I miss Sydney

I and my wife spent our vacation in Sydney, Australia. Oh, that was about five years ago. It’s one of the beautiful and cleanest cities in the world. We enjoyed our stay in this city albeit for a short while only. I love the place; and, I am missing it already. I want to go back there and visit again the places we had visited – the Blue Mountain, Taronga Zoo, Darling Harbour, Bondai Beach, and many other exciting places. Since two years ago, we have started saving and planning for another vacation in Sydney. This time, we would bring along our two kids.

In our last vacation, we stayed in my sister’s house. But, on our next vacation, we would stay in a hotel. Fortunately, I found out about Accor Hotels City Super Sale. It offers reduced hotel rates in 27 cities across ten countries in Asia Pacific. It includes the hotel rates in Sydney. The other cities included are Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Hanoi, Manila, Mumbai, and Auckland. I would be availing of this promotion and save on our accommodations.

If you are also planning of traveling to any of these cities, you could save of up to 60% when you book online between June 23 to 29, 2009 for stays between July 10 and September 20, 2009. By the way, you could also avail of the record-low air fares across the Asia Pacific region. It means additional savings. Hurry! Accor Hotels City Super Sale is for a limited time only.

Planning your next vacation online

Dreaming for your next vacation with the family excites everyone. However, planning for it is a very tedious task to do. First, you have to determine your budget and how to save for it. Then, you need to get the concessions of everybody where to spend it. When and how are other questions you have to answer.

When we had our grand vacation a few years back, it was my wife who arranged for everything - from researching for the best destination our budget could afford, to scheduling the itinerary, and to booking for tickets and the places to stay in. And, it was a piece of cake for her. “How did you do it?”, I asked her. “I did it online!”, was her reply.

If you are planning for your next vacation, plan it online with the help of countless information available on the internet. You can research and compare for the best destinations and places to see and things to do when you get there. You can even compare and book for your transportation and your hotels online.

Now, wifey is already dreaming and planning for our next vacation online. I and my kids are looking forward for it too. I know we are going to enjoy again our next vacation.

My sleepy trip to Cebu

Yesterday, I attended a seminar in Cebu. It wasn't actually in Cebu City but in Lapulapu City, Mactan Island.

My flight was at 7:00 AM. Normally, I am at the airport at least 2 hours before departure time. But, this time, I arrived at the airport 45 minutes before the departure time. I overslept due to lack of sleep the night before. We came home from our Bagac, Bataan outing at close to midnight. As soon as I buckled up, I slept; and, I almost didn’t feel the touch down in Cebu.

From Cebu airport, I proceeded straight to the seminar venue, which is just some blocks away. It’s a whole day affair. I was very sleepy most of time; hence, I didn’t absorb everything that had been discussed. I’ve gone to and fro the coffee station for a countless times. I thought I’d drunk about a dozen cups of brewed coffee to keep me awake. I asked my companion to tap me whenever he saw me asleep.

After the seminar, my companion and I went to the hotel, which is just a stone throw away. We ate our dinner, drank a few rounds of beer and gone to bed early. My eyes were already closing.

In the morning, I woke up at about 7:00 AM and felt refreshed. After eating our breakfast, I packed my things and proceeded to the airport for my flight back to Manila.

Fly with me to Tacloban City

Last week, I traveled to Valencia City via Cagayan de Oro City. And, today, I'm in Isabel, Leyte for my second official trip this year. I took the early flight from Manila via Tacloban City this morning. The plane trip was smooth and sky view spectacular. Most importantly, the plane was on time.

I'm sharing the pictures of the sky from 32,000 feet altitude. C'mon and fasten your seat belts!

At about 6:00 AM

6:05 AM

6:10 AM

6:15 AM

6:20 AM

6:25 AM

6:30 AM

7:05 AM

Flying back to Manila

Last Tuesday, after eating my breakfast, I checked out of the hotel, proceeded to the Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City and boarded the plane for Manila. As usual, I took the exit row seat for more legroom. The ride to Manila was smooth unlike the bumpy ride to Cagayan de Oro City. And, the plane departed and arrived on time.

The three churches

During our four-day road trip to Bicol region last week, we're able to visit three churches:

The Penafrancia Basilica Minore in Naga City:

The Cagsawa Church ruins in Daraga, Albay:

And, the Lucban Church in Lucban, Quezon:

PAL, PAL Express additional flights

Starting tomorrow, August 15, Philippine Airlines (PAL) will service the Manila to Dumaguete route with two flights, morning and afternoon, and add a daily mid-flight (its third) to Zamboanga City.

On this same day, PAL Express will commence its services on the following routes with its turbo-propeller jets from Manila to Tuguegarao City (Cagayan), San Fernando City (La Union), Cauyan City (Isabela) and Ormoc City (Leyte).

The Ormoc route is good news for me! Our plant is located in Isabel, Leyte, which is just 45 minutes away. Before, in going to and fro Isabel, I either traveled via Tacloban, which is an hour and 45 minutes longer or via Cebu City, which is 2 hours and 30 minutes longer. The Manila - Ormoc flights, however, are not daily but four times a week only (every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). Tacloban flights are thrice daily except Monday, which has two flights only.

PAL flights to and from Iligan soonest

Good news to travelers from Iligan City and nearby Mindanao areas, especially west of the city! Starting September 27, 2008 (tentative), Philippine Airlines (PAL) will operate the Manila-Iligan and Cebu-Iligan routes under low-cost brand PAL Express via the Baloi Airport.

The Manila-Iligan route would fly up to four times a week, while the Cebu-Iligan route three times. Currently, going to and coming from Iligan, travelers must pass by Cagayan de Oro. Land trip between these two places is about two hours and a half.

We have a branch in Pagadian City; and, once in a blue moon, I go there via Cagayan de Oro City. With the Iligan flights, it would cut my land travel by about two hours and a half. Cagayan de Oro City to Pagadian City is about 6 hours by land.


Source: GMANews

San Fabian Beach

At the San Fabian beach, we spent three days during the Holy Week. San Fabian is a third class municipality of the province of Pangasinan, Philippines and is about five hours from Metro Manila. The beach though not comparable to well-known beaches in the Philippines, such as Boracay, Pagudpud, Bantayan Island in Cebu, Bohol for their white sands, is being frequented by the Pangasinenses, visitors from neighboring provinces and from Metro Manila. The sand is black; and the water not pristine clear. Nonetheless, we enjoyed our stay there. We enjoyed not only the sun, sand and but the waves as well.

Map of Pangasinan showing the location of San Fabian
(From Wikipedia)

Our trip back to Manila

March 10, 2008 – Monday. At 10:00 AM, we started rolling for another long trip back to Manila. I passed by a vulcanizing shop a few meters away to increase the pressures of my tires as we were loaded. Aside from the six occupants and our baggages, we were carrying two sacks of rice and a crate of mangoes.

Our trip back was longer as it took us almost 14 hours. We had fewer but longer stopovers. I even worked along the way. My boss called me up requesting me to review some important documents and he needed my comments in two hours. But I’m still four hours away from home. So, I just stopped over in a restaurant, took out my lappy and mobile phone, connected to the internet, opened my email and worked.

At close to midnight, we were finally home exhausted from the longer trip but safely.

Dalton Pass Viewpoint

On our way to Isabela, one of our stopovers was the Dalton Pass Viewpoint with Shed. It is located in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya right after the boundary of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya. The construction of the viewpoint was completed on December 1, 2000 during the incumbency of Nueva Ecija Governor Honorable Rodolfo Q. Agbayani. I have passed Dalton Pass several times in the past; but, this was the first time I stopped over at the viewpoint.

Nueva Viscaya side

The boundary

Nueva Ecija side

Our trip to Quezon, Isabela

Yesterday, we arrived safely to our destination – Quezon, Isabel. We left home at 7:00 AM and traveled for almost twelve hours because of the so many stopovers we made. I could not drive so fast because there are stretches of the highways that are no longer in good condition, especially the stretch from San Simon to Sta. Ana, Pampanga. We also encountered heavy traffic at Sta. Ana, Pampanga and Caranglan, the last town of Nueva Ecija, which consumed almost an hour of our time. The usual travel time is between eight to ten hours only.

There were six of us, me, Beng – my wife, Mamang – my mother, Jaja – my daughter, Elvie – my sister, and Jing – my nephew. I brought my Toyota Innova instead of the Kia Carens to accommodate all of us and our baggages and some cargo.

Land Trip from Manila to Zamboanga City

Jessie, my cousin who has settled in Zamboanga City, has been inviting us to visit them. Last year, we planned of going there to visit him and his family then explore this wonderful place. But, it did not push through. This year, we are planning again to go there but by land instead of by air. In this way, we could also see other places and not just sky and clouds. We would take the shorter Mindoro, Panay (stop at Boracay), Negros route in going there and perhaps the longer Bicol, Samar, Leyte route in coming back. I just hope it would come true this time.

Touring North Luzon

Three or four years ago, when Mamang, my mother, came to the Philippines from Australia, we toured the northern and central Luzon from Manila. Our stops were Talavera, Nueva Ecija - Alicia, Isabela - Quezon, Isabela - Penablanca, Cagayan - Iguig, Cagayan - Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte - Laoag, Ilocos Norte - Bantayan & Vigan, Ilocos Sur - Baguio City - Dagupan City - Balanga City - Bagac, Bataan. The tour took us one week to complete.

Now, that she's back again, we are thinking of repeating the tour. My niece, April, invited us to go their place in Quezon, Isabela for her celebration for passing the Nurse Licensure Examination. From there, I am planning of taking the Ilocos way in coming back to Manila. It's still a plan.

Elite no more

I just received my new Philippine Airlines Mabuhay Miles ID card downgrading my membership from Elite to Base Member effective March 1, 2008.

I have been an Elite Member since 2006. But last year, I did not meet the qualifications to preserve my Mabuhay Miles Elite Membership. I needed to travel at least 30 short trips to qualify again; but, I made 20 short trips only. Thus, by March 1, 2008, I can’t avail of the following benefits of being an Elite member anymore:

Tier-based bonus accrual of Miles
You’ll receive a 25% bonus on actual miles flown for all flights on PAL and Air Philippines (AP).

Automatic lounge access
You may relax in comfort prior to your flight departure in Mabuhay Lounges as well as participating VIP Lounges at selected international airports when traveling on PAL, AP and PAL Code-share flights using a PAL ticket.

Exclusive member reservations numbers
Special PAL reservation hotlines are dedicated to handle your flight reservations.

Priority reservation waitlist
If you’re on the waitlist for a flight on PAL and AP, you’ll be accorded priority when seats become available.

Priority check-in, boarding, luggage handling
You may check-in, board the plane, and collect luggage ahead of others on PAL and AP flights.

Priority airport standby
If you’re on standby for a fully booked PAL or AP flight at the airport, you’ll be given a higher priority for a seat on the next available flight.

Additional luggage allowance
You’ll receive an additional luggage allowance of ten (10) kg flying on PAL and AP operated flights (except to/from US and Canada).

SportsPlus Global and partner privileges
You’ll be entitled to the equivalent privileges of SportsPlus Global, including additional luggage allowance for sports equipment, and exclusive discounts and perks at participating partner outlets.

Extension of award ticketing time limit
You may hold award travel flight reservations for 4 days instead of the usual three (3) days.

As as Base Member, the only benefit is the accumulation of points for free flights and service class upgrades to destinations of your choice.

Pamunuan San Lalawigan Sa Leyte

The title is literally translated as the Capitol of the Province of Leyte. This building is located at the corner of Sen. Enage Street and Magsaysay Boulevard in Tacloban City – the capital of Leyte, Philippines. The façade is along Sen. Enage Street. It was built in 1907; and the seat of the Leyte Provincial Government. The incumbent Leyte Governor is Carlos Jericho Petilla.

In 1944, it became the seat of the Commonwealth Government of Philippines when the then President Sergio Osmena came in with the WW II Liberation Forces.

I have been to Tacloban City countless of times since 1985; but only sighted this beautiful structure last Wednesday. I wasn’t able to explore it then yet; as I was catching my flight for Manila. When I return to Tacloban, I’d make it a point to explore it.

I SHALL RETURN!

We believe we could fly

We believed we could fly like the flying Super Heroes, Superman, Wonder Woman, Darna, & Capt. Barbell, that we attempted to. But the gravity proved us wrong. And, we're back to the ground. We had just fun jumping up.

The flights were attempted at Camp John Hay, Baguio City.

Visit Ireland

As early as January, many travelers are already planning their travels and vacations for this year 2008. For those who have not been to Ireland yet, it is recommended that you consider Ireland as your destination or in your itinerary. Visiting Ireland can be done all year round, but the best time is from May to September. However, the peak tourist season is from July to August. In Ireland, you would not only enjoy the tourist spots but its vibrant night life as well.

The best city destination, or the entry point, is of course the Republic of Irelands’ capital city, Dublin. There are so many places to see in Dublin, such as the churches, cultural centres, heritage sites, historic buildings, libraries, museums and galleries, and many more. The popular tourists spots are the Guinness Storehouse, Trinity College, Dublinia, Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin Castle and Temple Bar.

The Trinity College

From Dublin, you can go southward down to Cork City, the second city of the Republic of Ireland or northward up to Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland. In Cork City, several festivals are held annually: Midsummer Festival, Film Festival, Jazz Festival. Its thriving cultural scene was named the European Capital of Culture for 2005. In Belfast, the popular tourist spots are the Ulster Museum, the Grand Opera House, Botanical Gardens, the Linen Hall Library and the Odyssey Arena.

If you decided to travel to Ireland and visit any or all of the above destinations, make your travel and stay more enjoyable and relaxing by getting your accommodations at Ireland Hotels, Dublin Hotels, Cork Hotels and Belfast Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offer lowest prices all year round from budget hotels to 5-star hotels. Visit Cheaper Than Hotels and find the hotel that is best and perfect for your taste and budget.

Serviced apartments vs. hotels

Visit Brisbane, Australia this summer! Brisbane is the capital of the State of Queensland and the third largest city in Australia. You will enjoy your travel to Brisbane; as it has plenty of interesting places to go and unique things to do. The recommended places are the South Bank Parklands – for its beautiful beaches and many more, the two botanic gardens, the Queen Street mall – for your shopping, and the Fortitude Valley – for nightlife.

When you are traveling with your family, in group, or staying for longer period, it is best to stay in a serviced apartment, which is cheaper than hotel. For Brisbane accommodation, Astor Apartments are the best places to stay in.

They are centrally located on the doorstep of Brisbane’s busy Central Business District, and walking distance to Central Railway Station, cafes and restaurants, entertainment, and the Queen Street Mall. All types of rooms are smartly furnished with modern facilities, air-conditioned, and with spacious rooms. Whether you are on business or on holiday, you would enjoy the comfort and convenience of a home at Astor Apartments – it is indeed a “A home away from home”. To make you stay more relaxing, you can treat yourself with a spa or sauna, swim at the pool, or just enjoy a sizzling barbecue while on the pool deck.

And if you go to Melbourne, Perth, or Adelaide, it is recommended to look and book for serviced apartments rather than hotels for your Melbourne accommodation, Perth accommodation, or Adelaide accommodation. They are not only cheaper that but your stay would be more relaxing and enjoyable.

Hotel Reservations

When traveling, whether on domestic or international destination, a traveler must find the best and perfect accommodation where he could stay comfortably and enjoy his trip.

In the travel planning stage, one should consider HotelReservations.com in selecting the best place to stay. Hotel Reservations offers hotels, motels, resorts, vacation rentals, bed and breakfast, condo rentals, etc. with cheap prices that would suit your taste and budget.

Hotel Reservations also offers vacation packages (such as flight, hotel and car; flight and hotel; hotel and car; or flight and car) and cruise deals (Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, and other popular destinations). If you are not yet decided where to spend your vacation, you can find in the website Destination Guides to help you plan your dream vacations. It has recommendations on attractions, up-to-date weather, and general information for your selected destinations.

Whether you are traveling alone or in group, you can find the best deals and competitive prices at Hotel Reservations. Book online or over the phone and get the Special Internet Rate Price Guarantee, which guarantees lowest rates.

If I travel, I would definitely book my accommodations with Hotel Reservations. I am also recommending it to my traveling friends.