9/6/10
I just had an overnight trip to the islands of Camotes and I can say that the trip was very fulfilling. If your looking for a beautiful yet peaceful location to unwind and relax, Camotes is the right choice. It's sad to say that we were not able to fully enjoy the beauty of the islands since we did not have enough time to really tour around it. But still, I'm glad we were able to enjoy our visits with two beach resorts, one cave, and one lake. It's like a little Camiguin. Like an undiscovered paradise. =)
We had our overnight stay at Mangodlong Rock Resort and had a good night sleep there. =) It's the most popular resort there and no doubt about it cause the resort has a really nice feel to it. They have three types of accomodations---Beach Front, Coco Grove, and Casitas. The Beach Front costs P1950.00 and is good for 4 persons. Not bad for a deluxe room with cool ambiance. We got it for P1600.00 since they had an on-going discount until September 30. The room is complete with air-con, lavatory, and TV. Coco Grove is at P1700.00 and Casitas is at P1000.00
The white sand beach at Mangodlong is pure bliss. The scenic landscape complements the sandy shores. I was not actually able to bathe in its waters. However, my friend told me that although the waters seem really pleasant, the sands could actually seep into your pores cause it's really really grainy. And sea floor is kinda rocky so it's not that pleasurable to walk in it unlike the beach in Santiago.
Our next stop was Santiago Beach Resort. We got a glimpse of the insides of the resort and we were kinda disappointed cause the pool there was so much nicer compared to the pool in Mangodlong. Anyhow, the place is also nice and I think it's larger and more expensive compared to Mangodlong. But for the beach, we had to take a different route since the resort is kinda on a hill and there seems to be no smooth pathway towards the sandy beach. We bathe on the beach under the sun there and it was delectable. The waters are so nice and the sea floor was pure sand so it had a nice feel to it.
After that, we took a really really long ride to Timubo Cave. I was kind of surprised when we arrived there since we passed corn/rice fields. I wondered where the heck is the cave? I was kind of imagining it to be on the ground level just like one cave I visited on the border between Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro city. It was full of trees. Then I realized that the cave was really really underground. It was like a cave amidst the fields. Then we went further down the cave. Really further. It was gradually going down. It had a scary feel to it. It's like a forsaken place or something. But at the end of the cave, it was like paradise. The water is very cool and clear and clean. Like no one has ever been there before. It's like spring. This was the most enticing tourist spot among all the places I have visited there. It was like a place in one of my dreams. Too bad the waters are deep so I wasn't really able to enjoy it since I can't swim. :-S
Last but not the least, we visited Danao Lake happens to be the largest lake in the Philippines. Actually we visited Lake Danao Park. ;) The whole place is beautiful! So serene and so calm. A really nice place to unwind and relax. There's a SAKANAW ride there which lets tourists travel around the lake for a closer view of the lake's surroundings. However, we were not able to ride it since we lack the time plus it would have been better if we were many since the ride can comprise 10 people for P500.00.
8/2/10
Whew! Finally got to my second home and I feel so exhausted. Just got back from the airport and I'm a bit dizzy. O.o (I guess I prefer liners than airplanes for that matter. I get to walk around and sleep comfortably in a ship. I would love to experience getting aboard cruise liners soon. :)
Anyway, I just want to share my first travel experience in a different place from my working place and hometown without my parents! :) I was traveling with only my sister and her friends and it was both an exciting and exhausting experience. Lots of things happened. Good. Bad. But all the while, it was amazing and probably one of the most memorable experiences I've had in my life (for now...)!
In just 5 days, I was able to pass by around 6 different places, was able to stay in 3 different houses, 1 condo unit (but just a little while), 5 shopping centers/malls, and 1 amusement park. I was able to ride my first train ride as well. Heheh. Uhm...most of the things I will share here are my firsts so pardon me for my ignorance. Lol. xD
The first part of our trip unfortunately did not go very well. Like the Filipinos that we are, time is not our side. We are in a hurry as we went to catch our flight and thus, I forgot to bring a few essentials. So advice number 1 (well for people like me...): Always make a list of things that you will bring in for your trip so that you can make sure that you have all the things that you need. You can also consult your list when you're about to travel back so that you will not leave some things behind.
That situation alone was enough to start me off at a bad mood. I was feeling really excited about the whole thing and well...it kind of disappeared a little bit. It was even worsened by the fact that I had to check in my baggage due to large liquids and our flight was set up to have no check in baggages. I didn't know that large liquids are not allowed to be carried in! >.<
So we were already in the plane and my excitement is slowly creeping in. Everything went fine until something happened that really changed the course of our trip as well as making it easier and safer. Let's just say it was kind of a blessing in disguise. Like you want to ask why is this happening (in a bad way) and at the same time you're grateful that it happened. The bad thing about the incident was that someone who smelled alcohol in the face was making unnecessary advances to my sister! I was really dumbfounded when it happened. I did not know what to do. Even my sister did not know what to do. It was very awful! And somehow, that made me thinking that this ain't gonna be an easy-going trip. We have to be extra cautious and careful at all times. And, like my mom said, never give your full trust to strangers. But actually there are two kinds of strangers. Strangers who are good and strangers who are bad. So maybe that kind of rule depends. It's just a matter of knowing who offers genuine help!
It really pays to know the do's and don'ts of establishments. Sigh. How was I suppose to know. Anyway, because of that, we had to pay some extra money just so we can continue on with our flight. Tsk2x So advice number 2: Don't bring large liquids if you are going on a trip on an Econo-Light Flight (no check in baggages).
So we were already in the plane and my excitement is slowly creeping in. Everything went fine until something happened that really changed the course of our trip as well as making it easier and safer. Let's just say it was kind of a blessing in disguise. Like you want to ask why is this happening (in a bad way) and at the same time you're grateful that it happened. The bad thing about the incident was that someone who smelled alcohol in the face was making unnecessary advances to my sister! I was really dumbfounded when it happened. I did not know what to do. Even my sister did not know what to do. It was very awful! And somehow, that made me thinking that this ain't gonna be an easy-going trip. We have to be extra cautious and careful at all times. And, like my mom said, never give your full trust to strangers. But actually there are two kinds of strangers. Strangers who are good and strangers who are bad. So maybe that kind of rule depends. It's just a matter of knowing who offers genuine help!
Anyway, because of that incident, we were able to meet a good kind of stranger. I can really feel her sincerity when she told us how she felt when that awful man was making advances to my sister. She was angry by what the man did and even suggested on spilling her hot coffee on that man! Tsk2x. O.o. She even asked us if we knew the guy since he was casually doing things as if he knows us. I was simply dumbfounded when it happened and I was really glad that someone came to our aid and offered help. I can really feel the sincerity of her help and never did I think of awful things about the help she offered. She even offered to give us a ride and even offered for us to sleep in their condo! Whew! Just like my sister said, it is very very rare to meet people like these who offer genuine help to strangers (like us in this case) especially in a bustling place like Manila were very bad people are prevalent (ehhh...compared to other provinces perhaps?O.o). She even told us about places to see in Manila. Of course there's the Mall of Asia then historical places like Intramuros (unfortunately, I wasn't able to go to this place), and then Rockwell (where the rich and famous usually hang out) and a shopping centre nearby their place called Serendra. From among the places she mentioned, I was only able to go to Mall of Asia and I can say that I have almost toured the whole mall in more than 5 hours! Lol! I was able to walk around the whole department store and was crossing back and forth between the main part of the mall and the second part. I feel like I'm already familiar with the place. Hehe. I just love strolling in the mall even when I don't have anything to buy! (but I can't help it I still did make little unnecessary purchases while window shopping!) But, I have this wild idea of tasting food of each of the food establishment/stall there and buying even at least one kind of item of each store (probably the cheapest xD) there if given the opportunity. Hehe. Sometimes I get really carried away. xD The one store that I really wish would be available here in Cebu is the Comic Alley! (maybe I can do a franchise of it? xD) It's sort of an Anime Shop where you can buy all sorts of Anime stuff and it feels like a haven! Lol! I love the place! Even if it's small (I wish it was bigger), I like to go back there and just stare at the pretty things. xD There were anime posters, cellphone holders, necklaces, CDs, bags, etc. And all of them are Anime-themed! And well, I made some little unnecessary purchases in there since I know I won't be able to find those stuff in Cebu. Hihi. xD I was also able to experience the cinema there as well and I was disappointed because I expected. It's human nature so pardon me. I was disappointed by the fact that since it's like THE Mall of Asia, I was expecting that the cinema was larger (compared to some cinemas in Cebu). I even got into an argument with a friend when I expressed my disappointment about it. Oh well...people differ. We watched Salt and it's mind-blowing! xD Uhm..that will be another post. xD One thing I missed going about at MoA was the skating rink. :[ Too bad I wasn't able to glide on ice. It was like one of the things I've dreamed of doing! Lol! Oh, and thanks to Ms. Grace Ty for all the help she has given us. Hopefully we can lend a helping hand to her to repay her kindness. Just by what she did makes us want to pay the good deed forward to other people as well. It is really a nice feeling to meet a stranger who offers genuine and sincere help.
Well, that's just the first part of my travel and it's already sooo long. I really write a lot when it comes to stuff like these (my ideas and thoughts are really mixed so pardon me if I jump from one topic to another in a single paragraph). Probably I'll be the only ones who's going to read it because it's really long and probably boring. Hehe. But I dunno. I just want to write out my travels (from now on) especially now that I feel like my dream is gradually taking into shape. Hehe. I'll probably write the latter parts of my trip there when I have time and when I feel like writing them. Just the fact that I've been to 6 different places is enough to make me feel so relieved and happy and good. It's a really good experience. Traveling eases my soul and gives me a calm and good feeling. It's like I'm free and not tied or restricted to anything. No boring routines of life. Hehe. xD Anyway, there are just so many beautiful places here in the Philippines that I want to travel and experience all of those places. Be it resorts and beaches or malls and shopping centres. Now what I need is a really good camera to showcase these places. Time to save up! xD
6/28/10
I wonder what it's like to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. It would be so ambitious and glamorous to live in one of these. So why are they dubbed the most expensive cities in the world? What makes them expensive?
Source: "ECA International"
1. Tokyo, Japan
(This is one of the cities that I dream of going to...gahh...*.*)
The strength of the yen has brought Tokyo back to the No. 1 spot on ECA International's ranking for the first time since 2005. In addition to the costs above, rent for a two-bedroom apartment for expats is typically more than $5,000 per month in Tokyo, according to data from EuroCost International. While visitors need more pocket money here than in any other city, the monthly consumer price index in Tokyo's wards has actually dropped year-on-year for 14 straight months as of May 2010, based on figures from Japan's statistics bureau.
2. Oslo, Norway
(europe...europe...when will I ever smell your air? =D)
Oslo rose above Copenhagen as the most expensive city in Europe when the kroner strengthened against other currencies. ECA International says an upward trend in oil prices, a short recession, and Norway's reputation as a safe haven for investors contributed to the kroner's rise.
3. Luanda, Angola
Angola's capital slipped to third place this year as the kwanza depreciated. Prices in Luanda have actually increased in the past year, but currency changes offset any inflation, according to ECA International. In addition to everyday goods, EuroCost International estimates that the average expat pays more than $3,500 per month for a two-bedroom flat in Luanda.
4. Nagoya, Japan
(when will these pictures become real?!...bitter... O.o)
4. Nagoya, Japan
(when will these pictures become real?!...bitter... O.o)
Japan's fourth most populous city, Nagoya is also among the country's most expensive. The city ranks No. 1 for the cost of rice: $9.14 per kilogram, according to ECA International data. As Japan's auto hub, the Nagoya area is an important center of business: about 44 percent of automobiles produced in Japan are made here, according to the Greater Nagoya Initiative Center. Such companies as Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, and General Motors have headquarters, manufacturing operations, or distribution points in the Nagoya region.
5. Yokohama, Japan
5. Yokohama, Japan
About half an hour by commuter train from Tokyo, this port city has active shipping, biotechnology, and semiconductor industries. Yokohama is one of the world's most expensive cities, but companies here enjoy lower operating costs compared with the nearby capital. Nissan opened a new headquarters in Yokohama this year and reportedly will sell its office in Tokyo to cut costs.
6. Stavanger, Norway
6. Stavanger, Norway
This small seaside city earned its riches from oil in the North Sea and has become known as Norway's petroleum capital. Stavangerexpats.com says food expenses in Norway are about 50 percent higher than the EU average: A can of soda is about $2.80, and a beer at a bar can be $12.
7. Kobe, Japan
The city has one of Japan's largest ports and has become home to many heavy machinery, iron and steel, and food product companies. According to the Japan External Trade Organization, 117 foreign and foreign-affiliated companies have offices in Kobe. As the price of Kobe beef, the style of high-grade meat named after the city, suggests, food is costly here, as are other living expenses.
8. Copenhagen, Denmark
A 2009 "survey" of 73 international cities by UBS found that employees in Copenhagen have the highest income. Places with higher salaries often have higher prices, but residents here enjoy good living standards overall. Some examples of the cost of living: Renting a DVD costs about $8 per night, a pair of women's jeans is more than $150, and a one-way ticket on public transport costs about $3.70.
9. Geneva, Switzerland
9. Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, home to many companies and U.N. organizations, is one of the most expensive cities for food and household appliances. Food prices in Switzerland are 45 percent more expensive than in the rest of Western Europe, and the cost of electronics and appliances in Geneva is among the highest worldwide, according to a 2009 UBS report.
10. Zurich, Switzerland
(isn't it pretty? :)
10. Zurich, Switzerland
(isn't it pretty? :)
Zurich, Switzerland's largest city, is the country's main business center and the headquarters city for many financial companies, including UBS and Credit Suisse. Although Zurich had the greatest number of company bankruptcies in Switzerland last year, according to Dun & Bradstreet, the inflation rate started to increase again this year after falling in 2009.
Sources:
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/109909/the-worlds-most-expensive-cities-2010
http://orchideesblancs.deviantart.com/art/Tokyo-71174469?q=1&qo=1
http://o-yama89.deviantart.com/art/Oslo-75194428?q=1&qo=1
http://digaas.deviantart.com/art/Luanda-74286893?q=1&qo=1
http://jyoujo.deviantart.com/art/Nagoya-castle-111545813?q=1&qo=1
http://h1lle.deviantart.com/art/Stavanger-at-Night-72128585?q=1&qo=1
http://denkyo.deviantart.com/art/Yokohama-Bayside-153701723?q=1&qo=1
http://strikethecamera.deviantart.com/art/Kobe-149573554?q=1&qo=1
http://artisthepassion.deviantart.com/art/Copenhagen-I-153258111?q=1&qo=1
http://drinkandwater.deviantart.com/art/Geneva-157457655?q=1&qo=1
Sources:
http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/109909/the-worlds-most-expensive-cities-2010
http://orchideesblancs.deviantart.com/art/Tokyo-71174469?q=1&qo=1
http://o-yama89.deviantart.com/art/Oslo-75194428?q=1&qo=1
http://digaas.deviantart.com/art/Luanda-74286893?q=1&qo=1
http://jyoujo.deviantart.com/art/Nagoya-castle-111545813?q=1&qo=1
http://h1lle.deviantart.com/art/Stavanger-at-Night-72128585?q=1&qo=1
http://denkyo.deviantart.com/art/Yokohama-Bayside-153701723?q=1&qo=1
http://strikethecamera.deviantart.com/art/Kobe-149573554?q=1&qo=1
http://artisthepassion.deviantart.com/art/Copenhagen-I-153258111?q=1&qo=1
http://drinkandwater.deviantart.com/art/Geneva-157457655?q=1&qo=1
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