When You're About to Fly Up but the System is Way Down

What happens when the airline system is down and you have a scheduled flight during the down time? It's an adventure and spiritual journey rolled into one experience.

This happened earlier this December. It's my first time to go to Siargao, a domestic destination in the Philippines, that is making waves right now (pun intended) with the local and international tourists due to its white beaches, fantastic lagoons, and waves perfect for surfers. This post is NOT about Siargao and how beautiful and vulnerable the place is. Siargao and all the places I have visited deserve their own posts - which I pray I get to write about real soon.

Manila

Our flight was around 530AM SGT* and when we were trying to do web check-in (you know, just in case traffic was really bad at 3AM), surprise! The transaction was not pushing through and it's the same thing with my friends who tried to check-in earlier than we tried. We also tried to purchase prepaid luggage like I always do just the day before the flight and to no avail. I had a back-up plan to just stuff my toiletries in my friends' bags for check-in but luckily my other friend, Kathy, who was sharing the booking details with me was able to purchase a prepaid luggage just before the site went bonkers.

We arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 and the line was heck long. It was like a stationary parade of cars going up the terminal. You can't just go down and walk so you had to wait for your turn. It was a way to kill 15 minutes of your life. All lines were crazy long so we opted to alight at the farthest gate (we'll all meet at the check-in counter anyway). When we entered the airport - OH DAMN. 

THE AIRPORT WAS UN-BE-LIE-VA-BLE. It was just before 4AM, mind you. When we were walking crawling towards Cebu Pacific's counters, it was like a physical manifestation of CebPac's Piso Fare Seat Sale. You cannot get inside. There was no information if the counter is open or not. There were no self check-in counters outside the "gate" and the staff was obviously overwhelmed and ready to call in sick.

Is there a concert we didn't know about?

I'm pretty sure there is a protocol when servers are down, right? So when we finally saw our counter, ground crew asked us if we have luggage because our printed itinerary didn't show prepaid luggage. We said that we were able to purchase before the site went kaput but we didn't receive any updated itinerary. We only have our confidence, faith in humanity, and a screenshot of successful transaction to prove that we gave them our money.

Ground crew was also distressed, my bag was beyond the limit (but I can just remove some stuff and hand-carry it) and check-in lady couldn't care less. She has more problems than my 1kg excess luggage. Here's the catch: our flight has a connecting flight from Cebu. So instead of flying straight to Siargao, we need to fly to Cebu first, wait for a while, then CHECK-IN again for our Siargao flight. Of course, my concern then is my excess 1kg. I was so naive.

After getting our boarding pass, surprise no surprise. The gate number printed in our boarding pass got changed. We also learned our flight got delayed and that there are no ways we can know if our flight was there or if our gate is about to be moved again. We had to be really alert, set aside some of our stories, and listen for ALL kinds of announcements. I was thinking about the hearing impaired and the senior citizens who were flying solo. No visual announcements and no mercy for those who were not able to sleep before their flight. There was also a commotion wherein a lady was complaining that she missed her flight due to the airline's negligence. She was really loud and irate and the ground crew acted like a sounding board and a helpless fish.

What a day to be alive! The sun is just about to rise!

Cebu

We were able to board our plane and the moment I sat down, I practiced again my newfound skill - to sleep immediately. I can't do this in water or land transportation even if I want to, but for some reason, I can snap and fall asleep inside an airplane. I have missed meals and immigration cards due to this. Haha. Still foolishly proud of this.

Since our Manila-Cebu flight was delayed, we only had a smaller window now to board our Cebu-Siargao flight. We went straight to connecting flights area and again, there were long lines. We sincerely thought all those folks are flying to Siargao as well, but nopes. When a friend used his authoritative voice, that's the only time we were entertained. So now we were manually checked-in again and surprise! Apparently, we're the only ones left! We got an unwelcome committee - a ground crew with a walkie talkie who was running the entire time. "Bilisan na po natin, kayo na lang po hinihintay." We had to go through the x-rays again and our names were called individually - my first time to get called. One tick off my bucket list! Tadah. And true enough, we were the only ones pending for the flight. I hate those folks - anyone who happens to be the cause of delay. And yeah, sometimes you become the people you hate the most. </3

It was an unwanted version of Amazing Race all because the system was completely down for more than half a day. What a perfect start for our Siargao escape!


*I just use SGT more than PST probably for work reasons since it's more recognizable. In any case, Singapore officially share the same timezone with us. 

Singapore 2017

Oh hello, forever late post.

February is a pretty busy month for the family - both immediate and extended. There are lots of birthdays and get-togethers so scoring a weekend for yourself is a big feat. There was a seat sale last year for Singapore and so I decided to just book some tickets and fly out for my birthday. This would be the first time I'll be doing it because as I said, it's like a mortal sin not attending a relative's party. The most difficult part here is that my mom and I celebrate our birthdays just one day apart and I booked my departure flight on her birthday. This meant that after her birthday salubong, I have to go the airport already for my early morning flight.

It was 3AM. There was no traffic and we got there early. I was with my friend and we were thinking how we're going to spend 2 hours waiting for our boarding time. We walked and walked and rode the lift and saw the lounges. I remembered I have Citibank Premiere Miles as my credit card so I checked with the receptionist if they accept it and lo and behold, "Do you have a companion, ma'am? Just please present your boarding pass, sign here, and we're good."

Free food! Free access to a little more comfy chairs! Free coffee! Free alcohol! Free food! And they have cookies! It's my first time to get into the lounge probably because I'm also usually just about in time for boarding. Haha.

(Citibank's memo online says that their contract with the Mabuhay Lounge is only until Jan 2017, that's why I checked with the receptionist first who accepted my card anyway.)

I love you, Mabuhay Lounge.

I waited for take-off and then I was off to La La Land. I don't usually sleep on travel - land and sea - but for some reason, I always now fall asleep on plane rides. There was even a time I didn't even get to see the plane take-off. Once I am at peace in my seat, I buckle my seatbelt, and my mind flies away faster than a SpaceX rocket. In case you missed it, I went to Singapore.

How to get away from Changi Airport
If you have a lot of things with you, best bet is to hail a cab or Uber/Grab your way to your place. If not, you can still ride Bus 36 into the city. Take the lift or escalator down 1 floor and you can find the bus stops there. Look for the number and check your stop. Note that you have to stand at the open area if you have a luggage with you. Please be considerate and don't sit at the prioritized seating.

Kopi Teh? Teh Tarik? <3

We stayed at Strand Hotel along Bencoolen Street. The place is nice and convenient. They are currently building an underground station for downtown spots and there is a station smack in front of our hotel. This will probably bring up the accommodation price soon but for now, we're good with this. It's around ~ PHP 3,000 a night for 2 people and the room is huge. There's a lot of space for your guests and a lot of unofficial chairs to sit upon. You can have a party and you won't elbow each other's faces off. There is a 7-11 and a Food Republic (like a fancy foodcourt which houses a variety of food) just across the hotel. The only downside is that it has probably seen better days. The bath tub and the furniture are not new and there are lots of scratches on the television. Not the best but I won't trade it for bunk beds.

Say hello to the trees. 

Met with my cousin and another friend who live in Singapore and by default, they felt like they needed to help us go around the place. Well, I showed them my itinerary and they said it was too detailed. I'm risk-averse and I hate wasting time getting lost (or confused). I might still work on how I can wing things, but definitely not on a foreign land with borrowed time. So we went to the usual touristy spots because why not? Gardens by the Bay, Merlion, MBS, Singapore Flyer, Esplanade, and dinner at Makansutra. That was a wonderful day.

Holy shimutznaosfeasf! Always go crazy with chili crab!

Aforementioned sights can be found in one area - so you can take the very efficient metro and you'll also notice that their escalators are also on the rush compared to laid-back Manila.

It also gets better at night.

Hello, birthday! It was a Monday and Chinese New Year just concluded so we were not expecting lots of people who will squeeze with us. We were able to ride all the attractions we wanted, even those we didn't want to ride just because we have the place to ourselves. No long lines, no long lines, and there were no long lines! <3 I also bought our tickets online from the USS site and there was a promo then aside from our discount, we also have free photos as souvenirs. Haha. Ready for a family photo?? Since we were notorious in clocking extra steps in our Fitbit, we also went around Sentosa Island. Needless to say, that place is very interesting!

Who's your Mummy???

Thanks. I knew celebrating my birthday at Universal Studios was not a mistake.

Food in Singapore is one thing they're really proud of. You can grab snacks left and right and you'll only go hungry if you don't have money. 

Food is life in SG.

Definitely one for my birthday book. :)
I'm still hungry and foolish.

Back to Boracay

This post was supposed to be up last March. 

It's my first time back in Boracay after a two-year hiatus because I chose to go somewhere else. Or maybe because I shifted companies and I needed those leaves. So, finally, I'm back for the summer! I was basically a companion to my friend who's a Boracay virgin. She loved the sand and the food and I think my mission was a success.

We tried the island hopping and I tell you. Snorkelling here sucks. It sucks. It sucks so much I thought I'm gonna lose my body to the ocean. Do NOT, I tell you, do NOT lose your money to the boats. 

The GMax Extreme would probably the one I'll be back for. Spending Php3,000 for a 10-minute experience might be too much but you know, there's a big appeal to screaming your lungs out with a possibilty of losing consciousness for a while. 

Boracay's sunset is still the best you can find, paired with white powdery sand and a glass of piña colada. If you have your significant other beside you, the scene is worth a kiss. 

One thing worth your money is paraw sailing. The sailboat gives a thrill of toppling over when it's too fast and when the boat is not balanced. They will sail you around as you watch the sun set. It's a very reflective, sentimental mood. The boatman allowed me to stand at the edge and then I asked jokingly, "Has someone ever fallen aboard?" He said yes. I was mortified and asked what they will do if I fall. He said he will fall with me to the ocean and the boatman will release the sails so the boat will halt. And then he'll help me swim back to the boat. I clung on for dear life after that story. 

Then we craved for lobster. We asked around and our boatman told us that our best bet is the talipapa. So we went there and bought lobster and prawns. Haggle some more. Haggle until you lose face. It's okay. We recommend it. 

How can 2 girls eat a kilo of lobster (with grilled prawns on the side) for dinner?

Would you eat that? Challenge is to think if that thing will scratch your
throat or is it the flesh already?

The sun, the sand, and the water. Add in some a lot of establishments and you get the best commercialized beach ever. 

No one's going to judge you (except your liver, I guess) if you decide to get drunk every night, especially if that's your way of appreciating Boracay. ;)

Taiwan, Not Iwan!

A lot of things happened in March and I was just not able to write about it, much less, give time to reflect on it. It was the first time I cried because of a trip. WHY? One week prior to my Taiwan trip, I was fixing my visa and I just had this fever. The kind of fever that doesn't show up in work and doesn't get read in the thermometer whether that would be digital or the mercury kind. I just felt warm and weak with that warm feeling in your eyes. Maybe it's just the summer? It was March anyway. I feel okay in the morning, then a little restless in the afternoon (I thought I was just getting lazy in the office), and by nighttime, I am down with a fever.

I just got alarmed when my mom told me that I might not pass the heat scanners in the airport if ever I proceed to Taiwan. OMG Taiwan Iwan got into my mind. I might be detained if I push it, and then I will not be released to the Philippines immediately. Horror stories filled my active and untrustworthy imagination. My dad accompanied me to the diagnostic clinic at Promenade and the doctor recommended that I take almost all the tests possible. The doctor said I was really warm but it's not showing in the thermometer. (Spoiler: I thought this was my chance to be popular, I am a carrier of a very mysterious disease. Apparently not.) Countdown to Taiwan trip? 3 warm days.

I started getting chills with fever going up to 39.9 C that Saturday. And then it was Sunday and the same thing was still happening. Countdown: 2 crying days. That was when I finally accepted I won't be able to go to Taiwan. All the work and money and expectation... Down the drain. My yaya was still hopeful while my mom was thinking of re-booking my ticket.

Then results came in Monday morning. I took the first pill and didn't experience any of my previous predicaments. I was up and about by Wednesday morning. And my flight was Wednesday night.

That was about it. :| I crammed my recuperation.

Taiwan? Success!

Taiwan is probably one of the most underrated places that Filipinos visit. It's one of the listed destinations in Cebu Pacific (read: budget airlines) and yet people are going all around the world and somehow skipping Taiwan. Ask around and people will give you, "Ano nga ba meron sa Taiwan?"

Apparently, there's a lot of things going on in Taiwan. Cheap food, night markets everywhere, cheap transportation costs (look at Japan's and you'll know what I'm talking about), friendly folks, no/cheap entrance fees, shopping (both cheap and branded finds), cherry blossoms, Taipei 101 (it's a requirement), historical memorials, crystal cabins/ see-through cable car floors, tea, milk tea, more street food, more milk tea, and national parks.

It's leveled-up Hong Kong and you'll wonder why you haven't been thinking of visiting Taiwan.
Because you should be.
And you should really do it.

Ding Tai Fung! They have vegetarian xiao long bao!

We really came to Taiwan for the PingXi lantern festival. We took the subway and one bus ride to reach this place where a lot of people lighted lanterns and watched them fly away. I had mixed feelings about this, because really, where do dead lanterns go?

It was a magical moment, even though it's not really
environment-friendly.

Wave Back and Forth - Baler, Aurora

Oh snap, man! I haven't posted anything in almost a month! Last 25-27 November, I ventured out with my friend to Baler, Aurora and it was a hell good of an experience.

How do I freaking get to (and from) Baler?!

For convenience, book via iwantseats.com.ph or pinoytravel.com.ph and score some JoyBus tickets. At around Php700 each, you get to ride at Genesis Cubao station and have some reclining seat (it's not LaZBoy okay, but it reclines and that's good enough!), a blanket, a bottle of water, a piece of mamon (we got Regent Ube Cake haha), and your own restroom in the bus. 

After 5-6 hours (depends on road condition) of non-stop travel, you get to be at the station where there are trikes that can bring you to your lodging. This is also the place if you requested for pick-up assistance. 

Getting back is the same. Remember to book your return ticket in advance unless you have time and money to spare. 

What to do in Baler?

There are a lot of sites telling you what you can do in Baler. I did all my research but the trike drivers know the stops where they will bring you. You get to pay Php600 per trike and the tip is up to you. There are falls, there are hills, there is a humongous tree, and there are islets and museums you can go to.

This is the view waiting for you at Ermita Hill.

One challenge is the Dicasalarin Cove. You have to be either part of a tour group which has a van to be able to go there. No trikes nor single motorbikes are willing to get there. You can get a boat though. Entrance fee is Php100 if you're staying at Costa Pacifica and it's Php200 if you're from elsewhere. We were not able to see it because it is ridiculous to rent a van when it's just the two of us. 

You can NOT go to Baler and NOT surf. That's like going to a Persian resto and not ordering Persian food because you're afraid to try it. That may not be a good analogy but I know you get my point. Bottom line: Surf.

Surfing is around Php350 per hour, board and instructor included. Perfect for beginners as the shoreline is spaceous. You won't get to kill anyone's brain cells when you fall off your board and get washed away. 

Where can I stay?

There are lots of places where you can stay! There are also lots of food options around Baler so it's actually worth a try to get a taste of what the shops offer. 

We stayed at Costa Pacifica because I was trying to impress my friend likes beautiful places. Costa Pacifica is a pretty gem in Baler. It's kind of pricey though, since you'll be out almost the whole time. The people are accommodating, we killed the ping pong table, the place/resort is beautiful, and the food is great.

The sand at Baler is fine but it's far from white. Definitely a surf beach, you can still do a lot of stuff with a long shoreline and a wide beachfront. If you have cruiser boards or longboards with you, please bring it. You can use it here. We thought we won't be able to use it and left our mini-cruisers at home. What a pity.

Problems we got from the trip? Muscle pain. Dang it. I'm no push-up queen and my shoulders hurt. It was a painful reminder of the fun I had. Hahaha. Baler is definitely the place to go to if you want to experience the sun, the sand, and the waves. 

Acuaverde - Laiya, Batangas

Still the easiest place to go to when you want a quick beach trip, Laiya, Batangas is a mere 3-hour drive from Manila. It just gets a little tricky when you reach Lipa, but it will be a wonderful ride as long as you can manage overtaking some tricycles and jeepneys which stop wherever. It's their place, we're just visitors, so shush and just think of the beach for some peace of mind.

Acuaverde was the chosen place for this trip. Our previous destination was La Luz and going there again is just plain biased. Time to choose a new spot! Acuatico was a tad too expensive for a day trip at Php 2,000+  while Acuaverde (under the same company handling Acuatico) offers Php 1,050 with lunch and afternoon snack and full use of their amenities. Believe it or not, our main question was if they had a pingpong table and when they said yes, inclusive of the payment, ZOMG, let's pack our bags now! They had beer pong tables as well - one that looks like the original beer pong table and the other looked like a basketball court. Set-up depends on you, as long as you get beer.

They also had Foosball and darts. The staff was really kind and accommodating, their bar though offered "kiddie" alcoholic drinks - I can't taste the alcohol! The restrooms were clean (major requirement!!!), had bidets (omg, I'm in love!), and were well-stocked with toilet paper!

See, we tried almost all of their items. Their table tennis and Foosball were very much utilized, then went on kayaking until the guard blew his whistle. Apparently, we were going too far from the shore already. (Haha.) He said their manager was shocked when they saw us really far and quickly ordered him to blow the whistle and call us out. The water was so clear and beautiful you just wanted to keep on paddling away! (We're not suicidal. The water was just really beautiful. So blue, so calm, and so deep.)

We also rented jetskis for Php 2,000 per 30 minutes (Subic offers it cheaper but the beach here is more beautiful anyway). This was a third party provider but just go down to the beach and you have the jetskis and other water sport items readily available.

Oh by the way, the area around Acuaverde is a swimming beach. The water is clear and you can just lounge lazily or even take a swim around. There are no painful rocks you might step on and the water was, I repeat, really clear. I was actually surprised the beach was this clean and nice!

It.
Was.
Amazing.
<3

The beach was wonderful. The sun was out, the sand was fine, and the water was inviting. It was a perfect day with perfect company. :)

Japan Invasion! Kansai Special

Oh. So we went to Japan last week. It was so beautiful and the people are lovely. Everyone should go to Japan at least once in their lives. You won't be disappointed.

Our Kansai Trip: Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Osaka. 

I'll blog about the trip soon (when, I don't really know).
And yeah, I love jump shots. :)

By the pond? No problem. 

Bamboo Grove? Of course. 

In front of Tetsujin 28? Yeahp. Got it covered. 

Universal Studios? Uh-huh. 

Sip & Gogh

Do you have an artistic side?

I don't. 

Seriously. It doesn't exist. If there is a miniscule of creativity in me, it camouflages to nothingness the moment I look for it. Practically gone. Or absent. Or forever in hiding. 

PLEASE don't try guessing which one is mine.

Sip & Gogh. Where you bring friends or lovers who want to try painting on canvas. You can mock each other's works (although this is not advisable) and drink wine because your pride just ran outside the building. Nowhere to be found again. You turn competitiveness into acceptable defeat. Your tears mix with the paint.

They have friendly folks there who can help you if you get stuck at "drawing" that staircase or want a color you don't know how to get from the basic ones in front of you for the 3 hours you have scheduled. They will get you paint that's in harmony with your chosen subject. You don't want to see color blue when you're painting an orange, do you (unless you really intend to distort it that way)? They also allow you to just paint on your own, without copying their sample works. Sip & Gogh can be your studio for rent. And they serve wine, too!

"OMG, I'm so excited to embarrass myself. How can I start painting here?!" 

Cagbalete Island - Quezon

And you thought I have never gone elsewhere. My new friends (from the office haha) managed to sneak in a weekend trip at Quezon. It's called Cagbalete Island.

The water was clear and very swim-friendly but when we got there it was low tide. Kayaking is fine but you can just lounge idly at the sand and let the water calmly bathe you. There is no electricity in the morning and scheduled it from 6pm-6am, just in time for you to get up without feeling all sweaty from the heat yet. 

We brought hammocks (okay, our friend brought 2, set it up, and the girls took turns on it) and lounged lazily. 

How to get to Cagbalete Island?

Ride the JAC Liner bus at Kamuning going to Mauban. It's around Php275 I think and then you ride the trike to the Pantalan, tell the driver you're going to Cagbalete. From there you pay for the environmental fee and the boat rode. Boat ride to Sabang Beach is Php50 one way and the environmental fee is the same. 

The boat ride takes less than an hour and  then depending on the location of your lodging, you can choose to either walk 2kms to get there or ride a boat around the island instead. We chose the trek to Villa Cleofas and just paid the kid-guide. 

The place allows you to set up tents if you prefer and they have a food area, too, if cooking your own meal is not your type. Or basically, if you're not prepared for camping, you glamper. 

Shooting Stars with a 9mm

There's always a new thing you can do but just can't because you convince yourself you've got no time for it. Well. Not really. Maybe you're just too lazy to actually try it or maybe just need a push from someone else. 

Or sometimes, all you need is a voucher or coupon from some legit groupon sites. The extra push comes with the expiration date so the mindset of "but I already paid for this sh*t!" actually works. Unless you're really into wasting money.

Stronghold Shooting Range is located at E. Rodriguez, past Tomas Morato when you're coming from St. Luke's side. You can find it on the right side. It's the new shooting range in town so they offer a beginner's course for well, duh, beginners. You get a classroom lecture and then 20 rounds of 9mm pistol fun at 5m and 10m. Plus they have a cafe at the lounge where you can load yourself up with caffeine before you go trigger-happy on the range. 

They pride themselves with being toxic-free but I don't really know about that because it's my first time firing a gun. Squeeze the trigger but before they say it, they clip your shirt first before they let you get a hold of that gun. (Why? It's because the shells might get inside your shirt and you go hysterical while holding a loaded firearm.) I really wanted to try the revolver but I don't think they allow that kind of request on beginner courses.

It was a fun (I'll admit it, it really was!) and interesting experience, so if you've got the time to drag yourself to try new things, a shooting range might prove to be a good place to visit. Another takeaway aside from the experience? Gun education. It's way better than reading about it on Wikipedia. Pew pew pew!

Marcia Adams - Tagaytay

Marcia Adams is very easy to miss, but when you get there, the place is made up of pure gorgeous. The pathway (slippery when wet!) leads to an option where you can sit, enjoy the view (or the rustic interiors), and feel the cool winds of Tagaytay.

"May sign naman po kami." Even if it's at the eye-level of a dog. -.-

Price starts with a minimum of Php700. It might be a little steep, but the food was surprisingly good and the serving is more than enough! You get appetizer, main course, and dessert as well. The prawns were good! The salad was good as well, but my sister said that the chicken kabab (although very filling) was on the salty side. Their desserts are okay, too, unless you pick the banana fritters which are... more common. There's also ice cream but why order ice cream at this 20-degree weather?

It's the current date place to be at. If you're a guy and you bring a girl here, she doesn't have any option but to talk to you since the food takes some time to be served.

Note:
Unfortunately, the place was not vegetarian friendly. The vegetarian approves of the scenic location but the food options lean mostly to the carnivores. Also, the mosquitoes are very welcoming and want to have a taste of your blood, so the servers have some job to fulfill by looking at your legs skin which is very delectable for mosquitoes and offer insect repellent spray for your protection.