Travel Savvy Chic

Owning Property Overseas

2008-11-24T18:37:00.000-08:00

Are you dreaming of owning a piece of land overseas? Yes, like a tropical paradise of your own or a private island which you could customize yourself... owning your own piece of property overseas could be very expensive. But if you have extra money, it would prove to be a very good investment for you.

At Experience International, you would realize this dream of yours to come true. They offer the best locations in which you can find overseas properties online. It is the best website for you to look at, especially if you are a picky customer who wants the best properties around.

Someday, I will buy a nice property for me and my family, for us to go on vacations... Until then, I could only dream about it...

Going to Rebucas at Nabunturan Compostela

2008-11-23T07:53:00.000-08:00

During hot humid days, people tend to think of cooling off to the beach or take a swim at a swimming resort. That's just what me and my friends did. We all went to Nabunturan, Compostela Valley. It is 1 hour and 30 minutes drive from Davao City. Nabunturan is known for its hot spring called Toyuzu, I will make another post for that in the days to come. But unknown to a lot of people, there is a swimming resort tucked away in the forests of Nabunturan. Rebucas, is a swimming resort, which has flowing water coming from the water falls.

Going there is quite challenging. Me and my friends went there and rode a tricycle. It is a motorized vehicle that can carry up to 6 passengers. The road going there is a bit rocky and filed with lime stone...

As a result, the tricycle cannot go up because of the steep road, they eventually pushed it...

When the pushing obviously didn't work, we all hiked...

Hiking proved to most enjoyable for me because I got to see a lot of plants and lime stones there

It is more convenient to go there using a 4 wheeled vehicle, or a single motorcycle. Going by tricycle is really not advised...:)

Finally we arrived at the site...

The Kiddy Pool is so inviting...

The resort is not yet well developed. The owners are slowly getting funds to develop the place. It used to be a privately owned resort for the family use only, but they have decided to open it to the public...

The resort has little cottages, and a conference like cottage. But there are no rooms for overnight yet. The owners are slowly making plans for further development of the place.

Going to the adult pool.

The pool is very cold. The water came from the falls so it is so cool and it is flowing so it is safe and clean. The maintenance is outstanding. The place is squeaky clean.

Me at the pool...

The only complaint I have of the place is there are a lot of mosquitoes... You have to bring a repellent lotion to solve this... Other than that, I enjoyed my stay there. We have more photos, I will post them later...

Page Rank...

2008-09-15T00:50:00.000-07:00

Yes I know this is a bit silly... But I just feel happy that I decided to post it here. Yes, my blog Travel Savvy Chic, already has 0 page rank... :) I know, you guys are laughing. But it is significant. It always starts with something, and zero is better than no page rank... :) I will just continue posting great travel places here... Hope you guys stay stucked...

Amanpulo, A Luxury Island Resort...

2008-09-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Amanpulo, a place you would want to go to if you want serenity, peace and a beautiful beach island getaway... Amanpulo is located on the private island of Pamalican, in the Cuyo group, about 360km south-west of Manila. Seven square kilometres of reef surround the island.

Many celebrities and high society people have spent their vacations there in the beautiful island.

The island is secluded, being private, and offers a variety of sea, sand and tropical island-retreat–pleasures, in exclusive comfort and in traditionally styled accommodation. Amanpulo or, ‘peaceful island’, honors its island host, respecting the natural elements with a profoundly ‘South Seas’ interpretation. The 40 Beach, Hillside and Treetop Casitas are modeled on authentic bahay kubo dwellings, each with its own golf cart for island exploration.

The island is specially good for romantic escapades, where you could spend time together alone, and marvel at the beauty of the white sand, clear blue waters and almost heaven like atmosphere. You can do tons of activities there like for those who seek adventure, there is always the water sports activities, diving, snorkeling and island hopping. The resort has a lot of amenities like a 30 m swimming pool, high tech air conditioned gym, tennis courts and a lot more.

For more information about the resort Click Here.

My life now...

2008-09-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

I am currently going through assessing my life's accomplishments. What have I done right and what I have done wrong? Have I helped people who are in need? Or just simply ignored them. I have truned 29 last June, and as I am approaching the age 30, I keep on asking myself, What is my purpose in this life?

I know I haven't done much. I made a lot of mistakes and learned from it along the way. I have renewed my relationship with the lord Jesus Christ. I try to pray and depend my life on him. I have a beautiful child that is a blessing to me. Makes me want to live my life more. I am not perfect, and I still make mistakes everyday. But I want to try and make my life more meaningful. Be helpful to others, not to be angry all the time, stop blaming others, remove all the hate in my heart and love the lord more than ever.

Hello Guys...

2008-09-02T16:25:00.000-07:00

Been busy at work, haven't found time to post anything until now. My stepdad just arrived from the states. So we're probably going out on a vacation. Will keep you updated. Ciao!...

Kadayawan Festival '08

2008-08-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

Yes it is the time of the year. August is the time for the Festival's of all festival here in Mindanao, the Kadayawan sa Davao 2008. For those of you who doesn't know what I am talking about. Kadayawan is a festival in Davao City, Philippines. It is to thank God for our bountiful harvest of fruits and flowers. We celebrate it every year in August.

Two of the highlights of the festival are the Indak-indak sa kadalanan ( street dancing competition) and the Floral Parade. Although there are a lot of events during the week long celebration, the two said events are the most popular. I suggest you don't miss it.

The festival, generates tourist from all over the world. Foreigners come and experience the way we celebrate our festivities.

Indak-indak sa kadalanan

Photo by Jojie Alcantara

Indak-indak sa kadalanan is a street dancing competition where people from all over Mindanao participates. There is a handsome prize for the groups that will win. The participants apparently practices what they are going to present months ahead. With a lot of groups joining, you will definitely have a great time.

People would dress up in costumes and perform steps together. They should all be synchronized and their moves should be unique. If you want to watch and feel festive the Indak-indak sa kadalanan will be tomorrow, August 23,2008. See you guys there. For more photos like this visit Jojie Alcantara's Site .

The Floral Parade

The floral parade, is the parade of floats that are decorated in flowers and fruits that is harvested from Davao. It showcases the beautiful flowers that we have and of course the delicious fruits that are available. The king of all fruits of course is the Durian .

Yes, I know a lot of people don't like it because of its strong smell. But actually once you have tasted it, you'll find it to be very delicious. Your visit to Davao is not complete without having tried durian.

Floral parade will be on August 24, 2008, Sunday...

I love my hometown. I have been to a lot of places, but nothing makes me feel more at ease. Davao is a peace loving and very beautiful place. Visit Davao for you to find out how beautiful it is...

Please visit the Kadayawan Website for more details.

Photos shown here are from the previous celebrations and I have just borrowed it to some people here on the web, for illustration purposes. I hope to have my own pictures this coming kadayawan... Will keep you guys posted.

An Island Called Siquijor...

2008-08-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

Siquijor is definitely the most misunderstood place here in the Philippines. All because of local folklore, ghost and witches that are vividly described in movies and books. Growing up here in the Philippines, that's one island I don't want to set foot in. Whenever people meet someone from Siquijor, they immediately assume that they are witches, ghost or man-eaters.

My bestfriend Ace and I, had this crazy idea to go to Siquijor and check if there were really witches there. But we don't have a clue on how to get there. So, we bought a map (very typical). Without any thoughts about anything, just went to Cagayan de oro City. Ace has relatives there, so we went and visited them.

There we have learned that we need to go to Iligan City to ride a barge going to Ozamis City. From there, we are going to ride a bus to Plaridel... We arrived at Ozamis late already. I forgot which part of Ozamis the bus driver took us. It was 9pm and all the townsfolk were asleep. We tried looking for a hotel or a place to stay, but all are in the Central part. So the bus driver took us to a very old house. All the people there were old, and the house look like a set for a horror movie, complete with casts. I was near freaking out. We entered the room it was all modern... In the morning we discovered that it was an ancestral house, Built in 1786... Forgot the name though... :(

I regret the part of not taking pictures from Cagayan to Ozamis City.

We went early i the morning to get to Plaridel, when we got there, the ferry was scheduled to leave a day after. So we got stucked and stayed at a resort there.

The day after, we boarded the barge going to Larena, Siquijor. It was a 6 hour ride. We arrived at night. Everythings dark. So I told Ace, isn't there no electricity here? Maybe it is true, there are witches here. So we both held each other tightly... Then a small portion of the island was bright. So that was Larena port. We went there and looked for Ace's cousin which she hasn't seen since she was 7 years old. Everything went fine, we saw her cousin Aguilo. We stayed at a resort and slept all night.

In the morning, we rented motorcycles. One for Ace and one for me. In Davao, we cannot drive because we don't have license, in Siquijor, they allow you to drive. Even rent a motorcycle, cause it's an island, you cannot run off with the motorcycle.(Our pictures coming soon)

One of the many beaches in Siquijor

We practically toured the whole island. We visited a lot of resorts and it was so magical. Siquijor's beach were the best. White sand, clear blue waters, just like Boracay. We enjoyed our stay...

Our Trip to Enchanted Kingdom

2008-08-06T06:47:00.000-07:00

Enchanted Kingdom, a place for the young and the young at hearts... Enchanted Kingdom is located at Sta. Rosa, Laguna. You can get there by riding the bus, they have their bus terminal located at Ayala Bus terminal. For ticket prices Click here.

Enchanted kingdom is like the Philippines own DisneyLand. First time I went there was with my Mom and brothers... We had a blast... We rode practically every ride there...

Been there about 5 times already...

Me at the bump car rides Ace and me having fun bumping boats

Ace and me at the carousel ride pose with mr. wizard

We had lots of fun here... Sadly we don't have pictures of the wet rides... I somehow lost it and haven't got it scanned... These pictures were from the digicam we brought. If you haven't gone there yet, go with your family or friends... It is really fun and your kids will love it there...

Enchanted Kingdom

2008-08-01T10:07:00.000-07:00

Went to Enchanted Kingdom about 5 times already. But every time I go there it is like a new experience. Enchanted Kingdom is like the Philippine counterpart of Disneyland, except it is smaller. But once you get there, it brings out the child in you...

To be continued...

Update...

2008-07-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

Haven't been traveling lately. Been very busy at work. My dad would arrive this last week of August and I am hoping that we would go to Pearl Farm... Will just keep you guys posted... Until then.

An Island called Camiguin

2008-05-21T15:00:00.000-07:00

My family, some friends and I, went to Camiguin for a vacation last January. It was the first time i have been there. We rode a van to get there. Along the way, we passed by San Francisco, Cagayan, Iligan, Bukidnon and so on. It was a fun vacation and a great bonding time with Mom and My Stepdad.

CAMIGUIN is believed to be one of the Philippines's most beautiful island - a virtual paradise - as the island allows visitors to experience a sample of untouched beauty in its entirety. Locked in the eternal embrace of the sea, CAMIGUIN continues its simple existence sheltered from and unfazed by the virulent pressures of today's accelerated lifestyles.

How to get to Camiguin?

One has to travel one and a half hours from Cagayan de Oro City to Balingoan, Misamis Oriental, and take any of the hourly scheduled ferries across the channels of Mindanao Sea, which dock in either ports of Guinsiliban or Benoni. There is a regular sea and air transportation from Cebu to CAMIGUIN and vice versa. Once in CAMIGUIN, one can go around the 64-kilometer circumferential road in just one hour and a half time through public or private transportation.

My brother, at the ferry going to Camiguin

Where to go when you're there?

- White Island

also known as Medan Island, it is one of the most popular sites to visit in Camiguin. This small inhabited white sand bar, with picturesque Mt. Hibok-Hibok and Mt. Vulcan as its backdrop, is located two kilometers across from the beaches of Agohay and Yumbing. The island, with a shape that differs depending on the tide, is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and shell collecting.

white island at my not most sexy moment, hehehe.

White Island at a glance

Motorized bancas (small boats) will take you there are white island, they could also wait for you till you get home. There are motorized bancas at the CAVES Resort or at the PARAS Resort which may be hired to ferry visitors to the island. Early in the morning is the best time to visit white island as to there are no trees for shade there. There are vendor's over at white island selling fresh fish and some cold drinks.

Sunken Cemetery

Lying 20 feet underwater in Barrio Bonbon, Catarman lies the sunken cemetery, the remains of a volcanic eruption. Coral encrusted tombstones can still be explored by snorkellers and scuba divers. A huge cross was installed in 1982 to mark the community cemetery which sunk during the 1871 volcanic eruption. A fluvial procession usually organized by the townfolk of Barangay Bonbon is held to honor the sunken graves of their forefathers on the month of November. Islanders bring flowers and candles as an offering to those who once were buried there. For those who want to take a closer look, there are bancas that can be rented to take you to the site of the cross.

My family at Sunken Cemetery

2008-04-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

Boracay Island Getaway...

White Sand.. Clear blue beach.. and a whole lot of fun in the sun. That's Boracay Island.. Once you get there,you'll know what I'm talking about. Through the years,it has been one of the Philippines top tourist destination. Most people go there to relax, have fun and getaway from the hassles of city life.

This island paradise is acclaimed for its talcum fine white sand beaches, clear and warm waters and world class amenities. The four kilometers of palm studded white beach is hailed as the finest in the world. The surrounding water is shallow and calm for most the year, perfect for swimming and all kinds of water sports.

How To Get There?

Take a flight to Manila. You may have to spend a night in Manila on your outward journey because onward flights to Boracay are limited.
Fly Philippine Airlines from Manila (Domestic Airport) to Kalibo Airport. (The flight takes 30 minutes and costs about 3,000 Philippine peso return).
From Kalibo Airport takes the air-conditioned bus to Caticlan and the boat from Caticlan harbor to Boracay (the bus trip takes 90 minutes and the boat 30 minutes; combined ticket Pp140).
Various charter companies fly direct from Manila to Caticlan Airport (Pp4, 000 return; 60-90 minutes).
As there is no jetty on Boracay, you have to wade ashore from the boat, so wear something suitable for the beach..

Things to do while in boracay

Boat trips around the island
windsurfing
diving
sailing
horseback riding
snorkeling
golf
mountain biking
Para sailing
Beach volleyball
water skiing
Fishing

and a lot more...

Boracay at Night

After sunset, the island transforms into one exciting night of dancing and partying. But don't take our word for it, Boracay is an island you have to experience yourself. A lot of partying around the beach. Dancing, live bands and events. Many tourist get entices and decides to live at boracay because of the fun that they have. So it is not just relaxing,it is also fun and enjoyable place fit for all ages.

Where to stay at Boracay??

WHERE TO STAY- please note that ONLY those that can be contacted directly through their website will be included here. I am not affiliated with any of this establishment and it is up to the traveler to choose.
RESORTS AND HOTELS

357boracay
Artista
Arwana Boracay
Alice in Wonderland Resort
Bamboo Beach Resort

Bans Boracay
Blue Lagoon Villa
Blue Lilly Villa Beach Resort
Blue Mango Inn
Boracay Beach Chalets
Boracay Courtyard Beach

Boracay Hills
Boracay Plaza Hotel Resort
Boracay Regency
Boracay Sun Resorts
Boracay Terraces Resort
Boracay Tropics Beach Resort
Bura-Akay Nature Resort
Calypso Diving Resort
Chalet Y
Discovery Shores
El Centro Beach
Fairways and Bluewater
Fridays Boracay
Freckles Resort
Hey Jude Resort
Jennifer's Garden Resort Restaurant
Jony's Beach Resort
La Carmela de Boracay
La Reserve Beach front Resort Hotel
Le Soleil de Boracay
Lorenzo Resorts
Mandala Spa
Melinda's Garden
Microtel Inn
Mulligan's Golf Hotel
Nami Resort Boracay