalawan.com)

There were a lot of goods, shirts, native decors and accessories on sale.  It's safe to say to buy in the middle store for they have fixed prices so as not to get swindled.  It is easily distinguishable as well for it was enclosed from the rest.

We moved on to the Mitra's Ranch after 30 minutes but the weather was still harsh so we didn't get off to take a picture of the supposedly breathtaking view because we might get wet.  

This ranch is owned by Senator Ramon Mitra located in Santa Monica where, as we were told, only foreigners and rich people could afford to live in.  Well, it was imminent for the neighboring houses were mostly mansions.  

And since the weather wasn't so sightseeing-friendly, we continued on to Baker's Hill to revamp our tummies.  

Baker's Hill is a pastry shop famous for their hopia but I pigged out on their tarts, oatmeal bars and crinkles instaed.  I'm not sure if it's internationally known yet but they're quite popular nationwide already.  So, we decided to buy packs and boxes of their goodies to take home as pasalubong.

The rain had stopped so we moved along to our next and final stop which was the Crocodile Farm.   But the name's now longer so it's called Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center.  

 A lot (or just myself, whichever) has been misled to know that this is home to the famous Lolong.  BUT, it's not.  Lolong lives in Agusan River but unfortunately, he's now dead.  However, this "conservation center" did display a big-ass skeleton of a sea water crocodile they caught ages ago.  

Other than the crocodile, they displayed the remains of a sperm whale as well that was really huge.

Other than the usual crocodiles lounging in their pens not really moving, there was nothing more to see in this farm.  It would've been much more exciting if they fed some of them so we could see some action.  

Probably the only excitement we got here was eating their crocodile sisig.  We asked around where these were coming from and we found out that they come as packed meat already.  So no no butchery from their own breed there.  

I did taste a crocodile sisig back in Cebu at Manggahan and it tastes pretty much the same.  As it was Eddie's first, he would've thought it was just beef if I hadn't told him what it was.

FAMOUS DINING

We went back to the city proper after a much less boring "crocodile show" (if that's what it was called) and asked the tour guide to drop us off at Kinabuch so we can have dinner.

Kinabuch is one of the famous restaurant's in Palawan for they served really good food with reasonable prices.  So we finished our night with a warm bowl of bulalo and tuna sisig with an unlikely savory tomato sauce.

With full tummies and a cold night we called it in for the rain started to pour again.  We had another long day ahead of us for tomorrow so we gave up on the weather and just crossed our fingers for the coming days.

Ysai was Here <3

Camotes is a group of Islands between Cebu and southern Leyte.  You can get there from the city via Danao then ride a boat at 200 (aircon) or 180 (non aircon) pesos per ticket.  

The bus ride from the city to Danao was about an hour.  You can catch a bus or van from the North Bus Terminal which has trips every 30 mins or so.  You can also ride a jeepney from White Gold, still heading to Danao.  But we find the bus more comfortable as it has more legroom.

You then get off at the Danao port and get tickets to the boat.  I'm not sure of other shipping lines running from Danao to Camotes but the one we were at was Jomalia shipping lines.  If there were others, I'm sure they were pretty much the same.

Our smart phones and tabs were very handy to kill the time

  Mangodlong Paradise Beach Resort

We made reservations at Mangodlong Paradise which really made the best of our weekend.  Though this resort is pricier than Santiago Bay in San Francisco, it was more than worth its price.

They also have free port transfers when you check in with them so it saves you the hassle of riding public transport.  We were greeted by their personnel at the port and we were then 15 minutes away from the beach.

  The Accommodation

We booked their 2 bedroom cabana and it was more than we could ask for.  We paid for 5,000php a night here and it's cheap already considering how fancy the rooms were.

  The Infinity Pool

We utilized their pool the most and it made most of the paradise factor of this resort other than the wonderful sunset it caters to.  The pool lights up at night with chill cabana music perfect for our fun night to begin.

  Cheap Dining at San Francisco

We went to San Francisco that night for dinner because we couldn't find another place to eat at other than the one in the resort and we already had lunch there.  There are habal-habals or motorcycles in service to take you anywhere in the island as this is the main transportation there.

You can rent the motorcycles for 500php for a whole day.  But since we were only there for the weekend and didn't have much time to drive around.  We just asked the drivers to take us to San Francisco which costs 30php one way per person.  They were also nice enough to pick us up to bring us back at the resort.

Santiago Bay Resort was visible from the grill we were eating from

These grills serve the basic Filipino grill food such us fresh grilled fish, squid, pork and the like.  They also serve fresh buko juice and halo-halo.

The food was really cheap for we only chipped in about 180php each for the ton of food we ordered.  And they fulfilled our hunger very well.  I don't have pictures of them though for we were really hungry at the time and didn't have that in mind.

There is still a lot more to do in Camotes like the caves to visit, island hopping and other places in the main island to visit but our time was limited.  Regardless, this weekend was a perfect getaway for us to just relax and unwind.

Ysai was Here <3

I had other Filipino office mates with me on the first week before they left me behind to go back home.  So, we went touring the weekend we were free.

THE BIG BUS TOUR

We initially planned to go on foot or by public transport so we can spend less.  But since we were all first-timers and were not well with tram systems, we changed our mind while figuring out the streets and google's direction and went on their Big Bus Tour instead.

Us, trying to tour on our own but gave up lol

The tickets cost us 5,000 HUF, which is about 22 USD each.  This covers a hop on-hop off bus tour plus a river cruise on the Danube and is valid to use for 2 days.  So if you don't complete the tour in one day, you can continue on the next.

The hop on-hop off bus is a double decker that will bring you to all their tourist destinations following the route on the map they will give you.  You can get off at any stop and wait for the next bus if you want to ride on again.  There are also audio guides on the bus to give you the names and history of every stop it goes to.  

We first sat on the 1st deck as it was less cold with the windows closed.  But we moved to the 2nd deck to fully indulge the experience.  

Sacrificed this warmth and comfort for a better view.   

Unfortunately, I did not prepare for post-winter well and it left me freezing cold with my feet hard as ice.  Thankfully, there was a hot chocolate hut at Castle Hill to help me warm up.

I think the best part of this tour would've been the river cruise for the Danube is the 2nd longest river in Europe starting at the Black Forest and ending in the Black Sea.  But it was such a waste for us to miss the only 2 available trips for it's scheduled only at 2pm and 6pm.  Our schedules were not so flexible for we were there on business.

CITY TOUR ON FOOT 

The best tours are always with a native.  Though, I was on tour with a Polish girl (named Lucy) instead, she had lived in the city for more than 2 years now so she was more than enough.  Plus, she's the nicest person I've met there too.

We started on foot so she can show me the buildings with both goth and Turkish influence on their architecture.  I couldn't well remember the street names we went to though but the stroll was a very fun experience.

  We went by one of the synagogues in the city where we saw a cementary for most of the Jews who died during the World War 2.  Lucy told me that these Jews were discarded for something even lesser than a slave back in those days and were treated really badly.

I've heard of the Holocaust Museum there as well which traces the rise of anti-Semitism in Hungary from 1938 to the mass deportations of Jews to German death camps in 1944–45.  I really wanted to go but none of my colleagues were too eager to take me for they thought of the place as just depressing.

After some lunch in IKEA, we went to some parks and Lucy showed me their version of the love padlocks, like the ones in Paris and Rome.  The myth to this love padlocks is that these locks protect the love you have with your special someone so it never breaks.

We continued our stroll from the park to St. Stephen's Basilica.  I'm no Catholic but their church buildings really bring awe to me.  For me, they  are very symbolic to a lot of history and culture to the city it stands in.

Next to the Basilica was their Opera house.  Part of the Hungarian culture is their love for the opera and their operatic traditions (which I can't explain further).

 And of course, we came to see the Chain Bridge.

This bridge is the most popular heritage in Budapest as I see it in most of the logos, pictures in hotels and tourist maps.  And I've learned of another myth which is about this bridge.  I was told that the lions on the entrance don't have tongues and they roar if a virgin passes by them.  So if they don't make a sound when you pass, then you know what you are (haha).

This bridge, along with 7 more (it's a long river), connects the Buda and Pest side of the city.  We took on most of the Buda side while we were on the bus tour and I saw most of Pest on Lucy's tour.

I've learned so much on this trip other than the business side of it and I'm so grateful for the experience.  The world is like a book, if you don't travel, you are reading only one page of it.  And I'm glad to have gone a few pages already!

I have a friend who was now living in Paris so touring around won't be such a problem in terms of direction.  What I needed to know was how to go from the airport to their address.

Paris By Train

I was given instructions on which stops to go to and where to transfer.  I had to make sure that everything was covered for Paris is not exactly an English speaking city and I don't speak French either.  Paris by train is a really good site for references.  It's very detailed with instructions and pictures to guide you.  I even noted how to say "one way ticket to Paris" (Pear-Ee Alleh-Som-pleh) in French, just in case.

Here are some important points:

There are free maps at the airport so don't fret.

To avoid the line at Billet Ile-de-France, you can make use of their Billeterie Ile-de-France (the blue box machines) which serves an automated ticketing service.  But, this machine only accepts coins and euro credit cards.

A one way ticket (as of March 2013) costs 9,50€

One way tickets covers transfers from train to metro until your last destination

When lost or confused, follow the other tourists

Paris has an amazing train system that is easy to figure out.  Your only problem would be the correct pronunciations of the stations if you would want to ask around.  And, you have to speak in English slowly for them to understand you.  It's not that they don't understand English, but it's not a well practiced language that they're fluent at.

Hotel des Beaux-Arts

My friend was staying in an apartment at Place d'Italie but his place was not big enough to accommodate a guest.  So, he suggested beforehand for me to check in a hotel somewhere near.  As I was on a tight budget, I booked the cheapest one I could find on the internet.

This room in Hotel des Beaux Arts was at 49€ a night but I had to make do with the shared bathrooms as this was my target price.  In Europe (or in Paris), this is already considered cheap.

I was only expecting a room and a bed but it actually came in with a nice set of mirrors, a table and a chair, an LCD TV and a washroom.  You also get wifi service at 1.90€ for 24hrs.  It was a pretty good deal for me.

I also learned about the bidet which is a toilet-looking-thing (saw this in their washroom) that serves as a separate place for washing (ehem) underparts.  My friend told me it was pretty common there especially in old French houses.

               (sample from the net, not actual picture at the hotel)

THE SIGHTS

Paris is the very first tourist destination in the world so the city is full of sights to see; to numerous museums, wonderful architectures and beautiful lights decorating the city at night time.  My over-the-weekend trip was not enough to cover everything so, I went with the basics instead.

And of course, first on the list is Tour de Eiffel or Eiffel Tower.  Almost anyone from anywhere would recognize this man-made majesty.  It was surreal that I came to see this right in front of me and it was such a blessing.  

There are restaurants located at the first and top floors but reservations could take you up to 6 months and your bill might eat up your 3 month salary (or mine).  

Next was the Acr de Triomphe.  This is one of the famous monuments in Paris which honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic Wars.  It has a smaller version  called the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which stands west of the Louvre.

There are a lot more sights to see but since I did not have much time (to my dismay) we just drove around them to literally "sight see".

THE SHOPPING DISTRICT

Arguably the most famous street—and one of the most expensive strips of real estate—in the world, Champs de Elysees is shopping haven for the rich and famous.  As Paris has an anti paparazzi law, most of hollywood come here and be incognito with much less effort.  I was hoping to spot some of them but it was hard for me to tell as most caucasians for me looked much the same already.

Le Lourve Museum

If you're expecting to see a picture of me with the Mona Lisa, be disappointed.  

The museum was closed by the time we got there so I have to make do with the glass pyramid-ish Tom Hanks was running around in the movie the Da Vinci Code.

And oh, there was this part there which looked like a scene from Clash of the Titans as to where the gods were looking over the humans.  Cool right? 

Notre Dame de Paris

Rumor has it that the architect who built this church sold his soul to the devil for the reason that no one could ever figure out his design and how gothic its architecture was.

And true, this place really gave me the creeps.  To the numerous sculptures at the entrance, the eccentric details on the doors, the gargoyles standing above, the dim lighting in the interior plus the organ playing in the background really set a dracula-movie-vibe.

But you would really appreciate the details though as you could only imagine how long it took to finish as things were done very manual back then.  You could say that the church as a whole is a magnificent and truly unique piece of art.

As to finding out if the rumor was true or not, I did not stick long enough to find out.

Paris at Night

This city is not called The City of Lights for nothing for indeed, it is most beautiful at night.  It could be the gloomy weather the city has that the street lamps and yellow lights compliments their buildings and architecture very well.  

I fell in love with the city and I would never say no to a second chance.  Definitely a lifetime experience.  Bucket list #11: CHECKED!