Puerto Princesa City and why it's a must-see

Exactly 3 months after my Cebu trip, I went to the southern part of Luzon to check out the city of Puerto Princesa in Palawan. We got the tickets a year ago from Zest Air which was only about P1,200 or less if I'm not mistaken. It was a good grab and there was no turning back.

Since my Mom is not exactly a backpacker, we got scheduled tours throughout our stay. We availed a 3D/2N package from Ysabelle Mansion (+639175832066 or +639184089377) which included triple room accommodation, daily Filipino or American breakfast, airport transfers, van transfers for all of the tours, entrance fees, environmental fees, buffet lunch for the Underground River and Island Hopping tours, boat rentals, and tour guide, only for P4750/pax. The more you are in a group, the lesser it gets. Honestly, this was the most easy breezy trip I had since my mother was there and she worries for all of my things, pays when I'm short, keeps food for me when I'm too busy swimming and watches out for our things when Tito and I are both in the water snorkeling.

Ysabelle Mansion is actually a very decent place to stay in. I didn't expect much since the package we got was pretty cheap already but it was clean, had soft beds, and it certainly was not bad for sleeping and staying.

Ysabelle Mansion 

Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Since the city tour will not start until 1pm, we decided to have lunch first at Badjao Seafront. Tricycles are the most common form of transportation in Palawan, in fact, usually when you head out of your inn, you'll see them parked right in front. So to get to your desired destination, just call and tell them where you're headed and they'll bring you there. Most of the time, they ask you to get their number so you can call them when you're done. Plus to save you the hassle of always getting a tricycle, you can also make them your permanent service during your entire stay (Kuya Jerry +639424790028). The tricycles look pretty cute, actually. Ours was named Nonoy and it was pink!

Badjao Seafront has an amazing view. The food is fairly good and even if it was a bit pricey, I'm still giving it a positive review because of the A+ scenery it has given me while dining. We ordered clam soup, ginataang alimango, inihaw na isda, and enseladang talong. I also ordered mango fruit shake just because it goes perfectly with the view.

Clam soup

Ginataang alimango

(Sorry, I was too hungry to take decent photos)

Overall, make sure to still visit Badjao Seafront when you're in Palawan. It gives you the feeling of dining close to the sea and the food was generally good. Keep it on your list and don't skip!

So we proceeded to having our city tour after lunch... We were picked up by our service at 1:30 in the afternoon and we started with Plaza Cuartel which was a military base during World War II. About 150 American captives died when the Japanese soldiers set fire into the place on December 14, 1944.

Plaza Cuartel

We hurriedly went to Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center after and checked out hundreds of crocodiles as well as other species that can only be found in Palawan. I almost cried while in line for picture taking with a baby croc because I thought I was never gonna have the chance since kuya was too busy ignoring me. But since I have my Mom with me (the few advantages of having her on a trip), my avenger came to the rescue upon seeing me about to cry. And behold, finally a photo with the baby croc :)

Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center

After that we went to a rest house who's owned by someone I already forgot lol I wasn't paying much attention to the tour guide that time I was just busy appreciating the beautiful contrast of the green grass and blue sea from the view deck.

Just a few minutes away from the view deck was Baker's Hill Palawan which houses the best hopia in town. Or maybe even in the whole country. Creative sculptures are scattered all over the place and you can smell freshly baked pastries just around the corner. As for me, I chose a spot, sat down, ate an ube hopia, and relaxed for a few minutes before we head to another destination.

Pizza's also available in the Baker's Kitchen :D

Baker's Hill Palawan

Our last place to visit for the day was Binuatan Creations which manufactures handloom woven products utilizing Palawan's indigenous fibers. They sell a couple of items like place mats and table runners, bags, and slippers. I even got to try weaving!

Binutuan Creations Palawan

And to cap off Day 1 we decided to have dinner at Kinabuchs Grill and Bar which is sure to give you tasty and good quality food. Please make sure not to miss out on them while you're in Palawan.

Sinigang na hipon

Croc adobo

Grilled tuna belly

We ordered grilled tuna belly, sinigang na hipon, and croc adobo. The food, without exaggeration, is really good. And aside from that, they also serve tamilok or shipworm - a wood worm which tastes like your familiar oyster. Go and have a serving if you must. There's no harm trying exotic dishes, except I wasn't brave enough :p

Overall, Day 1 has met my expectations of a good day and it was a blast! I've learned a lot (the benefit of having a tour guide lol) and much to my discovery, Palawan serves the best food selection I've had in my entire travels. Will continue with Day 2 & 3 tomorrow since this is already too long... Yet again.

How about you? Had a recent trip to Palawan? Feel free to share in the comment box below :)

Happy travels!

Love,

Faye

Tagaytay: the quickest getaway near the city

Hello, Sunday!

Since almost everybody goes out on the seventh day of the week, I bring to you all the quickest getaway near Manila. Where else but Tagaytay? With the cool breeze and the serene atmosphere, there's nothing you could possibly hate about it. Well, except the traffic which is so bad during weekends. But come on, it's worth it! Within just 1-2 hours you're back to restoring your peace of mind and, and! Even if it's not that far from the city, it's still a place where you can think, relax, and just chill.

One day of May last year, my friend Gabby and I went to Tagaytay to have a quick escape. It was not even an overnight stay, it was just a day trip but it's amazing how one place can comfort you just by staying on it for a few hours. And we actually had an itinerary, believe it or not. We agreed that we would go to Picnic Grove to do horseback (remember when you were still a kid and horseback was just the best activity you can think of or when field trips felt complete when there's horseback, well we or maybe I sort of wanted to rekindle that spirit so... don't judge it was actually really fun I'll tell you about that later), anyway, to continue the itinerary I told you about, we also planned to have lunch at Bulalo Point which houses the best bulalo in Tagaytay (at least for me), and finally the thing we do best, coffee at Bag of Beans. Tell me, didn't it sound exciting? Admit it, sometimes just a few hours away from the metro is all you need.

So we checked out Picnic Grove for horseback!!! I was so nervous at first because hello, I haven't had it for years. 15 years to be exact. But it was such a thrill trying it again! Our guide took us to a view deck where you will be able to see Taal Volcano and he also took us to other side where the rest house of Willie Revillame was located. Honestly, just a view of the small volcano was enough. Trust me, no matter how many times you've seen it, it still gets you that magical feeling. Remember, it's still the smallest volcano in the world. Never forget that!

The smallest volcano in the world - Taal Volcano

See? Doesn't it give you the magical feeling?

On the view deck with Gabby and our horses

The 'other side' I was talking about

We really enjoyed horseback. P350 for the 1 hour thrilling ride of your life! Small things, honey. If you want, you can also spare P50-P100 as a tip for your guide especially if he accompanied you most of the time, just like mine. He tried taking us as well to the pineapple plantation, but since we're on a tight budget that time and we can't afford an extra P150, we declined the offer and told him we'll try that next time instead.

After that, we hurriedly went to Bulalo Point for lunch. It was just a 15-20 minutes ride back to the city center, and they still had the private huts before where you can dine so we got that. Unfortunately, as per checking on my recent visit to Tagaytay, the huts were not there anymore. Just a viewing deck for all with tables. If you're lucky and it's available get the table on the side closest to the view!

Bulalo

Adobong kang-kong

(I'm sure by now you know how much I love kang-kong haha)

Crispy tawilis

The food was really good! Please drop by Bulalo Point when you're in Tagaytay and feed yourself as much as you want. Most of their servings are good for 2-3 persons so keep that in mind when ordering. You might get yourself more than enough of you can eat, just like what happened to us. Don't worry though you can always take the extra ones home.

After lunch, we proceeded to Bag of Beans to have our usual coffee break and to try the ever famous blueberry cheesecake. The pictures say it all, I believe I don't even have to describe anything. Bag of Beans is the perfect cocol place, the ambiance, the decorations, everything! Don't miss it please. Make a way to fit it in your itinerary. Drop by or whatever just don't forget to go here.

Trust me, you will never go wrong with this cheesecake.

Caramel macchiato

Bag of Beans, Tagaytay

We went home at around 5pm and even if there was a bit of traffic, the tawilis we carried for take out kept us company. It's the nearest getaway available that wouldn't compromise you the feeling of being away from all the negative buzz of life. Next time you're in Tagaytay, don't forget to eat blueberry cheesecake at Bag of Beans, try horseback riding at Picnic Grove, and eat bulalo at... well, Bulalo Point.

Happy travels!

Love,

Faye

A visit to Anawangin Cove

Last 2013, I had a few mini getaways as well which includes a trip to Zambales to check out Anawangin Cove. I was just a push over for that trip since it was originally my Mom, the boyfriend, and the friends. However, since I was in dire need to get out of the house and do something, I decided to join them and see for myself if the cove was really worth the 5-6 hours trip.

So we hopped on the car and traveled to Zambales at around 9 in the evening. Arrived there at around 2 or 3am and got some sleep. Along the way, we stopped over at McDonald's Subic for snacks which was by the way, one of the cutest branches I've seen! It was probably because of the paint on the walls. I'd love to show you but for some reason the only photos I can post here are landscape photos... It sucks I know I should probably fix it soon! 

Anyway, so we woke up the next day at around 7am to go to Pundaquit where we are going to ride the boat to Anawangin. It was just a day trip since we don't have much time (I'm with working people and I am working as well so yeah). The boatman was supposed to charge us P2,500 for round trip service but since I am with the oldies, they bargained and bargained and finally made it to P2,000. Technically, it was P200 each since we were 10 in the group. Just across the street going to the port, you will see a market. That's where we bought our food for the day. We had chicken, tuna, and rice. No need to bring your own cooking tools. You can rent there and just pay for a minimal amount. I suggest you bring disposable utensils if you are not comfortable using borrowed ones.

On the way to Anawangin Cove

The water was really calm on the way there so no need to worry. And to add it up, Anawangin has a great scenery. The sea and it's gray sand, the cove, and the sloping hills on the side. It was a sure hit for campers. If you want to have a solitary time with the sea, and just regain your piece of mind, Anawangin is a great place for you. But if you came for swimming, I don't think you'll be happy with it. Unless you're okay with swimming in the cove your whole stay. The water's cool and it's really inviting for a dip!

I just had to show you our very yummy tuna for lunch :p

A panoramic shot of the cove

Anawangin Cove

If you ask me, it's a great place for an escape and an overnight camp. No cellular signal, just you, the sea, and a great company. But you can miss out on it and check other places instead. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time at Anawangin, although since I value honesty on my blog, I should prolly tell you beforehand that it's not really a must-see.

Oh and one more thing, once you ride a boat, inform them that you want to stay at the campers and cove area because they might intentionally dock you on the other side since there are sort of 2 'resorts' in the area.

Happy travels!

Love,

Faye

Cebu and how it's so much better the second time around

As promised, I am back to share our Day 2 in Cebu with you today. I might as well put Day 3 (if it doesn't get too long again lol) After our dinner at Skywalk for Day 1, we decided that we would go to Badian to check out the Kawasan Falls and get back to the city by afternoon so we can go to Casa Verde for dinner.

We woke up at around 5:30am to prep and left at around 6 so we can catch the bus going to Badian. Travel time is maximum of 4 hours composed of the multicab to the terminal, bus ride going to Badian, and the hike/walk to the falls. Just go to South Bus Terminal and ride a bus with the Badian signboard, ask them to drop you off at Kawasan (you can also sit by the window so you can check the signs, it's easy to spot), then walk to the falls. It took us 30 minutes to get there and we did hire a guide because we thought the trail was not easy to follow but it actually is. So to save you the money, might as well just follow the people walking through. After 30 minutes, voila! Kawasan Falls will welcome you with it's fresh turquoise water and a magnificent view.

On the way to the falls

Kawasan Falls

There are several huts that you can rent and food to order in case you didn't bring packed lunch. It's quite expensive though so if I were you, just buy food at one of the stop overs you'll encounter along the way. If you want them to bring you near the falls, you can rent a balsa, and ask someone to assist you. On our case, the guide offered to assist us for P300. He can also bring you on one of the spots so you can cliff dive. Not too high but it's definitely worth a try.

Celine, Me, Eds, and Marianne

By that time I was still a scared swimmer so I wasn't brave enough to try. The water was 60 feet deep and it was really inviting I actually did regret upon realizing I didn't even swim and we're about to go home. I swore to myself after that that I'll practice swimming so that next time, I won't be a coward sitting and waiting anymore. Anyway... We decided to go after eating our lunch so we can swing by the beach just opposite of Kawasan Falls. It's not a resort or anything we just had to go YOLO(w). And the beach wasn't bad at all. It's actually good!

Beach opposite of Kawasan Falls

We had a short swim and asked the house nearby if we could use their comfort room so we can freshen up before going back to the city. They agreed and we offered to just give them P20 each for water. We left at around 4pm and arrived at the city around 7. We went straight to Ayala Mall since that is the nearest branch of Casa Verde to our hotel. The serving was big and they were not kidding when they said the food was good! We had the king-size burger which I forgot the actual name, the giant milkshake good for 4-6 persons, and ribs!

Ayala Mall Cebu

The giant milkshake

(I think it was named bad ass milkshake or something...)

The king size burger (we weren't even able to finish half of it)

Ribs, rice, and veggie mix on the side

It was good value for the money. You should not miss Casa Verde when you're in Cebu. At all!

So after dinner, we went back to the hotel and slept. No baths, no changing of clothes, just sleeping. Straight. Woke up the next day at 6am since we are meeting our boatmen and tour guide for island hopping at 8. We paid 1,800 each for the tour including food and boat rental. If you are interested to get their services, you can text Kuya Jun (09237389177). The package is quite expensive considering it doesn't include the entrance fee to the islands but I consider it fair since the boat is big (it has a toilet!!!), it's private, and the islands they brought us to were all gorgeous.

Snorkeling at Gilutongan Island

Nalusuan Island Marine Sanctuary

If you ask me, the P1,800 we paid was worth it. Such a downer that we don't have an underwater camera but man, the marine life in Nalusuan was majestic! You would see a lot of fishes and it was such a sight. Pity I couldn't describe it well but that's another reason why you should go to Cebu and check it out!

We went back to Mactan at around 3pm and since we don't know where to take a bath and even if there was a CR near, it wasn't exactly the one you are hoping for especially if you're someone with bathroom issues, I recommend you take a bath somewhere else. So we took a walk going to the nearby Plantation Bay Resort and tried our luck if they have decent comfort rooms where we can take a bath since one of my friends might faint at the sight of a dirty CR. They said we have to pay for it and when we asked for how much, it was just waaaaaaay too expensive. We rode a cab instead, told the driver our mini problem, and he offered to take us to Portofino Beach Resort where the place to take a bath was literally just a shower and two walls on the side. Honestly, he just made it worse but whatever we can't go else where since we are already on the buzz and we have a flight to catch at 7.

He also offered us to make him a private service for the day so he can take us to the Taoist Temple and nearby souvenir shops. We agreed and paid him P1,300 for that. Unfortunately, the Taoist Temple was closed during Sundays. But good news is, at least we had a picture to keep! Another reason to come back.

Taoist Temple

We were running when we reached the airport at exactly 7. If I'm not mistaken the flight was 7:45. It was a good trip to Cebu and even if we didn't have an itinerary to follow and we missed the whale sharks at Oslob, I was actually able to go to more places than when I first visited. We'll be going back for Sinulog this January 2015 and I'm not going to miss Bantayan Island and Oslob this time around!

Happy travels!

Love,

Faye