Tag: beach

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.

Last-Minute SIQUIJOR Weekend (For Less Than ₱7,000 Including Airfare)

3 months ago, my friends & I went on a last-minute weekend trip to Siquijor. I consider it a last-minute trip because we booked the tickets a month before (which I normally don’t do) & we made the itinerary few days before our flight.

Siquijor is a small province island located southeast of Negros Island & south of Cebu. People normally refer to the island as the island of sorcery & witchcraft. They say (but I haven’t seen any proof) many locals practice sorcery & folk medicine in the island. I know for a fact the most provinces here in the Philippines have people who practice this, so I don’t see any reason why Siquijor be labeled as such.

Siquijor’s famous Cambugahay Falls 

One of the purposes of this post is to debunk that myth & to show to my readers that there’s more in Siquijor than witchcraft & sorcery. Siquijor is starting to gain attention from foreign & local tourists because of its beautiful landscapes & very accommodating people. I’ve heard amazing stories from my friends who’ve been there so I was happy I was able to experience what they experienced.

Siquijor squad : (L-R) JE, Geof & myself 😎

Another purpose of this trip was to reconnect with our friend JE who is now based in Dumaguete for work. It’s been years since we last saw him so we took advantage of this trip to visit him & spend the weekend in the chill island of Siquijor.

I will layout to you in this post how we went to Siquijor, where we stayed & what places we visited & how much I spent for this trip.

Ticket

Screenshot of my ticket to Dumaguete ✈️

30 days before the trip, Geof & I booked a round-trip air ticket to Dumaguete for only ₱2,013. That airfare is already cheap considering our trip falls on a weekend (Saturday morning to Monday afternoon) & the trip is 30 days away. We’ve planning to go to Dumaguete for quite sometime, so it was nice to finally push through with the plan.

How We Went To Siquijor

There are a few ways to go to Siquijor from Manila – you can fly to either Dumaguete, Cebu or Tagbilaran then take a ferry / fast craft ride to the island. Given we only had the weekend, we took the easiest option. We flew to Dumaguete in the morning, went straight to Dumaguete Port & took the earliest available ferry to Siquijor.

We initially planned to take OceanJet‘s fast craft service but the units used in the Dumaguete-Siquijor route were under maintenance that weekend. We had no choice but to take the 9:30 am Montenegro Ferry to the island. Upon arrival in the island, we took a motorcycle ride to the Larena Port (the other port) to meet our friend JE, who came from a work trip in Tagbilaran.

Our ride from Siquijor Port to Larena Port; Geof tried to vlog while on the road 😂

The Bruce Resort

Our plan was to spend the 3 days & 2 nights in Siquijor but JE had to go back to go Dumaguete on Sunday night for following day work commitments. We agreed to just stay there for 2 days & 1 night. My friend JE recommended that we stay in Bruce Resort in San Juan.

Our triple room in Bruce Resort

We got ourselves a triple fan room for ₱1,200 per night (without breakfast). The room is a few meters from the beach. It comes with 1 double & 1 single bed with private toilet (with towels & toiletries). Guests can also refill their water bottles for free. This resort is strategically located in San Juan, it’s in the middle of all the major tourist spots. The resort also had a swimming pool which we were not able to use.

Bruce Resort’s beach 😍

Accommodation choices in Siquijor vary; you can find luxury & budget resorts, hostels & homestays in the island. Make sure to choose the type of accommodation that suits you. If you are looking for a budget & nice place to stay, I’ll recommend The Bruce Resort in San Juan, Siquijor.

Siquijor Coastal Tour

Siquijor is only a small island. If you are coming from Dumaguete or South of Cebu, you can actually go there in the morning, explore for the day & go back in the afternoon. The island’s most popular tour is the coastal tour. The most convenient way for small groups to take this tour is to rent a tricycle for a day for ₱1,000. The rate is directed by the local tourism office, so expect that all tricycles will offer the same price. We arrived late on our first day so we decided to split up the coastal tour into 2 days, also to have more time in each place. We went to the following places:

St. Francis of Assisi Church

The St. Francis of Assisi Church, commonly known as the Siquijor Church, is the very first landmark you’ll see upon stepping out of the Siquijor Port. The parish was established in February 1, 1973. Just like any other church made during the Spanish colonial era, this was also made of stone.

Larena Triad Coffee Shop & Restaurant

View from the restaurant 😍

This coffee shop & restaurant was the place we had lunch after meeting up with JE. Situated on the top of a hill, this place offers a panoramic view of the coasts & the sea. From the view deck, you can see the islands of Cebu, Negros & of course, Siqujor. Food was unexpectedly good & was reasonably priced.

Guiwahon Mangrove Park

This mangrove park has a man-made wooden track / bridge between mangroves. They also have cottages for rent if tourists decide to stay for a few hours. I forgot to ask for the cottage rental rates (sorry). Guests are required to register & pay ₱10 entrance fee.

Enchanted Balete Tree

The enchanted balete tree is a 400-year old tree located along the national road in Lazi. A visit to the tree premises is free; but the place also offers a fish spa for only ₱10 per person.

San Isidro Labrador Church

The San Isidro Labrador Church or Lazi Church is the largest & oldest Church in Siquijor. It was built in 1884 using stone & wood.

Inside Lazi Church ⛪

San Isidro Labrador Convent

The San Isidro Labrador Convent is situated in front of the Lazi Church. This is a museum of historical artifacts & antiques. Unfortunately, the museum was closed when we were there.

Cambugahay Falls

Cambugahay Falls is a three-tiered cascading falls with clear water coming from natural springs & rainwater. The falls is 100+ steps down from the main road. The highlight of visiting this place is trying their Tarzan swings – hanging in the man-made vine & jumping into the water. There are 3 swings (with different heights); each swing costs ₱40 but you get unlimited tries. We stayed for more than 2 hours in this place & had more jumps than we expected – definitely our favorite in this trip.

Tip: Best to hire a guide that will take you around the falls. The guide will also serve as your photographer when you jump into the falls. They don’t have a prescribed rate; but I think it’s best to give them ₱100-₱200.

Salagdoong Beach

Salagdoong Beach is located in the small town of Maria, Siquijor. Located a few downhill minutes from the main road, this place is famous for its cliff diving spot, rock formations & a nice white sand beach. The resort has a restaurant where you can have your lunch. They also have cottages for rent & rooms for overnight accommodation. Entrance fee to the resort is ₱25 per person. Make sure to conquer your fear & try cliff diving. I tried it twice & it was hell of fun!

View from the cliff diving spot 😍

Tip: Do not go here on a weekend, especially on a Sunday. Locals usually go here for Sunday family excursions. We were there on a Sunday & the place was crowded.

Two other tourist spots we missed out (due to time constraints) in the coastal tour are Calipay Spring Park, a public natural spring made by the local government for the locals & visitors, & Paliton Beach, one of the nice beaches in the island.

Cebu Detour

After enjoying a nice late lunch & afternoon in Salagdoong Beach, we went back to Siquijor Port to buy tickets for the last ferry trip to Dumaguete. Upon arrival in the port, we found out that Ocean Jet still doesn’t have trips & all the other trips were fully booked. It was a blessing in disguise we were with JE – he knew another way of going back to Dumaguete, via Liloan in Cebu.

View from the ferry en route to Liloan, Cebu

We immediately went to the other port in Larena & got tickets for the 5:00 pm ferry trip to Liloan, Cebu. The slow ferry ride took us about 2 hours. Upon arrival in Liloan Port, we took the tricycle to the fast craft terminal to Sibulan. Thank God we made it to the last trip for the day at 7:30 pm. The trip to Sibulan Port (located in the town beside Dumaguete City) took us 30-40 minutes. We were back in Dumaguete before 9:00 pm.

Dumaguete City Side Trip

We only had 1 night & 1 morning in Dumaguete so we weren’t able to go to the nearby attractions like Manjuyod Sand Bar, Casaroro Falls & Apo Island. We only stayed in the city in our short stay. Upon arrival in the city, we headed to the Sans Rival Bistro to have dinner.

Dinner with the boys at Sans Rival Bistro

After dinner, JE took us around the city. He showed us the church, the boulevard (like Manila’s Baywalk), the city church & bell tower, the city & provincial halls, the malls (haha) & other notable establishments. Then, we went to Golden Gate Suites to check in, leave our stuff & freshen up. We went out for coffee at midnight before we finally dozed off.

Our room in Golden Gate Suites, Dumaguete City

The following morning, we went out for breakfast at Cafe Mamia & dropped by Sans Rival Bistro to buy some treats for families & friends back home. We went back to the hotel & spent the rest of the morning there before heading to the airport for our flight to Manila.

A trip to Dumaguete will never be complete w/o buying the famous silvanas! 😋

Summary of Expenses

Everything might last-minute for this trip, but let’s have a look at how much I spent for the entire trip.

Spending ₱6,836 for a Siquijor weekend getaway (airfare included) is not bad. The airfare was definitely a bargain, considering it was booked 30 days before the trip. We obviously spent more on food but it was all good. We didn’t have enough time to explore more of Dumaguete but I look forward to visiting the city again soon.

Until our next trip! 😊

My friend Geof made vlogs about this weekend trip! Make sure to check  his Day 1 vlog & Day 2 vlog. Don’t forget to subscribe to his channel for more travels & adventures.

Have you been to Siquijor? How was your visit to the beautiful island? Are you planning to go there soon? I think you should! Feel free to post your questions in the comments section below. You can also send me 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 & HTC U11.

Throwback Thursday Treat: N9 Weekend in Bali

Today’s a Thursday & it only means one thing folks – it’s time for another Throwback Thursday Treat! I know I just posted a throwback entry a while ago, but let’s make this day special. We’ll go to 2 places, just today! We’ve been to Ho Chi Minh City 🇻🇳, Taipei 🇹🇼, El Nido (twice) 🇵🇭, Koh Lipe 🇹🇭 & Siem Reap 🇰🇭. Today, I will take you to a paradise somewhere below the equator – BALI, INDONESIA! 🇮🇩

Bali is Indonesia’s most famous island. It is a place known for its forested mountains, iconic rice paddies, scenic beaches, beautiful temples & accommodating people. The place caters to all kinds of travelers – from backpackers, luxurious tourists, business travelers to families. I was told by a local that Bali is the favorite vacation place of Aussies, with the island being near to Australia.

N9 Bali team~

Last April 2015, my friends & I went to Bali for a ‘longer weekend’ trip. We went to the south of the island to see the beaches & up to the center north for the rice paddies & temples. Let us look back how the trip went, what were the places we visited & enjoyed in Bali.

Kuala Lumpur Stopover 🇲🇾

Random photo taken during our flight to Kuala Lumpur 😍

There were no affordable direct flights to Bali that leave on a Wednesday so we decided to have a 1-night stopover in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was one of our friend’s first out of the country trip; so seeing a glimpse of another place (aside from Bali) was favorable. We took Cebu Pacific Air‘s afternoon flight to Kuala Lumpur. We had less than 24-hours in Kuala Lumpur so we only managed to see the following places:

Jalan Alor (for dinner)

Petronas Towers

Batu Caves

Bukit Bintang (for lunch)

We had lunch in Ippudo Ramen in Pavilion Mall, Bukit Bintang (no photo of the shopping district – sorry!)

Kuala Lumpur Accommodation

We had 1 night in Kuala Lumpur so we stayed in a new (that time) & affordable boutique hotel named Izumi Hotel Bukit Bintang. From the name itself, it is located in Bukit Bintang – Kuala Lumpur’s shopping district (less than 5-minutes walk to the shopping street). We paid around ₱2,600+ for a family room (accommodates 4 people). The rate includes free Wi-Fi, 4 bottles of water + coffee & tea, 2 spacious double beds, hot & cold shower & buffet Malaysian food breakfast. It is also located close to the city subway & monorail system.

I don’t have photos of the hotel (I don’t take photos of places I stay with way back) but you can head over to their website to know more about the rates & facilities. If you are to ask me, I will stay again in this hotel when I go back to Kuala Lumpur.

En route to Bali

At KLIA2, waiting for our flight to Denpasar (Bali)

After 24 > hours in Kuala Lumpur, we went back to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 & boarded our late afternoon flight to Denpasar (Bali). This time, we flew with Air Asia. The flight took around 3 hours.

Bali Accommodation

We booked a 3-night stay in Ida Hotel Bali. It is a boutique hotel located in the inner streets of Kuta – far from the busy night life. We got ourselves a deluxe family bungalow with features 2 queen-sized Balinese carved poster beds, a private balcony & a private outside bathroom & shower. The room costs $80 per night & includes a free buffet breakfast, free WiFi & access to the hotel’s swimming pool & jacuzzi.

Ida Hotel Bali’s swimming pool – the guest’s view while having breakfast

I didn’t take photos of the hotel room & facilities, but you can head over to their website to see how they look like.

Going Around The Island

Bali does not have an organized public transportation system. They do not have a subway / train system. There are buses which only run a limited number of times a day. The main modes of transportation around the island are either by motorbike or by car. We opted to hire a car (+petrol) with a driver for $35 over 10 hours.

Rice paddies everywhere in Bali 🌱

You can also take taxis to the different places but make sure to have the meter on or else you might get scammed. I personally think hiring a car with a driver is the best option when in Bali – at least you do not have to worry about the costs.

Places Visited in Bali

Here are the places & temples we visited in our 2.5 days of going around the island:

Tanjung Benoa Beach

Aside from having the 5-star resort hotels like Sofitel Bali, Melia Bali, Conrad Bali & The Westin Resort Bali, this Nusa Dua beach is also popular for marine recreational activities. There are a number of companies that offer parasailing, flying fish & banana boat rides, jet ski, wake boarding & glass bottom boat rides. You can also book underwater activities here like scuba diving & sea walking.

We went there before lunch time so we only tried parasailing. We paid less than $20 for each.

Pantai Pandawa

Previously known as the Secret Beach in South Kuta, Pantai Pandawa or “Pandawa Beach” is a known surf spot for advanced surfers. The beach was used to be hidden behind a hill; but access has recently been made easier for all people by constructing a road to the beach.

Coffee Plantation

Bali is famous for its coffee industry. People who drink coffee (FYI – I don’t) say that the coffee produced in Bali has a unique rich taste. Alongside with Java, Sulawesi & Sumatra islands, Bali is famous for civet coffee (locally known as kopi luwak). Coffee cherries are eaten & digested by palm civets. These digested particles are then cleaned & processed into luwak coffee beans.

We visited a coffee plantation somewhere near Uluwatu Temple. The staff showed us the different types of coffee & tea that they grow in the plantation. They even showed us how the civet coffee beans are made. We were also given the chance to try all the flavors of coffee & tea grown on the plantation. This coffee & tea tasting activity is for free. Visitors are not obliged to buy products before leaving the plantation.

Pantai Padang Padang

Apart from being another surf spot in South Kuta, this beach is known as ‘the beach from the movie Eat Pray Love.’ The beach stretch isn’t that long so the place tends to be crowded most of the time. If you want to have it for yourself, make sure to go there early in the morning.

Pura Luhur Uluwatu

Commonly known as the Uluwatu Temple, this iconic Balinese sea temple is believed to be one of the six spiritual pillars. Its location, 70 m about sea level in a steep cliff, lives up to the loose translation of the temple’s name, “something divine to end the land.”

This temple is famous for stunning sunset views. Make sure to secure your spot early because a lot people come here for the sunset. You can also watch the cultural Kecak fire dance performance for a fee.

Waterbom Bali

Waterbom Bali is the world’s second best waterpark & the number 1 in Asia according to Tripadvisor. The waterpark has several rides & attractions the guests can enjoy. My favorites were Climax, Pipeline & Green Vipers. We also enjoyed the Super Bowl & the Lazy River.

We paid around 450,00 IDR (that time) & doesn’t include meals, gazebo & lockers. I just checked the Waterbom website & found that the entrance fee now is 520,000 IDR per person plus there are 4 new rides (these were under construction during our visit).

Pantai Kuta

Kuta Beach is Bali’s most famous & commercial beach area. People go here to lay down in the sand & relax, to learn some basic surfing lessons & to watch the sunset. After enjoying Waterbom, we decided to spend the afternoon here – to watch the sunset & also to have early dinner. Too bad the sunset wasn’t that stunning during our visit.

Pura Tanah Lot

Located northwest of Kuta, Tanah Lot Temple is a rock formation / Hindu temple that is found off the Bali main island. The formation stands the big waves that crashes the main island. Just like the Uluwatu Temple, this temple is also famous of its beautiful sunset backgrounds.

We visited this temple in the morning on our way to Ubud, but there were still a lot of people visiting. Be careful when walking around the beach area, waves can really be big.

Ubud Temple

Our driver brought us to this temple (forgot the name, I’m sorry) in Ubud. It was located somewhere between Tanah Lot Temple & Ubud center. We had to wear sarong when we entered the temple as a sign of respect to the Hindu gods.

Ubud Monkey Forest

The Ubud Monkey Forest is a monkey sanctuary & also a temple complex in the heart of Ubud. The forest has playful monkeys wandering freely around the sanctuary. It also has interesting forest trails & ancient temples.

Entrance fee to the monkey forest is 15,000 IDR per person. We went to this sanctuary right before we headed to our Ubud accommodation for our last night in Bali.

Last Night In Bali

My friends & I decided to get a 2-bedroom villa in Ubud for our last night in Bali. Exploring around places for consecutive days can really be exhausting; so we thought of just relaxing on our last night, right before going back to Manila.

We stayed in Villa D’Uma – a 2-bedroom villa with private outdoor pool (with sunbeds) & semi-outdoor bathrooms (with bath tubs). Located in the middle of rice paddies, the villa is a 5-minute drive from the Ubud center & the Ubud Monkey Forest.

Aside from the semi-outdoor bathroom, each bedroom features a cable TV, spacious bed & sofa. The villa also has a private kitchen (complete with kitchenware & tableware), dining area, private garden & a yoga area.

It basically has everything you need. Wayan & his team made sure our we had a great time. They prepared our breakfast (omelette, pancakes, toast, fruits, etc.) the following day at our requested time.

Overall, we enjoyed our stay in Villa D’Uma. We paid 2,230,000 IDR (around ₱9,000) for 1 night but it was all worth it! I’d love to go back to Villa D’Uma in the future. It’s definitely a hidden gem in Ubud!

A few days in Bali are not enough to explore everything the island has to offer. There are just so much to see & do in the island. We were lucky we’ve been to the usual touristic spots during our visit. I recommend staying for a week or two if you can. I loved Bali up to the point I went back for 6 days a few weeks ago. Watch out for my upcoming posts about my recent trip. I can assure you I’ve been to unique & more beautiful places this time. 😉

Sunrise from my airplane seat – taken during our flight back to Manila 😍

Have you been to Bali? Which place / temple did you enjoy the most? Feel free to share your experiences to me & to all the readers 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 & see you in the next Throwback Thursday Treat – we might just go to another country / city! ✈️

PS. All photos above were shot using my HTC One M8 & HTC Re.

Throwback Thursday Treat: Third Time Fun in El Nido

It’s been over a month since my last trip blog post. I am very sorry I haven’t posted anything; I’ve been busy with work & personal stuff. I had several birthday celebrations; I’ve also been just back from a week in Bali & a weekend in my hometown in Albay. I hope everyone is doing well. I promise to keep up with all the content planned for the past weeks.

Anyway, back to business. It’s Thursday, so it’s time for another Throwback Thursday Treat! It’s been a year since my high school friends & I spent a long weekend in El Nido, Palawan (my 3rd time). I think it’s a good time to relive the good times we had in that short weekend trip.

View from El Nido town 😍

Airfare

Philippine Airlines had their annual Christmas sale last December 2015. I was able to book a round-trip ticket to Puerto Princesa City for only ₱1,636. The fare included a 10 kg check-in baggage allowance per way & in-flight snack. Not bad, right?

Screenshot of my ticket to & from Puerto Princesa, Palawan

All the while, the plan was to go to El Nido / Port Barton alone for a weekend, but my high school friends decided to join me on that same weekend. We had plans of going to El Nido but I never thought it will be during this trip that we’ll go there. At least, I didn’t have to enjoy paradise by myself.

Trip to El Nido

2 friends flew to Puerto Princesa days earlier & went around the city for a day & a half. Junelle & I flew on the same afternoon, but with via different airlines. Upon arrival in Puerto Princesa, we immediately went to our friend’s hotel located a few meters from the airport.

Upon arrival at Puerto Princesa International Airport

We had dinner at Kinabuch’s Grill & Bar in Puerto Princesa before heading to the bus terminal to catch the last night bus to El Nido. The air conditioned bus left at 9:00 pm & arrived in El Nido at around 2:30 in the morning. We headed to our respective accommodations & slept for the rest of the morning.

Accommodation

I already booked my accommodation right before my friends booked their flights. I got a dormitory bed in El Nido’s newest (that time) hip hostel – Spin Designer Hostel. I booked via Booking.com; the nightly rate includes a bed in a 4-bed dormitory room with toiletries & breakfast. I paid ₱2,750 for 4 nights.

Each guest is provided a room key card, a spacious bed & locker. Guests have access to common shower & toilet facilities. Wi-Fi is only available in common areas (not sure if they have given access up to the rooms). The hostel also organizes day trips & night activities like acoustic nights, sports nights, barbecue nights, etc. The common areas were well-designed & spacious. The hostel is very social; it’s very easy to meet & connect with new people.

The staff were one of the nicest & the most helpful I’ve met. The hostel is also secured with guards on duty 24/7 on both gates. If you are alone & keen on meeting new people, Spin Designer Hostel is the hostel for you. Make sure to book your stay early as they are usually fully-booked.

Note: My friends stayed in a different accommodation because there were no other beds available in Spin Hostel.

Nacpan Beach Day 1

We hired 2 tricycles for ₱1,200 each for a day trip to Nacpan Beach. We left around 10:00 in the morning & decided to stay there up until 4:00 in the afternoon. It was supposed to be a day of relaxation, but the weather didn’t cooperate. It was raining most of the afternoon. We still had fun in the beach despite the heavy rainfall.

‘Habang umuulan’ photo with Junelle 😂

We headed to Las Cabanas Beach to watch the sunset, but it wasn’t at its best. The sky was cloudy; you could barely see the sunset. We went back to our respective accommodations to freshen up. We met up at 7:00 pm to have dinner at Trattoria Altrove, a known Italian restaurant in town.

Tour A Island Hopping Tour

Tour A is a must when in El Nido. It is my 3rd time to visit this place & I still go back for this tour. For the third time, I took Tour A – an island hopping day tour which goes to different lagoons & beaches in Bacuit Bay.

We booked the tour in the agency partner of our Nacpan tricycle driver. The tour is priced at ₱1,200 but we got ours for ₱1,100 each because we were a group of 4. Our driver picked us up at 8:00 am & we went straight to the beach. We left the town at 8:30 am & enjoyed the tour around the islands until 4:00 pm. Here are the places we visited:

Small Lagoon

Secret Lagoon

Snorkelling somewhere near Miniloc Island

Shimizu Island (also the place where we had lunch)

Big Lagoon

Seven Commando Beach

Nacpan Beach Day 2

We had a little debate whether we’ll take Tour C or go to Nacpan Beach again for our 3rd day. We wanted to relax a bit so we went for the latter. The weather was perfect & the beach was at its best! I’ll let the photos show how relaxing the place was.

Nacpan & Calitang Twin Beach 😍

Last Day

Right before eating lunch in Badjao Seafront Restaurant 

We took the 8:00 am Camarih Transport shuttle back to Puerto Princesa; dropped by the pasalubong center to get some goodies for families & friends back in Manila; ate lunch at Badjao Seafront Restaurant (a must-eat restaurant in Puerto Princesa) & headed to the airport for our flights back to Manila.

It was short but fun weekend trip with my high school friends. We’ve been to different places & countries & I think this El Nido was one of the best trips we had. We don’t have anything planned for our next trip (ehem); I hope we get to decide where we’ll go next & when will that be. I could travel the whole world with these people.

El Nido ’16 crew group photo 😊

If you haven’t read it yet, I already blogged about my past 2 El Nido trips – March 2014 trip & 2014 Birthday Weekend. Have you been to El Nido recently? Any notable changes in infrastructure, island hopping tour costs, etc? Feel free to let me know by putting some comments below. You can also send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Drop me a message on Facebook, drop a comment on Instagram or send me a tweet on Twitter.

The world-famous Big Lagoon during low tide

Curious how I booked my super duper cheap round-trip ticket to Puerto Princesa? Don’t worry, I got you covered. Head over to this post (and this post too) to know more.

‘Til the next throwback Thursday post! 😉

PS. All photos above were shot using my HTC Re.