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Taif has always been a favorite summer getaway among locals and expats because of its cool weather throughout the year. Known as ‘the city of roses’, Taif is a city in Makkah Province also famous for its fruit orchards and other agricultural products which also gave it the name ‘garden of the Hejaz’. My trip to Taif last January was an amazing escape from the cold wave happening in Riyadh. While…

SAUDI’S EASTERN PROVINCE ROAD TRIP

It was a fine, lazy Friday afternoon when a friend’s friend invited us to join her to Khobar to unwind. For the sake of adventure we quickly packed our things and jumped in the car. And what happened next was an exciting girl’s roadtrip to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Continue reading

With Saudi Arabia opening its doors to the world for tourism, many shops and restaurants are competing to win everyone’s heart. The sprawling trendy plazas and strip malls in the capital city Riyadh is certainly the best place to showcase an exquisite dining and shopping experience. These piazzas popping up like mushrooms with its unique design are the new craze in town.

1. The Zone 

A…

What would you do if you only have a day to spend in the city of Jeddah?

Here is my experience on how I made the most of my trip to Jeddah. And the good news is that you can make these things for FREE. (more…)

DAY TRIP TO AL ULA – Hot Air Balloon Festival

Al Ula has always been on my bucket list of places to visit in Saudi. I would love to see its famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Madain Saleh, the first to be listed in Saudi Arabia.

It is more than 1,000 Km away from Riyadh and tour packages are also so expensive so a trip to Al Ula was just a dream until I heard about the Winter at Tantora Hot Air Balloon Festival. At first, I was undecided…

EXPLORING RIYADH DIPLOMATIC QUARTER’S PARKS & GARDENS

Exploring Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarters has always been an interesting thing to do. DQ is home to different embassies and other international organizations. It has plazas with varieties of restaurants and cafes where you can dine and chill. Its superb architecture and designs will surely amaze anyone who sees it. It also has well-maintained and beautifully-landscaped gardens and parks for everyone…

More than 200 exhibitors from the Kingdom, GCC and all over the world participated in this successful event.

The week-long event was divided into 3 agenda daily: lectures from renowned speakers in the morning, narrator paragraphs in the afternoon and poetry evenings.

The exhibition hall was arranged into different sections like Falcons Exhibitor Oasis, Falcons Auction Area, Camel Auctions Area, Veterinary Services, Art Area, Shooting Area and Gift Shops among others. There were also booths and stalls by companies that specialize in hunting weapons and camping tools.

    The Falcon Exhibitor Oasis was truly a spectacular area with its nature-like setting. Visitors had a chance to take photos with the well-trained falcons. The falcons on display cost as much as hundred thousand riyals or even more.

  This free event was another engaging experience in Riyadh where you can immerse into its culture and get to know more its heritage.

📍King Fahad Road, North Anas Bin Malik Road

This wildlife park located in the outskirt of Riyadh is home to more than 700 animals of different species. The park is in the town of Tibrak which is about an hour drive from the city center. What’s more interesting in this park is that you will see the animals roaming freely in the extensive red sand desert.

  But first thing first, in order to enter Nofa Wildlife Park you must have a confirmed reservation first.

Once you entered the gate and paid the fee, you will be transported by their bus to the waiting hall where they also serve complimentary water, tea, coffee & biscuits.

The safari trip starts by riding an open-top vehicle which can accommodate up to 20 people. Here you will see ostriches, giraffes, deer, wildebeest, zebra, hippo, oryx, gazelle, impala, ibex and a lot more wandering and eating openly in the vast desert area. This tour last for almost an hour and is such an amusing encounter with animals.

  After waving hello to the animals on the desert, you will then be redirected to the Wildlife Center. This is another opportunity to get closer to some of their well-kept animals. They have emus, kangaroos, hedgehog, porcupine, peacocks, rabbits and guinea pigs on the center. They also have lizards, snakes and crocs. You can take a photo with the owl and falcon. And if you’re brave enough, take some selfie with a purring cheetah. Yes, a cheetah.. the fastest animal on the planet. You can feed and pet Yats, the tamed cheetah. Don’t worry; a professional trainer will assist you in doing so. If you can’t handle a cheetah, then for sure you will enjoy cuddling with cute dogs or feeding the monkeys.

  A tour at Nofa Wildlife Park is a one of a kind experience in Saudi. Both adults and kids will absolutely have a great time.

Some things to consider:

Access to Nofa is by confirmed reservation only.

They are only accepting reservations via email to [email protected]

Payment is by cash only. The price is SR 105 (Inclusive VAT) per person.

Only family (mixed) groups allowed.  No groups of single males allowed.

It is not allowed to bring food from outside.

Guests can request access to the restaurant after their visit.

DAY 2 – ARMENIA (Sevan & Yerevan)

For my second and third day, I availed day tours from Kabayans and Pinoys in Tbilisi by G7 Euro Travel & Tours. (more…)

CAUCASUS IN A GLANCE: 3 Days Trip to Georgia & Armenia (Part 1/2)

Located between the borders of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, the Caucasus is a diverse region with amazing landscape and culture. It covers four countries: southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan (although others claim that Turkey & Iran are also part of the Caucasus).

Despite the political conflicts in the region, it is surprisingly very safe and tourist-friendly place.

This is the…

It’s 45°C outside and I have a week-long vacation because of Eid Al Fitr. So instead of just sitting and sleeping the whole week at home, I decided to pack my ever reliable backpack and head to an adventure somewhere new.

What better way to escape the scorching heat of Riyadh than to go somewhere cold?! Guess where?!

To the city of ABHA.

For those who say that Saudi Arabia is just a plain hot…

Visita Iglesia or Seven Churches Visitation is a holy tradition among Catholics during the Lenten Season wherein devotees visit at least seven churches and recite the Stations of the Cross. Traditionally, it was performed during Maundy Thursday or Good Friday but it can also be observed during any day of the holy week.

Here is my list of 7 beautiful old churches in the province of Cavite which…

It was a long overdue plan to visit an Al Baik restaurant. The initial suggestion was to go to Qassim but it never pushed through because it was too far. So when branches in Al Kharj finally opened, we didn’t miss the chance to give it a try.

Past 12 in the afternoon when we started to hit the road for an hour travel to Al Kharj.

The long wait was over when we finally catch sight of Al Baik restaurant. It’s located beside a petrol station and opposite another famous fast food chain. We were excited to hop off the car but unfortunately only men can go inside to order. Alas, after a few minutes they came back with an empty hand. The famous broasted chicken was no longer available. I was like, “is this for real? we travelled all the way here for nothing?!”

But we never lose hope because there’s another branch located only a few kilometers away from the first restaurant. We couldn’t wait any longer since our stomachs were growling so we moved right away to search for the other one.

At last, another big Al Baik sign waving on us. There was a long queue on the men’s section. Luckily, this branch has a ladies section for us to order.

    Aside from its famous broasted chicken, Al Baik also offers a lot of other choices like chicken nuggets, sandwich, shrimp meal and fish fillet meal among others. Surprisingly the service was fast and efficient despite the huge crowd although they don’t have family section. So we looked for a great picnic spot where we can dig in our freshly- cooked, delicious broasted chicken. What I love about Al Baik chicken is that even the breast part is so tasty and oozing with flavor. No wonder people travel miles away just to have a taste of it. It’s also so affordable. A meal which includes 4 pcs large chicken, fries, 2 garlic sauces and a bun costs SAR 13.

We savored every moment with Al Baik under shady trees while enjoying the view of Al Kharj’s famous landmark.

How about heading  200 km northwest of Riyadh to see Ushaiger, one of the oldest towns of Najd region? Ushaiger means ‘small blonde’, named after the color of the mountain that is surrounding it. During the olden times, this town played a major role as a stopping point of pilgrims going for hajj and umrah from nearby countries.

The 2 hrs drive will surely be worth it once you take a glance of the mud houses of Ushaiger Heritage Village. It is one of the historical places in the kingdom restored in its past glory with old houses, mosques, towers, museums and a lot more.

I was lucky to visit the heritage village twice. Thanks to Shutter’s Guild photography club. The old mud village’s  landscape, architecture and people are a  perfect subject to practice and hone one’s photography skills.

  Being a fan of old architecture and history, walking down the alleys and climbing up the tower to see the entire village was a mixed emotions. I was exhilarated to witness such a remarkable masterpiece but it made me feel a bit sad looking at some of the ruins and abandoned structures. It made me wonder what the life there was during the early times.

We were overwhelmed by the friendly locals who were more than willing to showcase their old houses and traditional way of life.

Two thumbs up for the residents’ effort and cooperation in restoring the old village to preserve their culture for the next generation to come.

Coordinates: 25.3392°N, 45.1936°E

Central Visayas is a region located in the heart of the Philippines. It is made up of 4 provinces namely Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor. It has rich history and culture that is significant to the identity of the Philippines. The region is also blessed with wonderful natural resources.

This is the story of our week-long adventure to Cebu and Bohol with side trip to Dumaguete with a budget of Php 8,500.

It all started when my friend booked a cheap round trip air ticket to Cebu thru Air Asia. She got it for only Php 650. The travel dates were also very timely for my vacation to the Philippines. It took us a year before the long wait is over. At first, I thought that a week is a bit long for Cebu only so we decided to add Bohol on our itinerary.

Day 1: Arrival to Cebu

The flight from Manila to Cebu is approximately an hour by plane. From Mactan Airport we took MyBus to go to SM City Cebu where we supposed to take jeepney to Cebu South Terminal. But since we couldn’t find the right jeep to our destination, we decided to grab a cab. From Cebu South Bus Terminal, we took the bus going to Oslob. I heard from some of the passengers that the bus will go straight to Dumaguete. The bus left the terminal at 5:30 pm and it’s almost 9pm when we reached Brgy.  Tanawan in Oslob. After we checked in at our guesthouse, we went out to search for a place to eat then head back to our room to rest and prepare for our second day itinerary.

Day 2: Oslob Whale Watching -Tumalog Falls – Dumaguete City

We’re lucky to find a guest house located in the beachfront. So while enjoying our breakfast, we can see other tourists having their moments with the whale shark.

At 7 am, our room caretaker assisted us to the whale shark watching hall where we had an orientation first. Fully equipped with life vest and snorkeling gear, we went to the beach to start our adventure. We got a small boat exclusively for the 3 of us plus the 2 boatmen. I admit that I was scared at first to take a dip in the water but with the help of our manong bangkeros, I was able to conquer my fear and enjoy this one of a kind whale watching experience. I also noticed that the water buoyancy is too high that you will float even without the vest. Our boatmen were also game in taking pictures of us with the whale shark. I was really amazed by the calmness of this huge sea creature. Now I know why it is called the ‘gentle giant’. There are small bancas that feed the whale sharks that’s why it is going on our side. Aside from the amazing whale shark, we also saw different kinds of fish underwater. It was indeed a sight to behold. It’s definitely the highlight of my trip and a tick on my bucket list.

After the encounter with whale shark, we hired a multicab to go to our next destination, Tumalog Falls, which was only a few minutes from our guesthouse. We had to hike down for few meters since the multicab couldn’t go down the steep pavement. We were captivated by the beauty of the waterfalls. After lingering with the relaxing cold water for almost an hour, we returned to our guesthouse for lunch.

I’ve been thinking of Dumaguete since last night. I’ve been researching and asking questions to people we met on the eatery on how to get there. I’ve learned that it’s just less than an hour boat trip from Liloan Port, Cebu to Sibolan Port, Negros. So I, together with my friend Joy, embarked on a journey to make a short visit to Dumaguete.

From our guesthouse, we hired a tricycle to Liloan Port located in Santander, the southernmost municipality of Cebu. From Liloan Port we rode a pump boat going to Sibulan Port in Negros Oriental then tricycle to Dumaguete City.

What we did in Dumaguete City?

We stroll around Dumaguete City starting with Silliman University. Did you know that it is the first American university in Asia established in 1901 and was named after Dr. Horace Brinsmade Silliman, a businessman and philanthropist from New York? Now you know!

Another interesting place that we visited was the Belfry, also known as the ‘guardian of the city’ for it used to serve as watch tower and protect the city from pirates during the early times. Beside the belfry is St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral. The grotto of our Lady of Perpetual Help is also located at the base of the belfry.

Located just in front of the belfry and cathedral is the Quezon Park where families used to picnic. There was an ongoing zumba when we were at the park.

Of course, we did not miss Dumaguete’s famous silvanas. This creamy and buttery dessert is so heavenly that it will surely make you crave for more.

We also stroll along Rizal Boulevard before heading to Handumanan Store to buy some souvenirs then went back to the port to catch the Fast Cat Ferry going back to Oslob on a drizzling night.

Day 3: Bohol Countryside Tour

After we checked-out of the guesthouse, we travelled to Argao port to take the ferry going to Tagbilaran port. At the port, we were greeted by our tour guide. We immediately started our countryside tour on his comfy van.

Our first stop was Baclayon Church. The Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception is the oldest coral church in the region and one of the oldest in the Philippines founded in 1596. The church is undergoing reconstruction after the 7.2 magnitide earthquake that hit Bohol in 2013.

Next stop, the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella. Here, we had the chance to see tarsier, the world’s smallest primate, in their natural habitat. We were allowed to take photos of these cuties, but should not have flash as we might disturb its sleep. We were also not allowed to touch it for it may cause them stress.

We had a quick stop at Loboc river.

On our way to Carmen, we passed by a long stretch of mahogany trees forest known as the Bilar Man Made forest.

It was raining that day so I was a bit worried that we might not see a good view of Chocolate Hills but thankfully there was no rain when we reached the hills.

Did you know that there are at least 1,260 hills but the total count can even reach to more than 1,700? The Chocolate Hills is the most famous tourist spot in Bohol. Before, I can only see the Chocolate Hills in textbooks. I can’t believe that I can see it now up close and personal.

While we’re heading to Alona beach to look for a place to stay, we passed by Loboc church and saw the damage that it got from the earthquake.

Day 4: Isola di Francesco – Hinagdanan Cave- Blood Compact

As we explored Alona beach area, we also learned about the other nearby islands perfect for island hopping. Most of them offer at least Php 2,000 for the boat and tour. But there is this one island that made us interested. They call it ‘Virgin Island’ or Isola di Francesco. Aside from its pristine water and white sandbar, the island is also fit for meditation. There are also some fun activities like kayaking and many more. And what’s more interesting to know about this island is that everything is FREE. Yes, you read it right! From pump boats, to kayaking, to snacks. But they do accept donations. As a budget traveler, discovering this island is a big win-win. We spent half of our day at this wonderful island.

For the second part of our day, we rented a motorbike to explore more of Panglao and other neighboring towns.

First stop, Hinagdanan Cave.

Hinagdanan Cave is another interesting place to visit when in Panglao. Aside from the awe-inspiring stalactites and stalagmites, it also has an underground lagoon where visitors can swim.

On our joyride, we also visited the Monument of Blood Compact where the sandugo between Datu Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565 took place. It is considered one of the most significant parts of history for it’s the first pact of friendship between the Spaniards and Filipinos.

We also came across some old churches and other interesting finds along the way.

Day 5: Old Churches – Magellan’s Cross

It’s time to bid Bohol goodbye.

We took the ferry from Tagbilaran to Cebu City with travel time of approximately 5 hours. We reached Cebu City at past 5 pm so after checking in at our hostel and some rest, it’s time to explore the ‘Queen City of the South’.

Starting off with Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino, the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country founded in 1565. It houses the statue of Sto. Nino which was given by Magellan as gift to Raja Humabon and his wife for accepting Christianity.

Beside the basilica is the famous Magellan’s Cross, the cross that was planted by the Portuguese and Spanish explorers headed by Ferdinand Magellan when they first arrived in the Philippines in March 16, 1521.

Only a few blocks away from Sto. Nino Basilica is another impressive old church, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral or Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of Saint Vitalis and of the Guardian Angels.

Day 6: Taboan Market – Sirao Garden – Temple of Leah

It’s our 6th day on this week-long central Visayas escapade. And since we had morning flight the next day and there would be not much time, we decided to buy pasalubong to save time. And where else should we go but to Taboan Market. It’s like a big pasalubong center complete with all delicacies of Cebu from otap to dried mangoes to dried fish. They have everything you need. But just be ready to smell like daing (dried fish) afterwards.😅

After shopping for pasalubong we went back to our guest house to freshen up.

The last leg of our tour includes Sirao Garden and Temple of Lea located in Busay.  Once you reached JY Square Mall, you will see lots of motorcycles offering tours. They can accommodate up to 2 passengers.

Sirao Garden is a flower farm located at the edge of the mountain. Its windmill and colorful celosia flowers make it perfect to be called ‘Little Amsterdam’. Make sure to visit it before sunset to witness the picturesque beauty of flowers in bloom.

After little Amsterdam, we proceeded to Rome. 😄 I’m referring to the Roman inspired architecture of Temple of Leah. Temple of Leah is a new attraction in Cebu. This temple was built as a symbol of a man’s love to his wife. As we entered, we were greeted by a 9 ft bronze statue of Leah sitting on her throne. It was such a great experience to visit this place knowing the story behind its construction.

Day 7: Goodbye Cebu

We came to our journey’s end. It was indeed a wonderful experience exploring Cebu, Bohol and Dumaguete.

We had to catch our 10am flight to Manila.

Unfortunately, we were not able to taste Cebu’s famous lechon for 2 reasons. It’s because 1.) one famous store is already closed due to some permit issues and 2.) we ran out of lechon when we visited one famous restaurant last night. We will definitely come back to fulfill this naudlot na craving.

Below is the summary of expenses.

Day 1 Roundtrip Airticket Manila-Cebu-Manila 650.00 Lunch at Mactan Airport 134.00 MyBus – Mactan Airport to SM Cebu 25.00 Taxi to Ceres Bus Station (PHP 117/3 pax) 39.00 Ceres Bus – Cebu City to Oslob 177.00 Dinner 62.00 Guesthouse (PHP 2,484/3 pax) 828.00 Day 2 Breakfast & Snacks 117.00 Whale Shark Watching 500.00 Multicab to Tumalog Falls (perperson) 150.00 Lunch 85.00 Tricycle from Tanawan to Sibulan Port 75.00 Boat ticket – Sibulan to Liloan 42.00 Snacks 78.00 Tricycle from Liloan Port to Silliman University 75.00 Silvanas 33.00 Dinner 109.00 Souvenirs 90.00 Tricycle to Jeep Station 8.00 Jeep going to Port 10.00 Fast Cat Ferry going back to Liloan 62.00 Bus toTanawan 30.00 Day 3 Breakfast 80.00 Oslob Souvenir 35.00 Bus from Oslob to Argao Port 95.00 Torta 50.00 Tricycle to Argao Port (php40/3pax) 13.00 RORO ticket to Tagbilaran Port w/ port fee 205.00 BOHOL Tour – Van @ php2,500/3pax 833.00 Hostel for 2 nights (php 1,960/3 pax) 653.00 Chocolate Hills Fee 50.00 Corella Tarsier Sanctuary Fee 60.00 Lunch & Dinner 99.00 Day 4 Breakfast 55.00 Tricycle to Virgin Island Port 50.00 Virgin Island Donation: boat, snack, kayak 60.00 Trike from Port to Alona (php100/3pax) 33.00 Lunch 45.00 Motorbike Rent (php400/2pax) 200.00 Gas refueling (php80/2pax) 40.00 Hinagdanan Cave Fee 50.00 Parking Fee 5.00 Souvenirs 150.00 Snacks & Dinner 85.00 Day 5 Breakfast 45.00 Car hire from Alona to Tagbilaran Port (php 370/3pax) 125.00 LITE Ferry from Tagbilaran to Cebu City 150.00 Port Fee 20.00 Taxi from Port to Michelle Guesthouse 65.00 Lunch 54.00 Dinner 35.00 Hostel for 2 nights (php 1,602/3 pax) 534.00 Day 6 Breakfast & Snacks 104.00 Jeep from Magellan’s Cross to Taboan Market 7.00 Souvenirs & pasalubong 565.00 Taxi from market to hostel (php 74/3) 24.00 Habalhabal- Sirao Garden & Temple of Leah 300.00 Sirao Garden Fee 50.00 Temple of Leah Fee 50.00 Dinner 90.00 Jeep (JY Square to Ayala to Sanciangko St.) 21.00 TOTAL   8,564.00

Nowadays, more and more people are opting for organic vegetables and fruits. But what does being organic means? Why do consumers choose organic products despite its higher price compared to normal products find in the supermarket?

According to Mr. Wikipedia, organic farming is an alternative agricultural system that relies on fertilizers of organic origin such as compost, manure, green manure, and bone meal and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation and companion planting. So, if we consume organic fruits and veggies we are more than likely safe from hazardous pesticides and other chemicals.

Here in Riyadh, we got the chance to visit Ennessi farm, an organic farm located in the old Diriyah.

The farm is managed by a lovely Spanish couple. It was such a fun and informative experience touring around the farm with the ruins of Old Diriyah as our back drop. The tour includes exploring the gardens and greenhouse and some refreshments afterwards. You can also order in advance the veggies you want to bring home.

A tour on the farm…

  At the greenhouse…

The newly harvested produce.

They also offer short courses about growing your own veggies.

Planting activity for kids.

Both kids and parents will surely have a great time at the farm.

For more information: [email protected]