travel – Page 21 – The Wknd Travel

Spontaneous BACOLOD Weekend: 48 Hours In The City of Smiles

Hey yo, hey yo! How have you been? I am very sorry for being missing in action for the last few weeks. I’ve been really busy with trips, work & engagements. My siblings & I also moved out of our house of 12 years. Imagine the amount of things we packed! Anyway, I’m super happy I finally have time to write again. I have so many trips & things to share with you. I know I haven’t started posting about my recent Japan trip, but I’ll definitely put up the posts soon.

Last weekend, my current & former colleagues went on a 48-hour spontaneous tito (or tita for my female friends) weekend trip to the City of Smiles, Bacolod. The city is located in the Visayas & is the capital of Negros, Occidental. The city is popular for the annual Masskara Festival (Festival of masks), the abundant sugar cane plantation & the famous piaya snack.

Now back to the trip. Don’t expect this to be an adventure-filled weekend. We flew to Bacolod with no plans at all & our goal was to have a break from the busy life in Makati. Let me share with you the whereabouts this 48-hour relaxing trip to the City of Smiles.

Plane Ticket

The trip started when my friends & I (a group of 7 people) booked a return Bacolod ticket for ₱3,706 each last January 2019. We found the fare deal in one of Philippine Airlines‘ low fare sale. The tickets include in flight snacks, 7 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance & 10 kilograms of check-in baggage allowance. Considering the flight schedule, flight dates & the fare inclusions, the ticket we got was worth it. Plus, it’s Philippine Airlines – our country’s flag carrier. Philippine Airlines’ fares are not as affordable as low cost carriers’ fares, except during seat sales.

Our flight left Manila at 3:55 in the afternoon & arrived Bacolod at 5:15 pm (with a few minutes delay). The flight back left Bacolod after 6:00 pm & arrived Manila before 7:30 in the evening. The schedules were perfect – we only took the Friday afternoon off from work plus we had enough rest time after the trip.

accommodation

Our trip was pretty last minute so the famous accommodations were already booked out. Good thing we found Jay’s property in Booking.com. The units were in CityScapes Bacolod, a relatively new residential building along 6th Avenue, a few meters walk from Lacson Avenue. We booked 2 units (one unit for the ladies & 1 unit for the gents) for 2 nights. It only cost us ₱970+ per person already for 2 nights. Affordable, right? The units were equipped with private shower & toilet, free Wi-Fi, private balconies, small refrigerator & a whole lot more. The units exceeded our expectations.

Click this link to check out Jay’s property at Booking.com. You may also opt to contact him directly for bookings – his number is +639477786688. Book early, his units are always in demand.

around bacolod

We flew to Bacolod without any plans at all. The only thing in our mind was to rest, eat the best chicken inasal & have dessert in Calea. We figured out our itinerary when we arrived. We initially thought of spending a day in Lakawon Island but we got stressed by expected travel time & resort / island fees. We decided to just go to the nearby upland town & go around the city. Check out the following places we went to & the local restaurants we tried.

The Ruins

The Ruins is an ancestral home mansion of Lacsons. It is located in within the family’s plantation in Talisay City. The house was burned down during the World War II. The remains of the mansion after the fire is now Negros Occidental’s most famous tourist attraction.

Aida’s Chicken Inasal

A visit to Bacolod is never complete without having the famous chicken inasal. One of the best places to have this staple Bacolod food is in Manokan Country, right beside SM City Bacolod. One of the most visited restaurants in this place is Aida’s Chicken. We went here for dinner on our 1st night.

Bacolod New Government Center

My friends & I stopped by the Bacolod New Government Center to have a photo with the big BACOLOD signage.

Don Salvador Benedicto

Our driver recommended that we go on a half day tour to Don Salvador Benedicto. It is a small town 45 minutes to an hour away from Bacolod City. This municipality is called Negros’ Little Baguio because of its location in the mountains & its (not so during our visit) chilly weather. We went to different viewpoints & Instagram-worthy places, plus Nami Island-like place full of pine trees. We also saw Malatan-og Falls from afar; we had no more time to hike down to the falls.

Balay Negrense

Balay Negrense is another ancestral house previously owned by the prominent Gaston family of Silay City. The house was abandoned years after the death of Don Victor Fernandez Gaston & was later turned over to the Negros Cultural Foundation & the Philippine Tourism Board. The house was restored into a museum in 1994 & was declared a heritage site by the government.

Seaside Restaurant

We headed to a seaside community in Silay City to have lunch. I forgot the name of the place but it’s a small row of ‘paluto‘ restaurants that offer cheap but fresh seafood. My friends ordered 2 buckets of oysters at ₱65 per bucket. We also had rice, buttered shrimp, pork sisig & liempo & a few more dishes for a very affordable price.

Calea Pastries & Coffee

Calea Pastries & Coffee is Bacolod’s most famous dessert place. They have a large range of cakes & pastries to choose from. They also have a wide variety of coffee & drinks to try. We were a group of 7 so we each got a unique cake of pastry. Their best seller Imported Chocolate Cake was so-so. We liked the pecan apple pie & pistachio cake.

Negros Occidental Provincial Capital Grounds

We dropped by the provincial capitol grounds before going back to our accommodation. We took photos of the building against the sunlight & the partly blue sky.

21 Restaurant

We had hopes of having batchoy for dinner at 21 Restaurant only to find out they only offer it until 5:00 in the afternoon. We had no choice but to order other kinds of food. We still had a good meal even if we felt we were under-dressed (we were in shorts & shirts).

Ted’s La Paz Batchoy

We can’t get over the fact we missed 21 Restaurant’s la paz batchoy so we decided to have lunch at Ted’s. Batchoy is a local noodle soup with round noodles & pork, chicken or beef as flavor. The broth is very rich & tasty. The soup is best paired with pandesal or puto (steamed rice cake). Ted’s la paz batchoy originated in Iloilo (another Visayan city in Panay Island) & fortunately has branches in Bacolod.

Felicia’s Pastry Shop

We spent our last few hours in the city at Felicia’s Pastry Shop. I didn’t try their signature chocolate cake because it didn’t look enticing to me. I got the pecan cheesecake instead. It was okay, nothing special. Their ensaymada with signature hot chocolate was so good!

Pendy’s Napoleones

One of Bacolod’s famous delicacy is napoleones. It is a pastry made of sugar, egg, flour butter & milk topped with white sugar glaze. In my opinion, Pendy’s & Roli’s have the best napoleones in the city. We went to Pendy’s the updated price as of early March 2019 is ₱18 per piece or ₱180 per box of 10. It’s a must buy pasalubong from Bacolod, of course together with the famous piaya.

That basically sums up our quick 48-hour trip to Bacolod last weekend. We basically went there to have food trip. Everything was relaxed & spontaneous, no plans or whatsoever. I look forward to more trips like this.

Any suggestions on where I should go next for 48 hours? Or maybe have you been to Bacolod? How was your visit? Which food or place did you enjoy most? Feel free to start the discussion in the comments below. You can also share your thoughts via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Make sure to follow me & please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Until the next 48-hour weekend trip! I don’t have anything planned or booked yet but let’s see where I’ll go next.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

IT’S THE SHIP 2018 – 4 Days & 3 Nights Of Non-Stop Parties On Board Genting Dream Cruise

Last November, my good friend, Lord of Lord Around The World invited me to join him on It’s The Ship 2018. Known as Asia’s Largest Festival At Sea, It’s The Ship sailed to Phuket, Thailand on board Dream Cruises‘ Genting Dream for their 5th Anniversary. Its sail started in Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore then docked in Phuket, Thailand for a few hours then back to Singapore. Let me share with you how my first cruise experience went.

Pre-Cruise Stops

Prior to It’s The Ship 2018, I went on a 36-hour Penang side trip (to see Georgetown’s murals) & a 24-hour Singapore stop. My initial plan was to explore Penang & Kuala Lumpur for a few days until Lord invited me to join him on the cruise trip. I cut short my Penang stay, cancelled my Kuala Lumpur leg & flew to Singapore a day before the sail. I met with Lord upon arrival in Singapore, then walked around the city & finished the day with the pre-sail party in Zouk Singapore.

Day 1 – Sail To Phuket & On board Parties Begin

Check-in & Boarding

The cruise trip & EDM festival started in Marina Bay Cruise Centre. All guests, crew & artists checked-in for the trip, boarded by batch & passed through immigration. Everyone was given their respective room key cards, festival booklets & cruise schedule / information. Passports were surrendered to the crew upon entering the ship. The entire cruise had a safety briefing at 5:00 pm right before it started its sail to Phuket.

Room Tour

Lord & I stayed in Room 10556, a Balcony Stateroom on Deck 10. It features a queen bed, private bathroom & toilet, a sofa bed, a large television (with our names in it), a small refrigerator & a private balcony. The room also had 2 packs of snacks from The Golden Duck, the festival’s official party snack. The room was just right for 2 people. It was again my first time (in years) to stay in a luxury room like this. I enjoyed every detail of the room!

First Dinner On Board

While everyone was busy lining up for the gala dinner tickets (which we decided to skip), Lord & I had dinner at Dream Dining Room Restaurant. The restaurant featured a Chinese set menu. The dishes featured unlimited servings of sauteed frog legs, steamed large shrimps, roast duck & a lot more. What a sumptuous dinner!

Crown Stage Welcome Party

Parties started as soon as the cruise left Marina Bay Cruise Center in Singapore. Right after dinner, Lord & I went to the Crown Stage Welcome Party at Deck 16. It is also the cruise’ main party venue. We stayed for a few hours & enjoyed the sets of DJs like Helena Legend & Chocolate Puma. We went back to our room after a while & called it a night.

Day 2 – EDM Festival Continues & Phuket Stopover

Sunrise Party with Maddix

We started Day 2 really early with a sunrise party at Zouk Stage at the rear part of the cruise. We woke up before 5 am & made it to Maddix’s set. Maddix is one of Revealed Recording’s rising stars & is one of my current favorites. I’ve been listening to his songs & mixes for quite some time, so it was really nice to see him perform live. I even got a chance to have a photo with him after his set.

Lido International Buffet Meal

Lord & I had most of our meals in Lido International Buffet Restaurant. It is one of the two restaurants (the other is Dream Dining Restaurant) which are included in the fee. The other specialty restaurants are not for free & had very expensive food. Basically, we go to Lido for breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, midnight snack & pre-sleep snack. Good thing this buffet offers an international spread. The food / dishes also change from time to time.

Around The Cruise

I took time to walk around the cruise while Lord hit the gym (know as Crystal Lift Fitness). I went to the main lobby, casino (known as Resorts World At Sea), Bridge Viewing Room (where the ship captain & officers can be seen + replica of the cruise) & the Dream Boutiques.

Zouk Stage Foam Party

Lord & I attended the crazy foam party at Zouk Stage. It was my first foam party & it was a mad on. Everyone partied really hard & the crowd was awesome. We were able to make it to Mira Mira & DJ Helena Legend‘s sets. Helena was joined by Jjay De Melo. Oh, I found out that Jjay De Melo drowned & died last month. I’d like to pay tribute to this cool man & I’m actually dedicating this post to him. Rest in peace, sir.

Phuket Stopover

The cruised docked at Patong Beach, Phuket at around 5:00 pm. Lord & I disembarked at 6:30 at one end of Patong Beach & walked around the streets of Phuket. We had authentic Thai food for dinner at Baan Laimai Beach Resort‘s on site restaurant. We also spent some time reconnecting with friends & loved ones through social media. Wi-Fi on board the cruise was very slow. We walked up to the other end of the area then back. We skipped the Genting Dream’s Gala Night for this stopover in Phuket. We went back to the ship a few minutes before 10 pm.

Party ‘Til Dawn

Lord passed for the 2nd night’s party while I partied my heart out. I met some cool Indonesian people on the dance floor & I joined their party until dawn. If I remembered it right, I slept around 5:00 am on the 3rd day. We enjoyed the sets of Hook N Sling & Darude. Cash Cash gave the best set of that night. The crowd was wild; the people didn’t run out of energy. It’s been a while since I danced until dawn; I enjoyed it a lot.

Day 3 – All-Day Chill & Party

Lunch at Dream Dining Restaurant

After eating most of our meals in Lido, Lord & I decided to have lunch at Dream Dining Restaurant for a change. We had unlimited Chinese set dishes plus rice & soup. The food this time was so-so; it consisted of sauteed eggplant, cabbage, some fish & meat. Our 1st meal in the same restaurant was a lot better.

Chill All Day

Day 3 aboard Genting Dream was more about chilling rather than partying. I wasn’t able to join Lord when he interviewed Maddix so I decided to just walk around the cruise (again), sunbathe & have some carbonated drink. Good thing the sun was out & the sky was super clear. Lord joined me after his interview & we went for a swim in the pool near the Crown Stage.

Hip-Hop Afternoon with Big Shaq

I dropped by the Zouk Stage while Lord was having some down time in the room. The one & only non-EDM related hip hop party was happening with the It’s The Ship 2018 Captain, Big Shaq. People came in their 90’s hip hop outfits. It was another crazy afternoon party! I didn’t stay long in that stage; I immediately went back inside the room & had some rest.

Dinner & Crazy Trance Final Night Party

Lord & I went out of the room to have our final dinner on the cruise. We went, of course, to Lido International Buffet. After dinner, we headed over to the crown stage again to have drinks & enjoy the trance-themed final night party. We also went to the Zouk Stage for another party & watched Cash Cash play beer pong with the other guests. Notable names that played that night were David Gravell, Estiva, Cosmic Gate, Paul Van Dyk (who was on the same plane as I am to Kuala Lumpur) & Vini Vici. The crowd went super wild during the sets of Cosmic Gate & Vini Vici. We stayed until around 1:00 am & we decided to go to bed afterwards.

Day 4 – Back In Singapore & Flight Back To Manila

Last Meal at Lido

Lord & I had our final brunch meal at Lido on our way back to Singapore. I know I’ve eaten a number of buffet meals on this trip, but I think this last one was special. I can very well remember the potato wedges & slices of turkey ham served in that spread.

Check-out & Disembarkation

After our meal, we went to reception to settle our bills & to check for possible last minute purchases. We headed back to our room, took a shower & packed our things. The cruise staff gave us back our passports.

The cruise ship arrived Singapore around lunch time, but we disembarked around 2:00 pm. We cleared Singapore immigration & found ourselves back at Marina Bay Cruise Centre. Our It’s The Ship 2018 experience officially ended here.

Flight Back To Manila

Lord & I immediately went to the nearest subway station. Lord took the train back to his place while I took the train to Changi Airport. A few hours later, I flew out of Singapore & landed back in Manila.

5 Reasons That Make It’s The Ship Is A Unique EDM Festival

You might wonder what makes It’s The Ship unique & why people go to this festival. Check out these reasons I thought of based on my experience.

It is on board a cruise ship.

Yes, it happens on board a cruise ship! You also go & disembark on a specific place in another country. How cool is that?

It has pop-up / themed parties.

The festival has pop-up / themed parties where guests can choose where to go to. It ranges from hip-hop parties, onesie parties, birthday bashes, foam party to pajama parties. People go to these parties in costumes, which makes the activity more fun.

It hosts side activities with DJs.

*Sam of Cash Cash played few rounds of beer pong with the shipmates. Happened on the 3rd night!*

It’s The Ship hosts several activities where the guests get to spend time with their favorite DJ’s. These activities include beer pong, yoga class, Singapore Sling class, games, etc. These give the guests the chance to meet their favorite DJ’s in flesh & also to have fun with them. It’s one of a kind.

It features the best local & international DJs.

The festival features the best local & international DJs in the scene. The 2018 sail gave the guests a chance to enjoy the music of legends like Paul Van Dyk, Vini Vici & Cosmic Gate. It also gave a platform for local DJs to showcase their talents & style in a bigger crowd.

It’s an experience of a lifetime.

Going to an EDM festival on board a cruise is definitely an experience of a lifetime. You get to enjoy the music of your favorite DJs while in the middle of the sea, plus you get to meet people from the other parts of the world who share the same passion for dance music. It was a fun trip, I’ll definitely attend it again in the future.

So.. There you go! It’s The Ship 2018 was a trip of many firsts & of a lifetime. I will never forget everything that happened in those 4 days & 3 nights on board Genting Dream. Massive thanks to my friend, Lord of Lord Around The World, for tagging me along!

It’s The Ship Singapore 2019 will be back for their 6th Anniversary this November 13-15. Check out the event website for cabin prices, lineup & more details. You can also start booking your cabins for this year’s party! Guess what? It’s The Ship will also sail from China & Japan this year. It’s The Ship China 2019 will depart Shanghai & go to Shimonoseki, Japan from June 13 to 17. Details are yet to be announced for the It’s The Ship Japan 2019. Make sure to follow It’s The Ship on Instagram & Facebook to get updated on the event details. You can also find everything about the ship on ItsTheShip.com. ✌️

PENANG in 36 Hours – A Walk Around Heritage Sites

Happy new year everyone! I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday break. I went home to my hometown & spent the festive season with my family & relatives. It’s also the reason why I’ve been very quiet the past weeks. I’m very happy to be back! I have a long list of stories, tips & content to post. I can’t wait to share all of them with you!

Let’s get down to business. Today, I will bring you to Penang, Malaysia. Last November 2018, I got to explore Penang. I was supposed to stay for a few days but I had to cut short my trip to 36 hours for another exciting engagement in Singapore. I will talk about that experience in an upcoming post. Back to Penang, I spent most of my time around the island’s capital – Georgetown. This colorful & multicultural capital became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Georgetown is like a living museum; the buildings & shop houses have retained their historic form through the years.

I will make this post somewhat informal & basically share my itinerary by date & time. Check out the turnout of events in Penang below.

Day 1 – Hello Penang!

22:00 – I arrived at Penang International Airport from Kuala Lumpur via Malaysia Airlines. Flight was delayed for an hour due to bad weather at the airport vicinity. I got some cash from the ATM & booked a Grab ride to my hostel.

23:00 – I arrived at The Frame Guesthouse in Georgetown & checked in to my room. I went to the nearest convenience center & grabbed something to eat & drink. I had freshened up & went to bed.

I wrote about my stay at The Frame Guesthouse. Check out the hostel of the day feature here.

Day 2 – Kek Lok Si Temple & Around Georgetown

07:00 – I woke up & immediately took a shower. I went downstairs to avail the hostel’s free breakfast. I had some toast, fresh fruits & a glass of milk. I went to reception & asked for advice on what to do for the day.

08:00 – I left the hostel & walked to Komtar Bus Terminal. I took Bus 203 or 204 to Ayer Itam. The fare costs RM2 per person & takes about 30 minutes. It is the bus line’s last stop so the driver will advise you to get off the bus. The temple is only a short walk up the hill.

09:00 – I arrived at Kek Lok Si Temple. The Buddhist temple was built way back in the late 19th century. This temple played a big role in building Penang’s religious heritage.

I went around the different temple buildings & pagodas. The complex has millions of Buddha images & hundreds of physical statues. I also took the inclined lift up to the giant Buddha. It took me 2.5 hours to go around the whole temple complex.

11:30 – I went down to Ayer Itam & had lunch. I went to the small hawker center & bought curry mee for lunch. After lunch, I walked around the different shops in the area. I was a bit tired so I booked a Grab car back to the hostel.

12:30 – I arrived back to The Frame Guesthouse & decided to rest for a while.

14:00 – I left the hostel & started my walkathon around Georgetown. I walked around Love Lane & saw some interesting murals.

14:15 – I went to Pinang Peranakan Mansion. Also known as the Mansion of the Babas & Nyonyas, this mansion was once owned by the rich Chinese who migrated to Penang. The Chinese family adopted to the local Malaysian & colonial British cultures & still managed to create a unique lifestyle & customs. This way of life left a big collection of antiques which are on display in the mansion. The mansion has a RM20 entrance fee per person. They also offer English tours (takes about an hour) around the house daily. I joined the 14:30 tour.

15:30 – I left Pinang Peranakan Mansion & continued my walkathon to Penang Town Hall & The Esplanade. This public open space by the sea is a popular recreation area for the locals. People go here for leisure walks & relaxation. I planned to visit the nearby Fort Cornawallis but the fort was closed to the public on that specific day.

16:00 – I went to Padang Kota Lama, a hawker center beside Fort Cornwallis, to try the famous mee sotong goreng. This sweet & spicy noodles are only sold by Hameed Pata Special Mee. I waited in line for a few minutes before it was finally my turn to buy. The regular plate costs RM5 & the big plate costs RM7. You can choose from the goreng (fried noodles) or the rebus (boiled noodles). I also tried the coconut shake in the nearby stall for RM4.

16:45 – I resumed my walkathon around Georgetown. This time, I went back to Lebuh Chulia & continued to Lebuh Armenian to check out the famous Penang murals. I went around the main & small streets to see as many murals as I can. Luckily, there were only few tourists checking out the murals.

17:30 – I went back to the hostel to rest before heading out for dinner.

19:30 – 2 hours after, I went out to have dinner with a Filipino I met in the mansion tour. We ate in a local restaurant along Lebuh Chulia. I had wan tan mee (Malaysian wonton noodles), char koay teow (stir-fried noodles) & hot teh tarik (hot milk tea) for dinner. Yes, I was that hungry.

20:30 – We went to this local liquor store named Antarabangsa Enterprise to have drinks. This shop is located along Lorong Stewart (Stewart Lane). Every day, the store staff sets up tables & chairs in the street for their customers. We stayed for a while here & met interesting people from Penang (locals), Iran & Norway. It was a fun night exchanging stories about anything under the sun.

23:45 – After a few bottles & hours of drinking, I headed back to my hostel to rest. I took a shower & went to bed.

Day 3 – Goodbye Penang!

06:00 – I woke up & fixed my stuff. I took a shower & got ready for check out.

07:15 – I booked a Grab car & went to Penang International Airport for my international flight to Singapore.

07:45 – I arrived at the airport & went straight to check in. I had breakfast at KFC after check in then I headed to the boarding gate.

09:30 – Boarding for Singapore commenced.

10:05 – My Scoot flight to Singapore departed Penang International Airport on time.

This pretty much is all about my quick stop at Penang. I wish I stayed longer but I guess I made the most out of that 36-hour stay. I know I missed a lot of interesting places like Batu Ferringhi, Clan Jetties, Penang Hill & the Blue Mansion. That gives me another reason to go back in visit Penang in the future.

Have you been to Penang? Where else did you go that you find very interesting & unique? Feel free to share these places in the comments below. I’ll check ’em out when I fly back to Penang. You can also send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Please help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Watch out for the next post about Penang. You’ll surely love it! Ciao. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

2018 Run-Through: Reuniting & Travelling With Friends

Hey, you! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday with your families & friends. 2019 is just a few hours away. Another year will soon pass. Before we go into 2019, join me as I look back on how another year of travels went by.

2016 was all about going solo & exploring places by myself. 2017 was about exploring both known & relatively unknown places. 2018’s theme is about reuniting & travelling with friends. After months & years of travelling alone, I reunited & travelled with friends in all of my trips this year.

Let me share with you where my friends & I went to this year. It was a fun & memorable year exploring with friends!

sapporo🇯🇵

Last February, Shane & I went to Sapporo for a week. We flew in to Tokyo & took another domestic flight to Sapporo. We explored Sapporo city on our 2nd day – walked around historic buildings & structures plus tried the famous Genghis Khan meat for late lunch. We tried the world-famous Hokkaido king crab in Nijo Market on our 3rd day, then went to explore the port city of Otaru in the afternoon.

Shane & I went skiing on our 4th day. We took a beginner’s ski course in the morning & skied on a downhill slope in the afternoon. It was tiring but a fun experience. We enjoyed it & we plan to do it again on our next winter trip. We chose to relax on our 5th day & tried a traditional Japanese onsen on a snowy day. At first, it was weird walking around naked but hey, everyone’s naked so there’s nothing to worry. We flew to Tokyo on our 6th day & do some last minute pasalubong shopping before flying back to Manila on our last day.

Believe it or not, we only spent less than ₱45,000 each including airfare & hostel accommodations. It was a trip of many firsts (my first legit winter trip) & also an affordable one. Check out the Sapporo blog list below.

Blog List:
Hokkaido Winter Series: The Ultimate Japan Winter Experience Without Breaking The Bank (7 Days For Less Than ₱45,000 all-in)
Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO – A Winter Paradise City
Hokkaido Winter Series: OTARU – An Afternoon In The Nearby Historical Harbor City
Hokkaido Winter Series: SAPPORO TEINE RESORT & HOHEIKYO ONSEN – Recommended Day Trips From Sapporo City
Hostel Of The Day: THE STAY SAPPORO – Budget Sapporo Accommodation With Top-Notch Amenities
Hostel Of The Day: OAK HOSTEL ZEN – My Favorite Tokyo Hostel
Tuesday Tip: 7 SAPPORO Eats You Shouldn’t Miss

Hong Kong🇭🇰

My high school friends & I went on a weekend trip to Hong Kong last March. We left for Hong Kong on a Friday late afternoon & arrived back in Manila Sunday night. It was a quick 48-hour trip but we managed to visit a number of interesting places. Jericho & I explored went to Victoria Peak, Quarry Bay Monster Building, Nan Lian Garden & Kowloon Pier while our friends went to Hong Kong Disneyland. We met them in Mong Kok for dinner & went shopping together.

The following day, the whole group went to mass at St Teresa’s Church in Kowloon Tong in the morning. We all went to Ngong Ping via the cable car in the afternoon & went last-minute shopping at Citygate Outlets. We headed back to our accommodation to pick up our bags & went straight to the airport for our flight back to Manila.

Blog: High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In HONG KONG

Nacpan Beach🇵🇭

Maanne, a friend who is now based in Vancouver, went home for a few weeks & asked us to join her visit Nacpan Beach in El Nido. I’ve been to El Nido & Nacpan Beach a number of times. It was Maanne’s 1st time in Nacpan. We spent a whole day at the beach area. The weather didn’t cooperate so we found ourselves having a good time (having lunch + free drinks / shots) at Mad Monkey Hostel Nacpan Beach. Our stay in El Nido & Nacpan was mostly spent in our hostels, Mad Monkey & Outpost Beach Hostel due to rainy weather.

Blog List:
Hostel Of The Day: MAD MONKEY HOSTEL NACPAN BEACH – Beach & Party In One Place
Hostel Of The Day: OUTPOST BEACH HOSTEL – Social El Nido Hostel By The Beach

Port Barton 🇵🇭

After spending 2 days & 2 nights in El Nido, we headed down south to the small coastal village of Port Barton. I’ve been to this place in 2017 & had the best times so I decided to bring my friends to this paradise. We spent another 48 hours here, went island hopping, relaxed on the village beach & had great times with old & new friends.

Blog: PORT BARTON Revisited – 48 Hours In Palawan’s Next Popular Destination

Siargao 🇵🇭

My colleague & friend, Shiela, & I went to Siargao for 4 full days last July. We booked our tickets a few months back before I left for the airport for my Sapporo trip. Another friend in the name of Geof (from Siquijor 2017 trip) was also on the island with friends. We met up on our 1st day for dinner & decided to go together for crazy party nights & inland tours. We took the Sugba Lagoon & Magpupungko Rock Pool tour together & met a new set of friends. This marked the birth of the Siargao Squad. Half of the group left the island on our 3rd day while we took the Sohoton Cove & Tri Island Tour.

Shiela & I also had crazy nights with our roommates at Bravo Beach Resort & our ex-colleague Vanessa. This trip was all about exploring the island in the morning & drinking / partying at night – typical Siargao getaway. I look forward to flying back to Siargao to do the same time.

Blog List:
4-Day Siargao Weekend: It’s All About Epic Tour Days & Crazy Party Nights
~~Hostel~~ Resort Of The Day: BRAVO BEACH RESORT SIARGAO – Reasonably Priced Shared Luxury Accommodation in Paradise Island

Sydney 🇦🇺

Last August, I flew to Sydney with my N9 buddies, Shane (from Sapporo trip) & Leng. It was my first trip outside Asia (finally lol). We took the free walking tours & explored Sydney by foot. The weather was not too hot & not too cold (well for me) so it was perfect for walking. My friends & I also went to see Bondi Beach & Coogee Beach, 2 of the many suburban beaches of Sydney.

We took a wine-tasting day trip to the mountains of Hunter Valley. We went to 3 wineries, tried different kinds of wine & had lunch at a fancy country club. We drowned ourselves with free wine that same day. We took another day trip to Blue Mountains National Park in Katoomba. The place is about 2 hours by train from Sydney. We walked around the peaceful rainforest of Jamison Valley plus enjoyed the thrilling rides of Scenic World. It was a perfect day out with the nature. Check the N9 in Staya Series blog list below.

Blog List:
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City
N9 In Straya Series: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours
N9 In Straya Series – BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches + BOUNCE SYDNEY HOSTEL Tribute
N9 in Straya Series: HUNTER VALLEY Day Tour – Australian Wine Tasting At Its Finest
N9 in Straya Series: SCENIC WORLD BLUE MOUNTAINS – Nature & Adventure In One Place
Hostel Of The Day: THE POD SYDNEY – Minimalist & Contemporary Hostel In The Middle Of A Busy City

Brisbane 🇦🇺

I left my friends in Sydney & flew to Brisbane to spend a weekend with my relatives & cousins. My uncle, aunt & cousins took me around the city. We went to the koala sanctuary, had lunch at Mount Coot-tha overlooking Brisbane CBD, walked around South Bank, rode the Brisbane Wheel & drove around the central business district. They also took me to Gold Coast to see the famous beach, to go up Gold Coast’s highest view deck & to have lunch in a revolving restaurant.

Blog: N9 In Straya Series: BRISBANE Weekend – Quality Family Time In QLD

Bohol 🇵🇭

My high school friends & I went on a quick weekend getaway to Bohol last September. We flew in Saturday morning, went straight to the countryside tour. We saw both the chocolate hills & the tarsiers on our first few hours on the island. We decided to skip the Loboc River Cruise & went to Bohol Bee Farm to have lunch. We passed by a few more places before heading to our booked accommodation near Alona Beach. On our 2nd day, we chased dolphins, swam with the turtles & snorkelled in Balicasag Island. We flew back to Manila the morning of the 3rd day. The trip was just right for a small island like Bohol.

Blog: High School Squad Weekend: 48 Hours In BOHOL

Penang 🇲🇾

Both planned trips in November got cancelled so I booked a last-minute trip to Malaysia. My initial plan was to spend 3 days in Penang & another 3 days in Kuala Lumpur but I had to cut short my trip for another last-minute invite. This 36-hour Penang stopover was the only ‘trip’ of the year when I was alone.

I flew in to Penang via Kuala Lumpur on the 1st day, explored Kok Lek Si & Georgetown (plus the murals) on the 2nd day & left for Singapore on the 3rd day. I stayed in a very cool shop-turned-guesthouse property called The Frame Guesthouse. I haven’t posted about my Penang trip, but watch out for the article soon.

Blog List:
Penang Blog – To Follow
(~~Hostel~~) Guesthouse Of The Day: THE FRAME GUESTHOUSE PENANG – Beautifully Restored Heritage Property In The Heart Of Georgetown

Singapore 🇸🇬

As mentioned above, I had to cut my Malaysia trip for another trip in Singapore. I flew into Singapore a day before the event. I headed my hostel near Haji Ln & Arab St & met up with my friend Lord who is now based there. We first had late lunch in a Japanese restaurant at Bugis Junction Mall then headed to ATLAS Singapore to have afternoon drinks.

I sneaked in a quick trip to Marina Bay Sands & Gardens By The Bay before heading over to Zouk Singapore for the pre-sailing party of Its The Ship 2018. Check out how I managed to spend by 24 hours in Singapore. It was a quick one, but hey, I’ve been to a lot of places in such a short span of time.

Blog List:
SINGAPORE Stopover: Quick & Packed 24 Hours In The Lion City
Tuesday Tip: SINGAPORE Tipid Hits – 9 Ways to Explore On A Budget

Its The Ship 2018 🇸🇬🇹🇭

Its The Ship 2018 was the main reason why I had to cut short my Penang / Kuala Lumpur planned trip & why I flew to Singapore on the 3rd day. Lord, my friend based in Singapore, invited me to join him in this party cruise. Thank you, Lord! Double meaning, I know. LOL.

This yearly 4 days / 3 nights cruise trip to Phuket (from Singapore) & back is Asia’s largest festival at sea. This year, the cruise turned into a massive party boat with international DJs over 3 stages. The cruise also had scheduled fun activities with the artists, plus an international buffet (which runs almost 24/7). This was my 1st cruise experience & will definitely be not the last.

I haven’t posted anything yet about my Its The Ship 2018 experience. Make sure to wait for that post next month.

Blog: To Follow

Cancelled Trips 🇨🇳🇲🇳🇯🇵

I know I have a long list of trips that pushed through this year, but I also had 2 international trips that didn’t push through. First is the 10-day trip to Beijing, China & Mongolia. My friend & I booked tickets to Beijing for less than ₱1,800 each & planned to go to Ulanbaatar by land. Unfortunately, we had to forego of this trip due to visa restraints. Apparently, the Chinese consulate does not grant double entry visas to first time applicants. We need this type of visa because we planned to go back to Beijing to catch our flight back to Manila.

Another cancelled trip was another set of flights to Japan. I was supposed to fly to Tokyo & Nagoya with my high school friends (from Hong Kong & Bohol trips) but I had to cancel. I had to attend an important family event that falls in the middle of that supposed to be 11-day trip. These China, Mongolia & Japan trips might have been cancelled, but I know I’ll visit these places soon. I’m still thankful most of my planned trips pushed through.

This pretty much sums up my year full of travels with friends. It was a year of many firsts – first winter trip, first out-of-Asia trip, first cruise experience & the list goes on. It was a year full of unforgettable experiences & memorable laughs. I may not have a clear plan on what’s in store for 2019 but I am positive it will be another year full of travels. Thank you very much for joining me. Happy new year & cheers to more fun travels in 2019!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

(Hostel) Guesthouse Of The Day: THE FRAME GUESTHOUSE PENANG – Beautifully Restored Heritage Property In The Heart Of Georgetown

Last month, I flew to & stopped at Penang for 36 hours before I continued by journey to Singapore. I arrived the Penang at night time, basically had 2 nights & 1 full day to explore the island. I will talk about my Penang visit in a separate blog post. This post’s focus will be the accommodation I had while in Penang. I stayed in a guesthouse, technically not a hostel, named The Frame Guesthouse. It will be today’s (~~hostel~~) guesthouse of the day feature.

The 3-storey heritage building used to be a frame maker’s shophouse restored & converted into a tourist accommodation facility. The building only had minimal restoration works. Up to now, you’ll notice the old floor, wall & roof finishes. This makes the guesthouse ambiance really unique & unforgettable. Allow me to share with you below some information about the property plus how my stay went.

Location & Access

The Frame Guesthouse’s location is perfect. It is found in a famous street in the center of Georgetown, in the middle of the backpackers’ district. It is located at 168 Chulia Street (Lebuh Chulia), Georgetown, Penang Island.

The Frame Guesthouse is located along Chulia St in the heart of Georgetown.

The property is very accessible to public transportation with a few bus stops located nearby. It is also walking distance to Love Lane (backpackers’ area), to KOMTAR Bus Terminal (main bus terminal in Georgtown), to the street arts (where Penang is known for) & to almost all museums & tourist attractions in town. The majority of places to visit in town are a few minutes walk from the property.

Penang International Airport is about 1 hour by bus from the property or about 25-30 minutes by Grab, Uber or private car.

Rooms & rates

The Frame Guesthouse Penang caters to all types of travellers. They have private rooms (with & without ensuite) & mixed / female dormitory rooms. All non-smoking rooms include free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, free breakfast & also include bed linens, duvet & bath towels. Dormitory beds also have individual reading lights, power outlet & a locker.

Dormitory rooms are priced at MYR 35 – MYR 58 per night, depending on configuration. Twin & double rooms without ensuite are at MYR 88 – MYR 92 per room per night while the double room with ensuite is priced at MYR 128 per night. These rates are based on the guesthouse’ website. Try to check out accommodation sites like Agoda & Booking.com for possible discounts & promotions.

Check out this artsy corner of my private room.

I initially booked a 2-night stay in a 4-bedroom mixed dormitory for MYR 88 (₱1,113) via Agoda. I changed my mind last minute & booked a private double room without ensuite 3 days before my stay. I paid around MYR 172 (₱2,175) for 2 nights – that’s MYR 86 (₱1,090) per night. I was satisfied with the space & privacy I had in my room. Wi-Fi was super fast; the room’s view was great & the air conditioning worked well. It was not the cheapest room in Georgetown & in Penang but as they say, you pay more for privacy & comfort.

Why Should You Stay In The Frame Guesthouse

Just like any other tourist accommodation, The Frame Guesthouse offers the following:

24 Hour Reception + Helpful Staff

The guesthouse’ reception is open 24 hours 7 days a week. There is always a person at the front desk anytime of the day. You don’t need to worry if you’re arrive late at night or early in the morning. There will always be someone to welcome you. Their staffs are very friendly & helpful. They even give recommendations on what to do, where to go & what to eat.

The property’s reception area – open for 24 hours 7 days a week.

Free Wi-Fi

The property has free Wi-Fi throughout the guesthouse premises. You won’t have any problem connecting. The connection is fast & reliable.

Free Breakfast

The guesthouse offers simple free breakfast to all its guests. The food includes bread with butter & jam, cereals with milk & fresh fruits. Available drinks include coffee, tea, milk & filtered drinking water. Coffee & tea are also free anytime of the day. Better than nothing!

Free Drinking Water + Unlimited Refill

The property has free drinking water & includes unlimited refill for all guests. In a hot & humid place like Penang, this amenity is such a big help. Also, guests don’t need to buy many bottles of mineral water.

Food Storage & Heating Facility

There is a common refrigerator where guests can store their food. Guests can also heat their food in the microwave oven in the common area. A water kettle is also available for those who need hot water.

Spacious common lounge area located at the back of the reception area.

Communal TV & Lounge Areas

The Frame Guesthouse has a spacious television & lounge area at the back of the reception area. The atmosphere may not be very social but you can still meet & talk to fellow guests while enjoying your favorite television show or movie.

Clean Communal Shower & Toilet Areas

All guests staying in double & twin rooms without ensuite & dormitory rooms have access to clean communal shower & toilet areas. Each floor has its designated amenity area. The facilities are clean & well-maintained. They have power hot showers. Body gel & shampoo are found in each shower cubicle.

This is the communal shower & toilet area located in the 2nd floor.

Free Luggage Storage

The guesthouse also provides free luggage storage for guests who are arriving before the check in time & leaving hours after check out.

Designated Smoking Area

All rooms & communal areas are non-smoking areas. The guesthouse has designated smoking area at the back for those who want to have their cigar puffs. This area is open 24 hours 7 days a week.

The smoking area is near the bicycle. It is located in an open area at the rear of the common areas.

Tour Desk Service

The property also offers daily tours & transfers. Feel free to approach the staff in reception area & they’ll discuss with you the details & rates.

This pretty much sums up all the information I can share about The Frame Guesthouse in Georgetown, Penang. The building was beautifully-restored. It’s heritage is still there. The room I got was spacious & really cold. The property’s free wi-fi was fast. The free breakfast was a plus. The people are really nice & helpful. It may not be the cheapest accommodation in the area, but it surely gives you the value you paid for. I didn’t mind spending more for more privacy & comfort. Overall, this guesthouse is great! I wish I booked my private room earlier for a better price.

If you have any questions about the property or you want to book directly with them, feel free to contact them in the details below.

The Frame Guesthouse
Address: 168 Chulia Street (Lebuh Chulia), Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia 10200
Phone Number: +60 4-263 8807
Email Address: theframe.guesthouse@gmail.com
Website: www.theframeguesthouse.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/theframeguesthouse
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theframeguesthouse

Don’t forget to check out The Frame Guesthouse when looking for a place to stay in Penang!

Have you been to Penang? Which hostel or guesthouses did you book? How was your trip? Are there other unique hostels I should check out soon? Feel free to post your thoughts & suggestions in the comments below. You can also send your suggestions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect me via the following social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Like & share my Facebook page too!

Thank you for your time & see you in the next hostel feature! ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.