Category: Travel

Outside Popular Japan Cities: FUJIKAWAGUCHIKO – Mount Fuji In Its Glory

In 2015 & 2016, I went to Japan for 3 weeks in total. I explored major cities such as Tokyo, Kyoto (twice), Osaka (twice), Nagoya & Fukuoka. I also went to not-so-busy cities like Hiroshima, Nara & Kobe. Japan easily became one of the favorite countries I’ve been to. Since I got my 5-year multiple entry visa (Want to know how to apply for a tourist visa? Click here.) in 2016, I told myself I will try to go back to Japan at least once a year until my visa runs out.

Mount Fuji from the other side of Lake Kawaguchi

Keeping up to my sort-of promise, I went on a 7-day Japan trip last November 2017. Since I already went to some major cities, I decided to go to peaceful & laid back places outside the popular cities. I spent 2 full days in Fujikawaguchiko & 3 full days in Takayama. In this post, I will talk about my short stay in Fujikawaguchiko. I missed visiting Mount Fuji during my stay in Tokyo in 2015 so I made sure I stay in one of the towns near the five lakes.

Fujikawaguchiko is small peaceful resort town about 100 km (or 1 hour 45 minutes by land) away from Tokyo. This town surrounds one of the scenic Fuji Five Lakes at the base of Mount Fuji – Lake Kawaguchiko. This town also has a number of museums & hot spring resorts & onsens.

One of the many shots I took at 6:30 am

sole reason I went to this town is to see Mount Fuji in its full glory – which I did a number of times (wait for the photos!). I didn’t really go around the museums, resorts & onsens in town. I felt like seeing Fuji made this leg of the trip super worth it. Anyway, let us still go into the details of my Fujikawaguchiko visit.

Plane Ticket

Flying over Chiba Prefecture before landing in Narita International Airport

It all started with a super duper cheap round-trip ticket to Japan. Last March 2017, GetGo (Cebu Pacific Air‘s loyalty program) had an anniversary promotion. Base fare for all domestic & international routes were priced at 10 GetGo points per way. Counting all airport fees & taxes, I got a Manila-Osaka-Nagoya-Manila ticket for ₱2,175.86. It’s like a ₱1 fare ticket, but with GetGo points. YES, THAT CHEAP. Imagine flying to & from Japan for that small amount. I immediately bought the ticket when I saw it. This was the same promotion I took advantage when I booked my return flight when I went to Komodo, Indonesia last October / November 2017.

I had plans of flying to Sapporo for this trip but everything changed when I was able to book another ₱1 fare ticket to Tokyo last June. I looked for other nice places to visit in Japan & found Fujikawaguchiko & Takayama. Fujikawaguchiko is near in Tokyo so I decided to book a new ticket to Japan. Believe me, the cost of taking an overnight bus or a flight to Tokyo is the same with the cost of buying a new one-way ticket. I took advantage of Traveloka‘s 10% off promotion. I got the Manila to Tokyo ticket via Cebu Pacific Air for only ₱3,509.10. By the way, I didn’t use my Manila-Osaka flight.

Adding both tickets, my air ticket for this trip cost me ₱5,684.96. It’s still super cheap compared to the regular tickets on other airlines ranging from ₱10,000 to ₱15,000 return. These are the perks of a being a GetGo member & a Traveloka user.

Tokyo Stopover (Including Accommodation)

Back in Tokyo for a few hours before heading to Fujikawaguchiko

There is no airport in Fujikawaguchiko; the nearest airport is found in Tokyo. I took advantage of my Tokyo stopover to meet my HTC friends who were living in & visiting Japan. Upon arrival at Narita International Airport in Tokyo, I took the train to the city & to my hostel. I stayed in Oak Hostel Zen, an affordable & cozy hostel located in Taito neighborhood. It was my 2nd time staying in this hostel; I stayed here during my 2015 Tokyo visit. Guess what? I was assigned in the same room where I stayed 2 years ago. I settled down & took a nap.

It was the same dormitory room I stayed with last October 2015

Finally met Laura & Leon, two of the many great people I met in Elevate

A few hours later, I took the train to Harajuku / Shibuya & met with Laura, Leon (both previously from HTC) & Kristin (Leon’s colleague). It felt nice to finally meet them in person (after x years of being friends online) & to spend the night with them.

Inside Craftheads – a known small pub in Shibuya

Had yakitori for dinner – it was an expensive but super good dinner

We walked around Omotesando Hills then went to Craftheads, a nice pub in Shibuya area, to have some beer. We then went to the famous Shibuya intersection & finally settled for dinner in Nogigochi, a highly-rated yakitori restaurant. This restaurant served the best yakitoris I’ve had in my life so far. The ambiance was cool & the service was superb. The price of food may not be affordable but it’s all worth it. I look forward to having dinner again in this restaurant.

Ueno Park during autumn

My bus to Fujikawaguchiko is not until 12:20 on day 2 so I decided to take a morning stroll around Taito & Ueno Park. Autumn was at its peak during my visit. The leaves were all in yellow, orange & red color. The streets & park were really pleasing to the eyes.

En Route To Fujikawaguchiko

There are numerous ways of going to Fujikawaguchiko from Tokyo. The fastest (also the most expensive) way is via bullet train using a JR Pass. You can go by normal trains (with a few transfers) but it takes around 2 hours per way. The cheapest way is via bus. The land trip takes more or less 1 hour & 45 minutes from Tokyo Station. These buses use a 2-2 seat configuration, have free Wi-Fi (& toilet) on board. The seats are very comfortable. Tickets can be booked online via Willer Express (departing Tokyo Station ) & Highway Buses (departing Shinjuku Station). Tickets cost ¥1,800 per way. There are many trips per day so seat availability won’t be a problem.

This is how the bus seats to Kawaguchiko look like

As mentioned earlier, I took the 12:20 bus from Tokyo Station Tekko Building. The bus left on time, made a few stops along the way & finally made it to Kawaguchiko Station at 14:22. One thing I love about buses in Japan is they arrive in destinations on time, or most of the time ahead of schedule (regardless of road congestion & multiple stops).

Beautiful landscapes just above Tokyo

Accommodation

Fujikawaguchiko has very limited affordable accommodation options. The best choice according to online opinions & reviews is K’s House Mount Fuji. I loved my stay in K’s House Kyoto so I thought of trying their branch in Fujikawaguchiko.

I got the my dormitory bed for around ₱1,088 per night; around ₱2,076 for 2 nights. Traveloka had a special promotion when I booked my stay so I got a ₱1,206 discount. I ended up paying only ₱970 for a 2-night stay in K’s House Mount Fuji.

Inside my dormitory room in K’s House Mount Fuji

The hostel is approximately 800 meters by foot from Kawaguchiko Station – quite far by foot but too near if you take a taxi. Since I am on budget & I don’t mind walking in cold weather, I walked from the station up to the hostel. The hostel people were accommodating & helpful, just like the ones in K’s House Kyoto. The hostel has a spacious reception area, a large food preparation & storage area & a cozy dining & lounge area. This common areas are the best places to meet other travelers & exchange stories. I met a set of nice & fun people from The Netherlands, Australia, Germany & Thailand.

The spacious dining & lounge area of K’s House Mount Fuji

I stayed in a 9-bed dormitory in the 2nd floor. The room had 4 bunk beds & 1 single bed. The room was clean & spacious. Beds were comfortable. The bunk beds didn’t have curtains; each guest was given a locker for their things & valuables. Communal shower & toilet areas are located on each floor. Unlike their Kyoto counterpart, this hostel doesn’t have a cafe / restaurant. Almost all guests go out, buy food & cook / eat them at the hostel. There are convenience stores & a supermarket nearby. It is also a few minutes walk from Lake Kawaguchi.

Big kitchen & food storage area – most guests prepare their meals here

I made the right choice in staying in this hostel. Location & price-wise, this hostel is the best in Fujikawaguchiko. This hostel deserves a 12 out of 10!

Around Fujikawaguchiko

The most convenient & economical way to go around Fujikawaguchiko is via the tourist buses. These buses go around the town with stops at almost every tourist destination. Bus passes are available for those who want to go around for a day or two.

View upon ariving Kawaguchiko Station

Another way of going around the town is by walking. The town is really small. You can basically go around the area in just a day. This is perfect for those who have the luxury of time. My recommended way of getting around the place is via bicycle. K’s House Mount Fuji offers bicycle rental for ¥150 per hour or ¥1,000 per day. Just make sure to reserve your bicycles as early as possible.

Kawaguchiko Station

Kawaguchiko Station is the main entry & exit point for people who want to visit Fujikawaguchiko. All trains & buses make a stop in this station. The station also offers a very nice view of Mount Fuji.

Yagizaki Park

Yagizaki Park is the place where the herbs & flowers are cultivated. It was autumn when I visited the place so there was not much to see in the park.

Lake Kawaguchiko

View of Mount Fuji from the not-so-visited part of the lake

Lake Kawaguciko is the second main attraction (next to Mount Fuji) when visiting Fujikawaguchiko. This lake is the most accessible & the nearest to Tokyo among the five lakes. The lake offers outstanding views of Mount Fuji.

Autumn views around Lake Kawaguchi

Mount Fuji 4th Station

View of the Japanese Alps from Mount Fuji 4th Station

My Dutch mate & I took the bus from Kawaguchiko Station to Fuji 4th Station. The highest base, Fuji 5th Station, was closed for the public during our visit. We saw the crater of Mount Fuji from the 4th station. We saw some remains of the snowfall the night before plus amazing views of the Japanese Alps. A round-trip bus ticket from Kawaguchiko Station costs ¥2,100. Kindly refer to this link for the bus schedule.

We were 2,020 m above sea level! | Sorry no photo of Mount Fuji’s crater – it was full of clouds when we were there.

Oishi Park

Oishi Park is the public park located in the northern park of Lake Kawaguciko. This park offers beautiful views of Mount Fuji with the Lake Kawaguchiko. The park is usually flooded with tourists so make sure to go there early.

Biking Around Fujikawaguchiko

Cycled around Lake Kawaguchi with the guys I met in the hostel

The best way to explore this laid-back town is by renting a bicycle. Our hostel offered the best rates for bicycle rental (¥1,000 yen for 8 hours or ¥150 yen per hour). We decided to rent out bikes for our last day. It took us 3.5 hours to go around Lake Kawaguchiko & enjoy the view of Mount Fuji.

Other Places To Visit

There are other nice places to visit in Fujikawaguchiko. Those who are fond of theme parks can spend a day in Fuji Q Highland – an amusement park located at the base of Mount Fuji. Those who love to ride cable cars / rope ways can spend an hour or two in Mount Kachi Kachi Ropeway. The topmost area offers a panoramic view of the town & Mount Fuji. The photo of Mount Fuji with a pagoda on the side was taken from the Arakurayama Sengen Shrine. This shrine is a few kilometers away from Kawaguchiko Station but a must-visit you want to take photos of Fuji with the pagoda & crimson leaves.

One can also visit Kitaguchi Hongu Sengen Shrine, a shrine located near Fujisan Station. If you are up for some adventure, you can go for a walk in Aokigahara Forest. This forest is located at the foot of Fuji & is famous because of the number of suicides committed in the area. If you’re keen on exploring a traditional village, you must take a trip to Saiko Iyashi No Sato Nemba. The town also has different local museums & tea shops which you can walk into. Make sure to go to at least one onsen in town & have some relaxing time before ending a long day outside.

I missed some good ones, eh? Nah, I’m good. As mentioned above, my only reason of visiting this town is to see Mount Fuji in its full glory (which I did!). I had no regrets of just relaxing in this leg of the trip.

Want to know when is the best time to see Mount Fuji?

View of Mount Fuji from the Lake Kawaguchi bridge – taken 6:00 am

Mount Fuji is quite hard to spot on a normal day. It is usually covered with clouds when most tours / people are visiting. I had an observation during my 48-hour stay in Fujikawaguchiko. Mount Fuji shows up without clouds in the early morning during sunrise & in the afternoon during sunset. Mount Fuji is usually clear during these times. I recommend that you stay in the town for at least one night but if your itinerary doesn’t permit, you can go there with the first bus / train trip or the late afternoon trips.

I made the right decision of staying 48 hours in Fujikawaguchiko. I saw Mount Fuji in its full glory. Japan’s most famous & beautiful landscape is something that needs to be added in everyone’s itinerary. The next part of the trip was spent in Takayama, a small & relatively unknown city in the middle of the Hida Mountains in Gifu Prefecture. Watch out for my next post!

Have you been to Fujikawaguchiko? Were you able to see Mount Fuji without the clouds? Are you planning to visit the town in your next trip? Let me know in the comments if you have questions. You can also send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Let’s connect! Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます) 🇯🇵 😃

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & HTC U11.

Throwback Thursday Treat: 2016 New Year in Singapore

Another Thursday is here! It only means one thing – it’s time for a Throwback Thursday Treat! This time, I will take you to a small & progressive country named Singapore 🇸🇬. Late December 2015, my family & I flew to Singapore for a year-end trip. It was my sister & dad’s first out of the country trip so this family excursion was memorable. This trip marked my 4th time (2011, 2012 & same year, but in August 2015) in Singapore so I wasn’t really pressured to go to so many places.

View of the Marina Bay from the Helix Bridge entrance

I can’t remember what came into our minds why we chose Singapore but I think it was the best place for an ‘out of the country’ experience for first timers. We spent 5 days & 5 nights in the country. Let me share with you some details of this overseas family trip.

Colorful murals of Haji Lane

Plane Ticket

Christmas / New Year holiday season is one of the most expensive seasons to fly to all domestic & international destinations. It happens not just here in the Philippines but pretty much all over the world. Most people spend the holidays with their families in their hometowns or in popular tourist destinations.

View from my sister’s window seat on our flight to Singapore

We booked our tickets 4 months before & we paid around ₱6,300 each round-trip. This rate is already cheap considering we flew out of Manila during the December 30 holiday & we flew back Monday morning after the new year. We flew with Cebu Pacific Air; both flights utilized their Airbus A330 wide-body, twin-engine & mono-class (all economy) jet airliner.

Where We Stayed

Looking for the best accommodation during the holiday season was a bit stressful. We were a group of 8 so we had limited choices. Initially, we booked a 3-bedroom apartment near Orchard Road via Airbnb. The host cancelled our reservation 6 days before our trip due to some maintenance works in the unit. Almost all 3-bedroom apartments were fully booked. Luckily, there were still a few rooms available in Plush Pods Hostel.

My sisters & I while waiting for our turn in the Shrek 4D Adventure USS

This hostel has private & dormitory rooms. The kids stayed in a quadruple room while the adults got 2 double rooms. Each room had private shower & en suite. They also offered free Wi-Fi & free, simple breakfast of coffee, tea & toast. The hostel’s rates were still cheap (even during the holiday season) compared to the hotel / hostels nearby. Location was a plus – it’s just located at the back of the Bugis Junction Mall. It is also located near Bugis MRT Station on the East West (Green) Line & Downtown (Blue) Line.

Met with my friend, Lord of LordAroundTheWorld, who’s now based in SG

This hostel used to be really good when we were there. I checked the recent TripAdvisor reviews; looks like it hasn’t been maintained really well. Sad.

Where We Welcomed 2016

Singapore, just like any other major city in the world, has its own New Year Countdown. People gather around the Marina Bay Area & wait for 12 midnight to welcome the new year. The highlights, as always, are the light projections in the Fullerton Hotel facade & the grand fireworks display from Marina Bay. The family already agreed to welcome 2016 in Marina Bay area.

View from Concourse Skyline

Everything changed when we saw a family friend of ours after the New Year’s Eve Mass in St. Joseph’s Church in Bugis. They invited us to welcome the new year with them in their flat in Concourse Skyline. Their place had a very nice view of the Marina Bay fireworks. All of us enjoyed good food & company that night!

Happy New Year!! 🎆

How We Went Around Singapore

Singapore is a tourist-friendly country. Public transportation – train lines & bus routes – take you pretty much everywhere in the country, from one end to the other end. The airport is 30 minutes away from the city center.

Shrek’s Castle in Universal Studios Singapore

There are various tourist passes available for people visiting for 2-3 days. We opted for the EZ-Link Card because we stayed for 5 days. This is the country’s contact-less stored value card similar to Japan’s IC Card, Hong Kong’s Octopus Card, Taipei’s Easy Card & South Korea’s T-Money Pass. Basically, you load up credit in the card & just tap every time you go in & out of a train station & every time you take the bus. This card can also be used in convenience stores & some establishments.

We used the EZ-Link Card in all train rides within Singapore. It was very handy & easy to use.

Where We Went In Singapore

I’ve been to Singapore a number of times & I keep coming back to the same places / areas for sightseeing & shopping.

Bugis

Formerly a trading area of Bugis people from South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Bugis is now a known shopping area in Singapore. The Bugis Street Market & Bugis Junction Shopping Mall are two of the most visited shopping places in the area. This is one of the best places to get your souvenirs when in Singapore.

Access: Bugis MRT Station – East West (Green) & Downtown (Blue) Lines

Haji Lane

Haji Lane is a tiny alley composed of shop houses, cafes & bars (at night). It is usually the hang out & shopping area of the ‘fashionista’ young people – both locals & tourists. You will see specialty shops, cafes & restaurants in this small lane. The famous colorful mural can also be found here.

Access: Bugis MRT Station – East West (Green) & Downtown (Blue) Lines

Little India

From its name, Little India is an ethnic district where you can find the Singaporean-Indian community. The area also has some nice shops (with cheap finds) & cheap hawker centers.

Access: Little India MRT Station – North East (Purple) & Downtown (Blue) Lines

Chinatown

Chinatown is the ethnic district for the Chinese community. This area is characterized by boutique cafes & Chinese restaurants. This is also a good place to go shopping for souvenirs; prices in this area are relatively cheaper.

Access: Chinatown MRT Station – North East (Purple) & Downtown (Blue) Lines

Merlion Park

The Merlion is Singapore’s national icon. This half lion & half fish statue is found in Merlion Park facing the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. According to the Visit Singapore website, the fish body symbolizes Singapore’s humble beginnings as a fishing village called ‘Temasek‘ (meaning sea town in Old Javaese); & the lion head represent’s the country’s original name ‘Singapura,’ meaning lion city in Malay.

Access: Raffles Place MRT Station – North South (Red) & East West (Green) Lines

The Helix Bridge

The Helix Bridge is an architecturally designed pedestrian bridge that eases the access to The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands & the Marina Bay Hotel itself from the Marina Center area. It was also in this area where we found the S$ 1.20 ice cream sandwich.

Access: Promenade MRT Station – Circle (Orange) & Downtown (Blue) Lines; This can also be accessed by a few minutes walk from Marina Bay MRT Station – North South (Red) & Circle (Orange) Lines

Marina Bay Sands Hotel & The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

The Helix Bridge ends at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. This is one of Singapore’s biggest & most luxurious shopping malls. You can find mid to high end clothing, accessories & footwear brands here. This shopping mall is connected to one of Singapore’s iconic landmarks – The Marina Bay Sands Hotel. This hotel is composed of 3 tall hotel buildings & a boat-like structure on top (connecting the 3 buildings) which contains the a spectacular infinity pool & a sky park. Visitors can pass by the hotel buildings if they are going to the Gardens By The Bay from the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

Access: Marina Bay MRT Station – North South (Red) & Circle (Orange) Lines

Gardens By The Bay

Gardens By The Bay is a man-made nature park located in a reclaimed area in Marina Bay. This 101-hectare park consists of 3 waterpark gardens – Bay South, Bay East & Bay Central. Each garden has its own set of attractions. We only visited the part that is directly behind Marina Bay Sands Hotel due to time limitations. If you want to explore the whole place, I recommend spending one whole day in this amazing place.

Access: Marina Bay MRT Station – North South (Red) & Circle (Orange) Lines

Universal Studios Singapore

Universal Studios Singapore is one of the country’s main tourist attractions for kids & kids at heart who grew up watching movies & shows created by Universal Studios. The theme park is located within Resort World Sentosa in Sentosa Island. One should spend the whole day here from morning until the evening & make sure to try all possible rides. My favorite rides are Battlestar Galactica – Human & Cylon, Transformers 4D & Revenge of the Mummy. Make sure to buy the Express Pass if you want to “skip” the long queue in these rides.

Access: Click here to see all options of transportation to Resorts World Sentosa

Orchard Road

Orchard Road is Singapore retail & entertainment heaven. This is the best place to splurge on clothes, bags & shoes. This 2.2 km long road features a number of affordable to luxury retail shops & shopping malls. You can also find a number of famous hotel brands in this area. This is the go-to place for everyone who wants to go shopping in Singapore. I suggest that you spend at least half a day here to go around.

Access: Orchard MRT Station – North South (Red) & Thomson-East Coast (Brown) Lines

What We Missed Visiting

We only had a few days in Singapore so it was not possible to visit all nice places. Sad to say we missed a few good ones like the Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore Zoo & Night Safari, Singapore Art Museum, Clarke Quay & Boat Quay. I’ll definitely check out these places when I get the chance to go back to Singapore in the future.

Got these cute toys for free in Singapore’s Changi Airport

PS. I would consider Singapore’s Changi Airport as another must-explore in Singapore. This airport was voted the World’s Best Airport for 5th year in a row in last year’s Skytrax World Airport Awards. The airport recently opened it’s Terminal 4 featuring world class design & amenities. Make sure to go to the airport earlier to explore the airport before checking in for your flight.

Looking back, this year-end / new year trip was fun & memorable. You always don’t get the chance to welcome the new year with your family in a different country. We had endless laughs & good memories to cherish for the rest of our lives. I don’t travel with my family that much (I always go alone lol) but I think these trips are good to have once in a while. I’m already looking forward to our next family trip. Where will it be? Stay tuned.

I can stare at this view all day. Beautiful view from The Helix Bridge! 😍

Have you been to Singapore? 🇸🇬  do you think of the country? What are the other must-see places that I missed out mentioning above? Feel free to share them by posting a comment below. You can also send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re.

 

The Wonderful Indonesia Series: KOMODO – The Untouched Dragon’s Paradise

Hey there! Hope 2018 is treating you well. Before we start our 2018 adventures, let us look back on one of the last 2 trips I had in 2017. Just two months after my Ubud & Nusa Penida trip, I flew back to Indonesia to discover a new place called Komodo.

Padar Island – one of my favorite destinations of the overnight boat tour!

Going by the name, Komodo is where you can find the world-famous Komodo dragons. These lizards (yes, they are lizards!) are living freely in several islands like Komodo, Rinca, Padar & Flores. The nearest place where one arrives before going to the Komodo islands is Labuan Bajo. It is a small fishing town in the westernmost portion of Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia. This town is the center of Komodo tourism. The majority of the tour boats leave from & arrive in Labuan Bajo.

Why Fly To Komodo?

It all started with a one-way ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Manila. Yes, I was able to book this one-way ticket for around 781.25 pesos in last year’s GetGo Anniversary sale. Just in case you don’t know what GetGo is, it is Cebu Pacific Air‘s lifestyle & loyalty rewards program. They offered seats for 10 GetGo points + taxes last year in all destinations during their second anniversary last March 2017.

Maldives? Nope. This is in Kanawa Island 😍

I started looking up for places to visit where Kuala Lumpur will be the last stop before going home. It all went down to just two places – Luang Prabang, Laos & Komodo, Indonesia. It would be the best time to visit Luang Prabang (also to tick off Laos in my list) but I will lack time because I only have a few days. On the other hand, Komodo has long been in my list of places to visit in Indonesia. Aside from knowing about the Komodo dragons way back in school, I think it would also be great to see them up close in person.

View upon arrival at Padar Island 😍

Airfare to Luang Prabang started to rise. Also, I could not find an affordable ticket out of Manila (because the trip falls near the November 1 & 2 celebrations back home). I was supposed to go to Komodo during my August 2017 trip, but it was mating season for Komodo dragons so lesser chance of seeing them.

Stunning Pink Beach 😍 I made the right decision to go to Komodo.

I also tried watching vlogs online about Luang Prabang & Komodo. The videos of Lost LeBlanc & Thomas Alex Norman helped me decide that I should go to Komodo. Don’t worry, Laos is still on the list. I hope to visit Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiane, etc in the future.

To & From Labuan Bajo

Getting to Labuan Bajo isn’t easy. Upon checking online, the fastest way to reach Labuan Bajo is by having transits in Jakarta & Bali. I went for the faster & cheaper option which is via Bali. Low cost airlines, such as Wings Air (under Lion Air Group) & Nam Air (under Sriwijaya Air Group), only fly from Bali (& not from Jakarta) to Labuan Bajo.

Saw this in Ngurah Rai Domestic Airport – beautiful! 🎭

I took the early morning Cebu Pacific Air flight from Manila to Bali, had a 6-hour transit in Bali Airport & took the afternoon Nam Air flight to Labuan Bajo. Manila to Bali took me 3 hours & 50 minutes & Bali to Labuan Bajo took me 1 hour & 20 minutes. Warning: The Nam Air flight to Labuan Bajo was one of my worst flights ever but I was able to arrive at the destination safe & sound. I don’t mind taking short flights like that as long as they’re cheap. (Lol)

While waiting for my flight to Labuan Bajo 🛫

As mentioned above, I flew back to Manila via Kuala Lumpur because I got it really really cheap. From Labuan Bajo Airport, I took the morning Wings Air flight backt to Bali. I had a 4-hour layover in Bali & flew to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia. I had another 4 hours in Kuala Lumpur International Airport which went by really fast (thanks to the gateway@KLIA2 shopping mall for entertaining me in those 4 hours). I boarded the red-eye flight from Kuala Lumpur to Manila. I made it to Manila after 21 hours.

Flew with Wings Air from Labuan Bajo to Bali 🛩️

Flying to & from Labuan Bajo was long & tiring. You might wonder how much it cost me all in all, flights-wise. Believe it or not, my airfare only cost me ₱10,133.64. See breakdown of flights below.

Bali-Labuan Bajo-Bali return tickets will normally cost you ₱10,000. I booked the tickets early (3 months before), got promotional fares both ways & also got another discount from Traveloka. Sweet!

Labuan Bajo Airport

PS. Another way to go to Komodo is via a 5-day/4-night boat trip from Lombok / The Gilis. I met one in the hostel who took that & he told me the trip was fun but exhausting.

Ciao Hostel Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo is only a small town with limited accommodation choices. I searched around the internet & found the best (not the cheapest – but not that expensive as well) choice – Ciao Hostel. [Update – Ciao Hostel has ceased operations.]

View from the Ciao Hostel’s reception area

The hostel is located on top of a hill overlooking the Labuan Bajo town & port. It may not be that accessible to the town because of its uphill & downhill way, but the hostel provides hourly shuttle services to & from the town. It also provides airport pick-up & drop-off (make sure to reserve your slot at least a day before).

Hostel’s reception, common & movie area

The hostel has an on-site restaurant (with so-so but expensive food) & travel desk. The tour agency offers tours & diving tours more expensive that those offered in the town. The hostel also has a common rooftop place where almost all guests go to during sunset for the amazing view. The hostel also shows a movie every night. Make sure to check the notice board every day & vote for the movie you want to watch during the night.

Hostel restaurant’s nasi goreng

I stayed in a 6-bedroom dormitory room. The room has 3 bunk beds & air-conditioning. Each guest has a locker where he/she can keep his/her bags & valuables. Communal toilet & shower areas are located outside of each room. Rooms & facilities are clean & well-maintained. Free Wi-Fi is only available in the lobby & lounge.

Sunset from the rooftop area – one of the reasons why you need to stay in Ciao!

I had a nice stay in Ciao Hostel. It may not be the cheapest hostel in Labuan Bajo but you surely get what you pay for.

Overnight Boat Tour

Apart from exploring the town & chilling in the hostel, the only activity I did in Labuan Bajo was to take the overnight boat tour to the islands. There were other places to go like the waterfalls & caves but I believe I already had too much of those in my past trips so I only did the boat tour.

I met 2 German ladies in the hostel – Kathrin & Nadine. We decided to go together & look for an affordable overnight boat tour. The tour desk at the hostel offered the overnight boat tour for an expensive price so we decided to look for a cheaper option in town. We walked around different agencies & saw one offering it for IDR 750,000. The rate included all meals, water, snacks, mattress & snorkeling gear except Komodo Island entrance fee. The tour group consisted of people from Spain, Australia, Netherlands, Poland, Germany & of course, the Philippines (Asia represent! Lol).

Let’s go to the islands!!!

The slow boat left the harbor at 9:00 am. It took us about an hour to reach the first destination – Kanawa Island. We went there for snorkeling & some beach time. I’ll let the photos show how beautiful this place is.

Kanawa Island 😍

We all went back to the boat to have lunch & head to Manta Point to see manta rays. We went around the sea for around 1 hour before we finally saw a manta ray. Immediately after our boatman shouted there’s one, everyone literally jumped out of the boat to see it. Too bad I didn’t get any photos of the manta ray. It was huuuuge. Our boatmen told us were were quite lucky the manta ray showed up – it’s been days since they showed up to the visitors.

To the next island! 🛥️

After Manta Point, we cruised another 2 hours to reach the “Instagram-famous” Padar Island. We hiked up 30 minutes to the viewpoint to see the spectacular landscape. The view from the top was stunning; it was out-of-this-world. How I wish we went there during sunrise; but nonetheless, we still had a great time there. They gave us a few minutes to soak in the very cold water before proceeding to an area near Komodo Island (the place where we stayed for the night).

Padar Island – the 30-minute hike up was super worth it! 😍

We watched the sunset from the boat’s roof deck while our boatmen prepared our dinner. After a while, we finally had dinner. The sumptuous dinner was followed by a drinking / story session in the roof deck under the clear sky, bright half moon & twinkling stars. Mattresses with pillows & blankets were shortly rolled out & it was the end of day 1.

Watched the sunset from the boat 🌅

Everyone had a nice sleep in cold night; the temperature was at 19 degrees Celsius (if I can remember it right). It felt surreal sleeping under the moon & the stars. I can’t describe how relaxing & magical the feeling was while waiting for my eyes to fall asleep. I want to experience that again!

Good morning Komodo! 🌅 The crew gave us fried banana for breakfast.

Now back to the boat tour. Day 2 started with a lovely sunrise from the roof deck. We woke up really early, had coffee / tea & fried banana for breakfast. We all freshened up before heading to Komodo Island. The visit to the Komodo Dragons is the highlight of every trip to Labuan Bajo. We first headed to the rangers’ office to register our names & pay the Komodo Island National Park fee. The weekday fee costed us around IDR 153,000 each; the fee is valid for visits to other islands with Komodo dragons like Rinca Island. Note: Fees during weekends & Indonesian public holidays are more expensive – it’ll cost one around IDR 250,000.

The Komodo dragons are real!! 😮

The group decided to take the medium trail around the island. It was an hour walk around the island with very few uphill & downhill trails. We spotted a number of Komodo dragons, deers, wild boars & water buffaloes along the way. We even saw 2 Komodo dragons fighting (it was scary & fun watching them fight)! We were the first one to arrive at the island & walk around so we were quite lucky we had the trail for ourselves. Seeing the Komodo dragons in person felt amazing but scary at the same time. They’re freaking real!

Komodo Island’s beach 😍

After spending around 1.5 hours in Komodo Island, we all went back to the boat to have lunch. We then sailed to Pink Beach to swim, snorkel & sunbathe. The water was super clean. The sand also turns pink every time it gets wet. The best view of the Pink Beach can be seen from the top of the hill on its left. The place was as relaxing as Kanawa Island.

Amazing view of the Pink Beach from the viewpoint 😍

After spending good times in Pink Beach, we headed to Rinca Island for some Komodo dragon hunting for the second time that day. The group again decided to take the medium trail. The trail was easier compared to Komodo Islands’ & was mostly flat. The only challenge we encountered was the scorching heat – we walked around the island during lunch time. We saw quite a few Komodo dragons & deer along the way. It was a nice but exhausting walk.

Walked around Rinca Island during noontime. It was so hot!

We talked to our boatmen & asked them if they we can have a quick stop somewhere along the way for a quick swim. They agreed (yay) without additional charge. We stopped in a random snorkeling spot near the main Labuan Bajo island. A friend of mine started jumping off the boat from the deck – everyone (even the scared ones) eventually followed. Fun times!

The random snorkeling point where we dropped by before going back to town.

Minutes before docking at Labuan Bajo port

After having fun snorkeling & jumping off the boat, we all went back to the boat & sailed back to Labuan Bajo harbor. We arrived the port minutes before 5 in the afternoon. The group decided to meet up for dinner that same night. We had dinner in one of the fancy restaurants in town.

Dinner with 1/2 of the overnight boat crew 🤝

Lazy Last Day

I initially planned to take the 3-day boat tour to the islands but I didn’t find any tour company operating it. I opted for the overnight boat tour. That also meant I had a spare day in Labuan Bajo. I thought of taking another island tour but the laziness in me won. I decided to stay & rest the whole day in the hostel. The tour group decided to meet up again for dinner (yay!) & drinks on everyone’s last night in town. It was a good day to get lazy after two tiring & fun days in the islands.

Best way to watch my last sunset in Labuan Bajo – with Prost Beer! 🍺

Trip Verdict

A trip to Komodo will never be complete w/o a photo with a Komodo dragon 

The trip to & from Labuan Bajo might be long & exhausting but the Komodo experience I had is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. The overnight tour was so much fun – met new friends, explored untouched islands, slept under the stars & had a close encounter with the Komodo dragons. The dragons are real!!! The relatively ‘expensive’ airline tickets & the tiring airport (& country) transfers were super worth it.

Padar & Kanawa Islands were my favorites. The islands were stunning. These places also had out-of-this-world views. I’m so happy I got the chance to visit these untouched islands.

Komodo is a place where Filipinos don’t normally go; but I tell you, please visit if you can. Now is the right time to go before the Labuan Bajo gets famous & fully developed.

Clear waters of Kanawa Island 😍

Have you been to Labuan Bajo / Komodo? How was your experience? If not, have you added this place in your bucket list? Is there something you want to know about Labuan Bajo / Komodo? Feel free to ask you questions & share your thoughts by posting a comment below. You can also send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

Thank you for reading.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC Re & HTC U11.

2018 Plans: What’s In Store For The Readers

2018 is here. Another year has begun. It’s the perfect time to start again & to make new plans for the future.

In 2017, I had the intention to regularly share contents & thoughts on this platform. The first half of the year went well. I posted 3 to 5 blogs per month. Site traffic was consistent & reader interactions were at peak. Everything slowed down towards the second half. Work, personal trips & engagements took majority of my time. I was left with little to no time in updating this blog.

Now that it’s already 2018, I plan to post 3 to 4 blogs per month until the end of the year. Yes, until the end of the year. Here are some of the things you will see on this site for the rest of the year

Promo Fare Alerts

My ultimate goal is for everyone to fly as cheaply as possible. The first step in achieving this goal is to book or secure cheap airfare tickets. Airlines regularly offer promotional fares to domestic & international destinations. I’ve updated you guys with current & upcoming seat sales in the past year. This year, I plan to increase the promo fare alerts in my Facebook page. I hope to cover as many airline promotions as possible. Make sure to like The Wknd Travel Facebook Page to stay updated.

Trip Summaries & Itineraries

I’ve shared summaries & itineraries of my past trips to Japan, Bali, Coron, Port Barton & a whole lot more. Fear not, I still have a backlog of contents to share from my recent trips to Komodo, Indonesia, Kawaguciko & Takayama in Japan. I also have upcoming trips to Sapporo, Japan (next month), Hong Kong (in March), Palawan (again in June – undecided where to go) & some new places (which I can’t disclose as of yet) in August & November. I’m going to places which I haven’t been to in the past. That also means new experiences to share to everyone.

More Travel Tips ~ More Fun

Backpackers & travelers rely on each other’s tips. I’ve given you my secrets on preparing for trips like how to score super cheap airline tickets (with part 2), how to apply for a Japan tourist visa & how to book your trip accommodations. I’ve also helped some of you answer some of their pre-trip questions.

For someone who has been taking short (& sometimes long) trips for 5 years now, I’ve experienced a lot & I’ve noticed some patterns when it comes to planning my trips. Expect for more tips in the coming weeks & months.

Throwback Thursday Treats Continue

I’ve been doing trips for years before I started this blog. I don’t want to put my previous trips to waste that’s why I thought of having the Throwback Thursday Treat feature. For the past months, I brought you to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Taipei, Taiwan, Bangkok, Thailand & a few more. I still have a long list of past trips to share (I hope I can still remember all the details) so make sure to watch out for those.

Travel News & Random Travel Thoughts

In 2017, we’ve read some good news for all Filipino travelers. Philippine passport validity has been extended to 10 years, Taiwan started a visa-free trial scheme last November (until July 31, 2018 only) & December 8 has recently been declared as a special non-working holiday. I plan to continue sharing good news to everyone this year. Let us hope for more.

Sometimes, It comes to a point where you think of random things about travelling. I’ve shared some of these insights in the past year – how do I manage to travel a lot while working full time & the ups & downs of staying in hostels. I hope to encounter these random thoughts in the coming weeks. I will try my best to share them here.

Thank you everyone for the support & website visits last year. Again, happy new year! Let us all hope for a content-filled 2018. 🎆

Do you have any suggestions on what to feature in this website or do you have anything to ask? Feel free to comment below. You can also send an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.