Category: Let’s Go Travel

6 Days in Myanmar:Sample Itinerary for First Timers

Published on by iamjosemanuel6 Comments

I spent P 35,000.00 for 6 days in Myanmar, including taxes and plane tickets. I am sharing with this blog my costing and day to day itinerary for future reference. Hope this helps.

I did the tri-city Mandalay-Bagan-Yangon route with modest choice of backpacker’s accommodation, comfortable transportation and an appetite that is always full. Real talk, pwede pa babaan ang budget na ito. Medyo mahal kasi yung ticket na nakuha ko pauwi, like i booked late. Also, I went during Thingyan Festival. My choice of public transportation were limited.

For preparations and planning tips, read more on  —>>>https://iamjosemanuel.com/2019/07/21/backpacking-myanmarpractical-tips-for-first-timers/

Day to day itinerary (Detailed costing is given at the end):

Day 1 – Travel time. Manila – Bangkok – Mandalay via low cost airline. Arrived late afternoon

Arrival Area – Mandalay Airport. Blue bus leaves every other hour to downtown, which is 40 minutes away.
Bus Ticket 5 USD with hotel drop off.
View of Mandalay city center

Where I stayed in Mandalay — Ostello Bello Hostel Mandalay. Located just two blocks from the Royal Palace. Hostel has good reviews at Agoda. Ostello Bello is actually an international brand which also operates in Italy. Hostel has an elevator.

Ostello bello Roofdeck
Chill area at the roofdeck (6th floor). Hostel has an elevator
My first meal at a street side eatery.
my first meal. garlic fried pigeon
Street view along my hostel

 

Day 2 – Explore Mandalay City Center.

Kuthodaw Pagoda – A Unesco World Heritage site known for its intricate architecture and hundreds of brilliant white pagodas.

Kuthodaw Pagoda is known for the brilliant white pagodas

Shwenandaw Monastery – Interior and exterior is made entirely of hand-carved teakwood.

I was not able to visit Mandalay hill as the roads were closed for the Thingyan Festival.

Day 3 – Travel time. Mandalay – Bagan. 5 Hours by Tourist Bus (including hotel drop off). Arrived after lunch. Visited Shwezigon Pagoda – a 25 minutes walk from my Hotel. Explored Nyaung U district on foot.  Checked out the market and the Lacquerware factory,which Bagan is popular of.

Sun kissed Shwezigon Pagoda
Construction is believed to have started in the 6th century. … By the 16th century, the Shwedagon Pagoda was already an important Buddhist monument for pilgrimage in Burma
Lacquerware finished product

 

Where I stayed in Bagan —> Royal Bagan Hotel, located in Nyaung U, the commercial district of Bagan. I’m giving high reviews to this hotel/hostel, for their buffet breakfast (like real food, rice, local dish, noodles fruits and pastries). They also have a swimming pool. I paid P 415.00 Pesos only per night (Dorm Type-Shared room).

Day 4 – Whole day tour around the archeological site of Old Bagan. Hired a motorbike with driver because I don’t know how to drive. hehe. The rent agency is just outside of Royal Bagan Hotel. Prepare for a very dusty ride.

I will upload a separate blog for the must sees in Bagan. Wait lang, mga teh!

STRICT DRESS CODE. Bagan has more than 2000 Pagodas. It is quite expected that visitors will do multiple temple hopping in a day. Myanmar is strict with dress code and “no shoes” policy before entering. Modest outfit is a must. You’ll be asked to rent a sarong if you are wearing shorts. It is also best to wear slip ons or prepare a pouch for your footwear, which you shall be taking off several times; including socks. The concrete foot path gets scorchingly hot. Sometimes, you have to step on bare ground with sharp pebbles. Bringing of wet wipes and alcohol is highly suggested. Climbing to the top of the pagoda is strictly prohibited.

Day 5 –  AM – Mount Popa Shared Tour c/o a travel agency outside the hotel.

Mount Popa is the most important site in Burma for Nat pilgrimage. The Nats are spirits who have been worshipped all over Burma for many centuries. They were probably worshipped before the arrival of Buddhism. Since then Buddhism and Nat worshipping have gradually merged over the centuries.

Met fellow Filipino travelers on this tour.

PM – Bagan Nan Myint Tower. Enjoy the sunset. Not much people visit the nearby cluster of lesser pagodas. Bigger chance to take good snap shots without the crowd.

sunset view from the 13th floor
Bagan beef curry from the restaurant of the tower on the 9th floor. This is one of the best meals I had in Myanmar. kinda pricey, but the view is awesome.
This tower had been a subject of discussions, as some historians say this is a nuisance to the old world feels of Bagan

I already brought with me my Bag as I went straight to the bus station after dinner. Took the 7/8PM Min Thar Bus to Yangon. Overnight bus ride was pleasing, with international standard seat sizes and is reclinable. Comes with a blanket, pillow, bottled water and a vanity kit. Intercity overnight train is a cheaper option bit will take 18 hours or more. It was also unavailable during my visit because of Thinyan Festival.

The Bus terminal at Bagan. Around 200 Pesos tuktuk from the tower

Day 6 – Arrive in Yangon at 6 AM.  From the bus terminal, i hopped on Bus 31 to Yangon city centre, which is around an hour away. Bus stops at the city hall in front of Sule Pagoda, which is considered the center of Yangon.

Where I stayed in Yangon —> Wizaya Backpackers, located just at the back of City Hall. Walk in lang. and  they do not have a fixed check in/check out time, which was good, since I arrived 7 AM. I actually paid a bed just so I could leave my things and take a bath. I did not sleep there na as I am already flying back to Manila that night. It would have been nice though to have more time to see Yangon. I see a lot of quaint restaurants near the hostel. I might go back to Yangon mainly for the food.

I had the whole day to see Sule Pagoda, Shwedagon Pagoda and the local Market. There are several markets at Bogyoke where prices of Jade and other semi precious stones and accessories are cheaper compared to Bagan.

The Sule Pagoda. prominent landmark of Yangon. most city buses usually terminate here or nearby. From Sule Pagoda, you can also ride the RED Public bus that connects the City center to the Airport. Bus runs every 30 minutes. Red Bus is easy to spot, or just ask the police at the stop over.
Shwedagon towers up close
The main pagoda is under refurbishment when I went. It is said that the topmost part of this structure keeps gold and other treasures of Myanmar. A museum beside this displays photos of the treasures.
Most of the footpaths in Shwedagon are made of Marble, which absorbs less heat of the sun compared to concrete. Some footpaths are made of solid semi precious Jade.
One of the markets in Bogyoke. 

Evening – Travel back to Philippines via Singapore.

— End of Trip —

Cost Breakdown:

Related blog posts on Myanmar:

BACKPACKING MYANMAR:PRACTICAL TIPS FOR FIRST TIMERS Days in Myanmar: Sample Itinerary for First Timers

uploading soon :

Focus Bagan : Unesco World Heritage Site

Focus Mandalay : The Burmese Old Ways

Yangon Tour in Less Than 24 Hours

Burmese Street Food

Backpacking Myanmar:Practical Tips for First Timers

Published on by iamjosemanuel4 Comments

Myanmar today is quickly becoming a popular travel destination amongst Pinoy Travelers. Myanmar is VISA Free for Filipino tourists. And just recently, the City of Bagan, Myanmar’ cradle of civilization and one of the world’s richest archeological treasures, has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

General things to know for Myanmar first timers (plus other practical tips based on personal experience),

  1. FLIGHT. We do not have direct flights yet from Ph to Myanmar. I took a flight from Manila to Bangkok (3.5 Hrs.) and another flight to Mandalay City,Myanmar (2 Hrs.). Metro Manila is 1 hour and 30 minutes ahead of Myanmar.  My flight details are given on the next article.
  2. IMPRESSION. The country was under five decades of army-imposed hibernation during the later half of the 20th century. As it recently opened its doors to the world, Myanmar is relatively new to the tourism industry; though international standards naman ang facilities nila. Hotels are very good. Intercity transportation is established. Airport to City public transportation is well arranged. Myanmar is a mass of land that sits between India, China and Thailand. The Country is divided into 17 provinces. Mandalay, Bagan and Yangon are key cities, with the later as the biggest and most developed. Yangon, I say, is comparable to Ho Chi Minh, or Cebu. Cebu is actually a bit more advanced, I think, in terms of business and mercantile.
    Downtown Mandalay

    Downtown Yangon with the Sule Pagoda as the prominent landmark.
  3. UNIQUE EXPERIENCE. As dominantly Buddhist, Myanmar offers sacred temple experiences, historic cities and traditional ways of life that is totally different from ours. And unlike SG or Hongkong, konte lang Pinoy overseas workers in Myanmar. Relatively rare chance to hear tagalog during your stay. Spending days in Myanmar, you can safely say “Ayyy! Nasa foreign country talaga me! “.
  4. COMMUNICATION. Not everyone speaks english. Though personally, I did not encounter any communication problem. Most signs have a translation in english. Sim card for open line phones are also available upon arrival. Ph-booked pocket wifi’s also work well in city centre but expect to have little to no signal beyond the metro. Internet connection (Data Sim) is OK. Ph levels lang the speed. or slightly better.
  5. BEST TIME TO GO. Myanmar is hot all year round. Best time to go is during the cooler months from October to February. March and April are the hottest months and that is when I went. Awow! Brayt! Kung alam ko lang. lol. Yun kasi mura na ticket, that I bought on promo months before. My travel days, particularly in Bagan, scorched over 40°C.
  6. VISIT DURING A FESTIVAL? Myanmar reveres to its religious roots quite strongly as they celebrate Buddhist new year (Thingyan Water Festival) in the middle of April. During this time, locals flock Bagan pilgrimage sites to worship. As in, daming tao! Intercity public buses and trains, government offices cease operation for 3 to 5 days. Most tour agencies even take a break. Wala rin Hot Air Balloon Tours, which Bagan is popular of. Sakto, my booked dates fell on this, which greatly affected my Itinerary. Haha! Brayt again! So if you plan do an intercity travel with limited days, it is best not to go during the festival; or at least spend the whole 4 days in a single city. Hotels and most restaurants however, stay open to serve.
  7. STRICT DRESS CODE. Myanmar is a land of temples and pagodas. Bagan alone has more than 2000 in one cluster. It is quite expected that visitors will do temple hopping in a day. Myanmar is strict  with dress code and “no shoes” policy before entering. Modest outfit is a must. You’ll be asked to rent a sarong if you are wearing shorts. It is also best to wear slip ons or prepare a pouch for your footwear, which you shall be taking off several times; including socks. The concrete foot path gets scorchingly hot. Sometimes, you have to step on bare ground with sharp pebbles. In Mount Popa, I climbed 777 steps on foot. Hassle, but it is part of the overall travel experience for the books. Bringing wet wipes and alcohol is highly suggested. Climbing to the top of the pagoda is strictly prohibited.

    At Shwedagon Pagoda. Its good that most foot paths here are made of Marble, which does not absorb much heat compared to concrete.
  8. FOOD. Food in Myanmar is relatively affordable. Standard restaurant prices are comparable to Manila or probably a bit cheaper. Cheap food/street food options are also available. Local dishes are not complicated. Mostly rice meals, noodles  and lots of vegetarian options (because Buddhism) with practical influences from neighboring India, China and Thailand. Myanmar food is not as spicy as I expected. Their meat curry is not the usual-very fragrant meat dish that I am used to. Will be discussing more on food on the next articles.
    Burmese Pork Curry
    green papaya salad
    This is actually samosa cut in to random pieces and topped with salad.
    random samosa. strong indian influence
    Burmese Beef Curry with lots of side dishes that I didn’t expect. This was from a street side eatery in Mandalay and was the BEST meal I had in Myanmar
  9. International food choices are available. But they do not have a single branch of Mcdonald’s today. I don’t know why. They do however have KFC in the big city of Yangon, but it is not popular to locals.
  10. Water however, isn’t cheap and free. Most restaurants do not offer service water. Sold by bottle talaga. The hostel where I stayed in Bagan do not have water dispenser. I bought pa from the market. 
  11. TRAVEL ROUTE. Most travelers start at Yangon and up. I, however, entered Myanmar via the Northern City of Mandalay. Bagan is 5 hours away by tourist bus. After Bagan, I took the overnight public bus to the Southern City of Yangon. It took me +10 hours. Overnight bus was pleasing, with international standard seat sizes and is reclinable. Intercity train is available and is actually cheaper, but is expected to take longer time. It was unavailable during my visit because of Thinyan Festival.
  12. TRANSPORTATION AROUND BAGAN. As the most popular site, I spend most of my days in Bagan. Getting around the city is mainly by tuktuk or Motorbike. Public Taxis are scarce.  Tourists can rent electric-charged motor bikes at at low price (around 250-400 Pesos only per day).  Will be discussing more of this on the itinerary blog post.

    me trying to be pretty despite the scorching heat

Follow up blog posts on Myanmar on these links.

6 Days in Myanmar: Sample Itinerary for First Timers 

Focus Bagan : Unesco World Heritage Site – uploading soon

Focus Mandalay : The Burmese Old Ways – uploading soon

Yangon Tour in Less Than 24 Hours – uploading soon

One Day Siem Reap City Centre

Published on by iamjosemanuel2 Comments

How millennials do “Last day in Siem Reap”:
✔See the town on foot
✔Check out the Art scene
✔Starbucks Afternoon
✔Visit local markets (bargain!bargain!)
✔Local Cuisine
✔Angkor beer
✔Pub Street the night away

Note: Millennial years start at 1981. DBS blogger @iamjosemanuel qualifies as one.
😋😬

Cebu Pacific Air flies Manila to Siem Reap 3x weekly. check schedule and ticket cost here http://bit.ly/CEB_SiemReap8

 

One Full Day Angkor Wat Sample Itinerary

Published on by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

Without doubt, Angkor Wat of Siem Reap is one of the most celebrated heritage sites of our time. For more than 700 years, it was the centre of the Khmer empire. And still today, it remains as the spiritual heart of Cambodia.

Built between roughly A.D. 1113 and 1150, and encompassing an area of about 200 hectares, Angkor Wat is one of the largest religious monuments ever constructed. For the adventure junkies and photo enthusiasts, the best way to experience the complex is to rent a scooter and explore the temples for two to three days at your own pace. However, with proper planning, tourists with time constraints can still enjoy the best of Angkor in one full day.  Tour starts at,

4:40AM – Buy Ticket 37 USD for 1 day . Should be bought personally because officers will take a photo of you. Ticket office is located 4 KM before reaching Angkor Complex. Ask police or tuk-tuk drivers if lost.
5:00AM – Sunrise Viewing
6:30AM – Coffee/Breakfast at local stalls nearby. People watch.
7:30AM – Angkor Wat Main Temple . Visit the four galleries showcasing well preserved stone carvings that tell stories of the Khmer royals and their religious beliefs (appreciate better with a tour guide)
10:30AM – Early Lunch at Blue Pumpkin just outside the gate (The Chicken Ginger si a must try)
12:00NN – Bayon Temple – Towers of the four faces of Buddha. (This place gets crowded and with tight passages. Better visit when everyone’s mostly having lunch)
2:00PM – Elephant Terrace and other lesser pagodas near Bayon.
3:00PM – Ta Prohm – the temple swallowed by the rainforest. made more famous by Lara Croft/Angelina Jolie Movie. (Do some shopping here at random vendors. bargaining here is really cheap!)
5:30PM – end of tour.

Expected Expenses for a day tour:
1) 37 USD Entrance ticket 1 day
2) 25++ USD Tuktuk/Tricycle rental
3) 20 USD Meals and coffee
4) Memories and stories to tell – PRICELESS!

optional expenses
1) 30+ USD – Guide -(PM me on facebook Biyahe ni Josemanuel for reco)
2) 40+ USD – car rental (in lieu of tuktuk)
3) 10+ USD – electric motorbike (limited use)

Tip: Visit Angkor National museum a day before the actual site tour to better understand the Ancient Cambodian (Khmer) history. only 12 USD.

Cebu Pacific Air flies Manila to Siem Reap, Cambodia 3x weekly.
check schedule and ticket cost at http://bit.ly/CEB_SiemReap8

Have more time in Siem Reap to spend? Check out the THREE DAY ITINERARY by clicking here.

Relaxed Three Days Itinerary:Siem Reap,Cambodia 2019

Published on by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

With all these promo airfares popping almost every weekend, it is now easier for us Filipinos to plan weekend getaways overseas without spending so much. Vietnam, Hongkong, Thailand and Singapore are nearby destinations we usually visit, as these countries are just around 3 hours away by plane, and are Visa-free for Filipinos.

Aiming to encourage people to see beyond the usual, I am uploading a series of blogs shedding more light to a humble Buddhist nation seated between Thailand and Vietnam, which is the Kingdom of Cambodia (…also Visa-free up to 21 days for Filipinos and we have direct flights as well).

Angkor Wat, 2013. Taken during my first visit.

Two weeks ago, I had a chance to revisit Siem Reap,Cambodia. It was my second time to see the city. Still enchanting and deep-rooted as it has always been. Among our neighbouring Southeast Asian nations, Cambodia probably boasts the most intriguing records of ancient times. The Khmer (ancient Cambodian) civilization dates back 802 CE. The preserved ruins and temples tell a lot of stories. Written words will never be enough to describe a Cambodian experience. As such, I am sharing a sample itinerary, expenses and places to see in Siem Reap, with hopes on encouraging readers to include Cambodia up their travel bucket list.

Here’s a sample three-day Itinerary that may help you plan your weekend stay in Siem Reap. I made this itinerary as relaxed as possible.

Take the weekend flight. Cebu Pacific flies Manila to Siem Reap every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Take the Thursday flight out, and return on Sunday. Three days in Siem Reap is good enough. For proper schedule and ticket cost, click here.

Day 0 (Thursday): Cebu Pacific flies to Siem Reap in the evening. With this, pwede ka pa mag half day sa work and file a scheduled leave in the afternoon. File mo na din Friday. Don’t forget.

There’s an hour time difference between Siem Reap and Manila. You’ll probably arrive there at 10 PM.

Day 1 (Friday): Siem Reap is most known for its centuries-old Buddhist Temples,made more famous by Angelina Jolie in her movie “Tomb Raider”. Most tourists visit the temple complex immediately on the first day. However, I highly suggest that we visit the “Angkor National Museum” before entering the temple proper.  The museum’s presentation of Cambodia’s historical timeline is impressive. A visit to the museum will give a better perspective and understanding on the history of Cambodia, and on how and why these sacred temples were built. This is highly suggested for history and Architecture enthusiasts. Ticket is only 12 USD. Optional 5 dollars to rent a walk-thru audio guide in English, to further explain each exhibit you are viewing.

Angkor National Museum, 968 Vithei, Charles De Gaulle St.. This is located near the City Center and is not part of the Angkor Complex. Hire a tuktuk to get here. 1 USD-5 USD, depending on distance.

Late afternoon is a good time to visit the temple. Spend your hours at the Angkor Main Temple ’til sunset.

Three Days Temple Pass costs 62 USD per person (One day Pass is also available at 37 USD, and Seven days pass at 72 USD. Kids 12 and below are free, with passport as proof).

In the evening, you may opt to avail traditional Thai massage for relaxation. Casual street massage cost 6 to 8 USD. Spa setting or hotel service at 12 to 20 USD. Your hotels can help you book this if desired.

Glorious sunrise view of the Angkor.

Day 2 – Sunrise at Angkor Wat. Be on site at 5:00 AM to experience the breathtaking moment, as the sun shines striking colours and atmospheric effects against the spiring towers of the Angkor. Spend the rest of the day touring nearby cluster of temples built between 9th to 12th Century

Expect a bunch of spectators with you, as everyone wants a good shot with the reflection of the towers on the moat. Alternatively, you can just sit at a random nearby cafe and wait for sunrise with a cup of coffee. That is a better idea. =)

Bayon Temple. The most intricate temple with 54 towers, decorated with 216 smiling faces of Buddha.

Ta Prohm . The Tomb Raider Temple. (Sidewalk bargains here are the cheapest. Just haggle.)

Banteay Srei. renowned for its intricate decoration of carved sandstone that covers the walls like tapestry. Portrait photo by @Detourista

Tuktuk drivers normally charge 25 USD for a whole day service (Driver and car included). However, a trip to Banteay may require an additional 5 USD, as this cluster is around 30 minutes away from the rest of the temples.

After whole day temple hopping, spend the Saturday night at Siem Reap’s city centre Pub street.

Day 3 (Sunday): Shopping day.  Siem Reap local products are cheap. The main old market is the best place to haggle and shop in the morning. The Art Centre Market in front is also worth visiting.  For the rest of the day, you may just laze around the artsy cafes and restaurants while waiting for your flight. Cebu pacific has a Sunday evening flight back to Manila. Back to work on Monday. =)

Kandal Village – Artsy district of Siem Reap. Burst of color everywhere.
Chitchat with a local artist from the Art Centre Night Market
European Architecture influence is very still evident in modern day Siem Reap, as they were once a colony of France.

Rough Budget :

Where we stayed:

Crown Angkor Hotel (link here). Hotel pool area photo grabbed from hotel’s official Facebook page with permission.

 

Related links:

One Day Angkor Wat Sample Itinerary

Siem Reap Commercial District

Foodtripping Around Siem Reap

Japan MULTIPLE Entry Visa Approved! (An Application Guide)

Published on by iamjosemanuel2 Comments

Yes, bes! I just got my passport back from the agent, with an approved Multiple Entry Visa to Japan, valid for 5 years. And I am sharing with you guys how I was able to complete the process.

PAANO at SINO BA ANG QUALIFIED FOR MULTIPLE ENTRY?

As per Japan Embassy website, here are the terms and conditions for issuance,

(1) Applicant with history of travel as temporary visitor to Japan in the last three (3) years ; has no known violation of domestic laws of Japan nor had problem with immigration regarding entry and status during the period of stay ; and has sufficient financial capacity to support expenses for travel and stay. This is where I qualified. Kailangan makapunta muna ng Japan within the recent 3 years. I’ve been to Japan once lang last Nov 2018.

(2) Applicant with history of travel as temporary visitor to Japan in the last three (3) years; has no known violation of domestic laws of Japan nor had problem with immigration regarding entry and status during the period of stay; and, has several history of travel as temporary visitor to G7 countries (excluding Japan) in the last (3) years.

Screen Shot 2019-01-21 at 10.41.29 PM.png

(3) Applicant with abundant financial capacity, kahit di pa nakapag-Japan. This is very vague because it doesn’t say how much funding should be shown as proof. baka 1 Mn.

(4) Spouse or Child of (3) above thru affidavit of support. Ask your lawyer about this.

—-0—-

Now moving forward, here are the steps I did.

(Step 1) I tapped with a recognised travel agency for this application, since DIY/Personal application is NOT accepted by Japan Embassy.  The visa application fee costs P 1,700.00. I made it clear that this is not my first, and I am applying for multiple this time.  The agency provided my with blank forms to fill, though downloadable naman din from the embassy website. I spent P 1,700.00 because I am based here in Davao City. I’ve read that fees in Manila could go for as low as P 950.00 only.

(Step 2) Here are the requirements I’ve submitted. Basically, similar lang din as what I’ve submitted for my first application.

  1. Valid Passport
  2. Completed Visa Application Form  but check the (✔)Multiple option. The agency gave me a set of this. They also check/correct.
  3. 2 copies Colored Photo, 4.5cm x 4.5cm , white background with name,birthdate and signature at the back. most recent lang po pwede (do not repeat what you submitted for other visas)
  4. Daily Schedule in Japan or the Tazai Yoteihyo (to be discussed below)
  5. Bank Certificate (latest)
  6. Income Tax Return 1701 clear Photocopy for the self employed (latest)
  7. DTI Registration for the self employed
  8. Request for Multiple Entry Form. The agency gave me a sheet of this, which looks like this. download.jpgOn the bottom box, you make a statement on why you are requesting for Multiple. I stated there that I am going on March, and again on September with the family, and also hoping for the Olympics 2020. Your statement should make them accept that you have valid reasons to revisit. Make or break this part.

(Step 3) Submit documents to the Agency . Pay the fee ( P1,700 yung akin sa Davao). 

(Step 4) Magpa Novena ka na walang palpak sa mga papeles mo. lol. Sit back and wait lang. The agency naman  will most likely check your documents if they comply.

I submitted my documents December 15,2018 and got the result January 3,2019.

thumbnail

—0—-

Other Tips and Tricks:

(1) Ito ang Itinerary format na sinumbit ko for my supposed March 2019 trip.  Mock up IT lang po,no need to strictly follow. screen shot 2019-01-21 at 10.32.06 pm

(2) For employed, provide ITR 2316 photocopy, plus valid employment certificate with salary detail and approved dates of leave for the upcoming trip. Photocopy company ID also.

(3) Kung government employee ka, kailangan mo mag secure ng Authority to travel from your head (plus bring your ID) kasi yung Immigration Officer naman ng NAIA ang sisita sayo without the approved document.

(4) Airline Ticket and Hotel Bookings are NOT required. However, on the form, you will be asked for an address and contact No. in Japan.  I just gave them the address of the hotel from my first visit.

(5) When to apply? The earliest is 90 days before the intended trip. as per blogs.

(6) How much bank funds I showed for this? Around a 120k.

(7) I did not submit na PSA Birth certificate since I am a returning tourist. B.Cert is only required for first timers.

(8) The beauty of applying thru an agency is that they will check your documents and forms for errors and they text you for update so sulit na din ang fee.

(9) First time applicant? click HERE.

(10) For application assistance, you may get in touch with Traveloft Travel and Tours,Inc.

(11) Cebu Pacific flies from Mactan Cebu to Tokyo (Narita) DAILY. Click here to search for your best dates.

GOODLUCK =)

Japan Multi-City Tour using JR PASS. Sulit buhh?!

Published on by iamjosemanuel2 Comments

I mentioned a lot of times on my recent Japan-trip blogs re the JR Pass I purchased, that gave me access to unlimited train rides between major cities in Japan. During my trip, I was able to visit Kyoto, Himeji, Hiroshima and Sapporo, with Tokyo as my port of entry (via Cebu Pacific direct flight from Cebu City). Yes, medyo mahal ang pass, but I think I was able to maximise my purchase to the fullest. To give a better picture, here are some points to know.

Ano vah itong JR Pass?

  • The Japan Rail Pass is an unlimited transpo-pass for overseas visitors, valid for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group in Japan (with very few exceptions).
  • JR Pass is mainly used for Inter-city train travel, but is also accepted on certain local (city) train, some buses and ferry transfer. Basta JR Group na company, game na!
  • Train transfer from Tokyo city center to Narita Airport is also included with the pass.
  • The popular and highly expensive high speed 320km/h Inter-city bullet trains of Japan is also included with the pass, except for “Nozomi” and “Mizuho” bullet trains.
  • Pass is available in 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days (of course, iba-iba din presyo nyan).
  • There are two types of JR Pass: ordinary and green car (first class). Kaya umasta nang naaayon sa biniling pass. lol, joke! The difference? di ko alam bes! di ako pumasok sa first class.
  • JR Pass is available for foreign tourists only and is not available for Japan residents. As such, you have to purchase the JR Pass ONLINE, Days prior to your trip to Japan.
  • The Rail Pass is designed to stimulate travel and tourism throughout the country.
  • For Reference, here are the places I visited, using my pass. Saya, diba?

Where to Buy? 

  • As mentioned earlier, JR Pass should be purchased online prior to the trip. Most blogs usually recommend purchasing online through Klook, as they are the cheapest daw, at around 13,500 Php (ordinary pass) + Shipment fee. I tried to contact Klook but found out that you have to buy at least 10 days prior to the trip. That did not work for me.
  • Discovery Tours, the most popular Japan Visa processing agency in the Ph, also offers JR Pass. However, they require you to secure a visa first before buying.
  • I purchased mine via the main JR Pass website (click here to check) for around 14,500 Php (ordinary pass) with shipment na yan Fed Express from London,UK. I purchased this 5 days prior to my flight.
  • I purchased the pass that is valid nationwide. But there are other “Region-specific pass” available, say Kansai-Only Pass, at a lower cost. Contact the agency nalang for recommendations.
This is the Actual JR Pass that you should carry and show everytime you ride a train.
Inside the booklet. Lol, those stamps, I just collected from the tourist centres I visited around Japan. No relevance sa pass.

Points to Remember after buying:

  • Better purchase JR Pass earlier nalang, if sure ka na din naman with your visa approval. Na stress ako dun sa 5 days prior.
  • Note that these agencies won’t be shipping you the actual JR Pass Booklet. Instead, they will be sending you a certificate/voucher, which you will have to exchange for the actual booklet by the time you arrive in Japan (sa airport or any major train station).
  • Upon exchange, the pass does not immediately take effect. You can choose a later date that is more favourable with your travel program, like what I did. I arrived in Tokyo via Cebu Pacific and spent 3 days there. On my fourth day, I travelled to Kyoto, and that is when I activated my 7 days pass.
  • Mag install kayo ng Hyperdia – Japan’s Official Travel App. I was very dependent on this for the train schedules and specific stops.
  • Despite having the JR Pass, it is recommended that you still have to pass by the ticketing booth to get a reservation for inter-city travel. Meaning, may privilege ka to secure a designated seat, parang airplane. Reservation is very quick to do. And as per my experience, nakakapag-english yung mga staff assigned for this. For local trains within the city, no need to reserve.
This is the actual RESERVED SEAT ticket after you made a reservation using your JR Pass.

Do I really need the JR Pass in my life?

Case to case. If you are going to Japan to just visit 1 or 2 major cities that are close to each other, say Tokyo and Nagoya, then No! It will not be sulit. JR Pass would be perfect only if you intend to visit multiple cities within 7 days (or 14 or 21, depending on which pass you availed).

I arrived in Tokyo and spent 3 days there. On my fourth day, I travelled to Kyoto, which was Day 1 of my pass. and within 7 days, I was able to visit Kyoto, Himeji and Hiroshima in the south, then gave one day to travel up north to Sapporo,Hokkaido. I spent 10 days total in Japan and I was able to maximise my JR Pass to the fullest. Here is a chart showing my usage with equivalent fares if I did not have the pass.Bes as you can see, my travels in total was worth 56,966.40 Php. Compared to the price of my 7 days pass at 14,500 Php. Sulit diba?

Here is my Route map for reference:

Though again, this backpacking style is not for everybody. I did a lot of train rides within seven days. It could be tiring for some, but that is how I intended my travel to be. I wanted to really exhaust my pass and see more. Train rides are fun anyways, especially travelling across the countryside of Japan and see red autumn landscape of Tokyo transform into the snow white covered mountains and flatlands of Hokkaido.

Madami din naman airplanes between cities which are definitely faster and are fairly priced. But airports are quite malayo tologoh and katamad to go through airport check ins. I find the train transfers more convenient and flexible. City center to city center na eh.

So there you go mga mumsh, I hope i was able to explain the core essence and value of JR pass in our lives as travel enthusiasts. Travelling across Japan countryside by high speed bullet train has always been a dream of mine,and  I am glad I was able to tick it off my list this year. =)

For “places to see” reference, check out these links:

TOKYO THREE DAYS ITINERARY FOR THE WEEKENDERS

ONE DAY TOUR AROUND THE HERITAGE SITES OF KYOTO

HIMEJI AND HIROSHIMA EASY SIDE TRIP

JOSEMANUEL GOES TO SAPPORO

For Visa Application Guideline, click HERE.

Josemanuel Goes To Sapporo

Published on by iamjosemanuel4 Comments

Japan never runs out of sights and experiences for any eager tourists to enjoy. I had several best times in Tokyo and Kyoto, but the days spent in Hokkaido were no doubt the highlight of my recent 10 days trip to Japan.

Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost prefecture, with Sapporo as its most popular City. I went there mainly to see the city’s annual White Illumination Festival. However, the stars have favourably aligned, as I was just right in time for the first snowfall in Sapporo City. And here are the highlights of my 2 days stay to this snow covered wonderland.

My port of entry was Tokyo-Narita via Cebu Pacific direct flight from Cebu City (Click here for ticket bookings). Sapporo is 8 hours total by bullet train from Tokyo, with an easy one stop/transfer at Hakodate. A bit time consuming, but I kinda liked the experience of travelling across the countryside of Japan, and see the landscape turn from Tokyo’s red Autumn to snow covered mountains and flatlands of Hokkaido. The cost of bullet train ride was around 26,000 Yen (12,000 Php) per way. But it is included with the JR Pass so basically, sobrang nakamura ako for this leg of the trip. I will discuss more of the JR pass on the next post.

Here are some of the highlights on my DIY Day tour around Sapporo.

Day 1: Odori Park. Odori Park is located in the heart of Sapporo where the city’s main events take place. This park is popular for the christmas market and ice sculptures-snow festival that runs in February, during the peak of winter. During my visit,however, the White Illumination festival opened, and the most beautiful light installations were free for all tourists to enjoy. The park also has a very pretty night market. A bit gloomy when I visited, as the first snowfall is already expected to appear that day.

How to get there: A vast underground mall,around 6-8 blocks long,connects Sapporo Main Station to Odori Park. It also connects several landmarks and train stops within the vicinity. Quite a long and interesting walk. I swear! Entrance to the park is free for all. The Sapporo TV Tower is also located in Odori Park.

Sapporo Clock Tower is a landmark wooden structure, located at North 1 West 2, Chūō-ku. The bell rings every hour to announce the time to the city. The clock tower was built in 1878 as a theatrical hall of the Sapporo. This landmark can also be reached via the underground walkway/mall mentioned earlier.

Entrance: 200 Yen. But a photo op outside would be good enough.

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The Sapporo Beer Museum. A registered heritage site, which was previously the main factory of Sapporo Quality Beer, a popular beer brand since 1877.

How to get there : The best way to get to the beer museum is to catch the Loop 88 Factory Line bus from Odori subway station or from in front of the Seibu department store.

Entrance fee – FREE for the Museum. The tour ends at the beer garden where you can sample different types of produces for only 600 Yen ( Hokkaido-only “Classic” beer, “Sapporo Draft Beer Black Label”, “Kaitakushi Beer” )

Sapporo Government Building. Quite a charming neo-classical themed architecture with an imposing dominant red facade. The Government building is connected to the park with a mini lake where wild ducks take shelter. This place is quite a good spot to take some photos of them.

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The White Illumination Festival at Odori Park. No entrance Fee. And as you can see, the snow is already starting to cover the ground the time I got there.

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Other random shots during the snowy evening in Sapporo.

The cold evening is definitely a good time for some warm Noodles.

Day 2: Snowy Sapporo in the Morning. Will post a vlog about this next week. =)

Furano and Biei. Having the JR Pass privilege, I went further up northeast of Sapporo to see the town of Furano and Biei. Stayed for one night there. Temperature in Furano goes down to -7 degrees in the evening. Awow!!!

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The Black Ramen in Furano is an unforgettable one. Actually lahat ng food, masarap! Meals in Sapporo, Furano and Biei ranges from 350 to 1500 Yen (200 to 750 Php). A bowl of Ramen starts at 700 Yen (350 Php)

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Where I Stayed:

In Sapporo : Guesthouse Wagayado -HaLe- . Booked via Agoda. Php 1,500 per night.

In Furano : Hotel Tomar. Booked via Agoda. Php 2,100 per night.

I wasn’t able to do Mountain Skiing, as the resorts were still closed. Ka-uumpisa pa lang kasi ng winter. More reason to go back. =)

Himeji and Hiroshima Easy Side Trip

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So during my recent Japan trip, I had one extra day in Kyoto. To take advantage of my JR Pass (Unlimited inter-city JR Train pass), I decided to see Hiroshima City, which is around 2 hours away from my location.
Initially, I planned to spend the whole day in nearby Nara, a Unesco heritage site, which is just 30 minutes from Kyoto. But just when I got inside the train station, the fickle-minded me randomly decided to go south instead to see the historic Hiroshima City, with a side trip to Himeji along the way, at no extra cost. That’s the beauty of possessing a 7 days JR Pass. Wherever the accredited “JR” trains go, you can go. I definitely felt like an almighty traveler! Travel time was a bit time consuming though, but I got to see more Unesco Sites, which is what I really wanted to do. Anyways, here is how my day went. Easy to DIY if you happen to visit Kyoto or Osaka.  

First Stop : Himeji Castle . Himeji is a city in the Kansai region of Japan, less than an hour away by bullet train from Kyoto. It’s known for the sprawling, centuries-old, white Himeji Castle, one of the few original castles from Japan’s feudal period. The top floor of the 6-story main keep offers views over the extensive castle grounds.

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The castle complex as it survives today is over 400 years old and was completed in 1609. A UNESCO inscribed heritage site, Himeji Castle is considered one of Japan’s three premier castles.

Getting There: 47 Minutes from Kyoto or Osaka. 5480 Yen ( Php 2.630.00) one way bullet train (or free, if you have a JR Pass).

Entrance Fee: Free to enter the castle grounds. 1000 Yen (500 Php) to enter the Castle/Museum, which I did. Will post a vlog about it next week. Castle opens 9 AM.

 

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Once you go out of the train station, you will immediately see this view. Easy!
sword shelf
inside the Castle
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View of Himeji from the top of the Castle

Second Stop: Hiroshima City. One hour from Himeji by bullet train. A-Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site of 1996.

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More than seventy years have passed, yet visitors can still feel fear and the pain that has already sipped into the grounds of Hiroshima City. A great reminder that we should always uphold and protect the peace that our generation is currently enjoying. War should NEVER happen again.

Third Stop: Miyajima Island. 45 minutes from Hiroshima Train Station ( local train + 10 mins Ferry ride)  Miyajima is the home of Itsukushima Shrine . The main shrine is said to have been constructed in 593 by Saeki Kuramoto. The shrine has more than 1400 years of history, and is a registered World Heritage Site. 

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Getting there: local train from Hiroshima Main Station to Miyagimaguchi station + 10 mins. ferry ride. 590 Yen(280 Php) One way , or included with the JR Pass.

Entrance Fee: None for the island and the temple grounds. 300 Yen for Itsukushima Shrine. I spent the rest of the afternoon here in Miyajima. The Island itself is very charming, with a lot of free roaming deers that you can pet and feed.

Just before sundown, at around 4, I returned to Hiroshima for some RnR and strolling around their commercial district and eat okinomiyaki.  Took the train back to Kyoto at around 7:30 PM. Arrived in Kyoto at pass 9.

Though JR Pass gives you access to any running and accredited train between cities, it is best that your route for the day must be plotted in the morning and have your tickets reserved for each intercity ride. An in-depth JR Pass article shall follow after this to better explain its advantages. 

 

One Day Tour Around the Heritage Sites of Kyoto

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Kyoto is considered as the cradle of Japanese culture and religion. Being the former capital for many centuries, Kyoto houses 17 of the most well preserved UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan today. Kyoto is indeed a top place to visit for the culture junkies. In addition, the city is also offers the best views of autumn, as well as spring. Having so much to see, Kyoto ideally deserves 3 days of your vacation time in Japan. However, when the vacation leaves are numbered and you only have one day to see Kyoto(say a side-trip from Tokyo or Osaka), I arranged a easy sample tour covering four must visit heritage sites in and near Kyoto area. These places are easy to reach by train (and covered by JR Train pass, if you have).

—Arashiyama District—

Arashiyama is a district on the western side of Kyoto, Japan. It also refers to the mountain across the Ōi River, which forms a backdrop to the district. Arashiyama is a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty.

Getting there: From Kyoto Station,take JR Sagano Line to JR Saga-Arashiyama Station. Train ride takes around 30 mins. From the arrival station, everything is walkable. Fare: around 600 Yen (300 PHP) RT. No payment required if you have a JR (Train) Pass (See Pass details here). Entrance Fee: None! It is a small town/district that is open for all. Best time to visit: Morning at 7:30 AM.

A leisurely walk can take around 2 to 3 hours. Be sure to check out the shops along the main road. Daming free tastes! Lol Coffee is also great to pair with this view.

Arashiyama is a perfect spot to experience lush autumn landscaping. While some ancient temples with manicured gardens charge a little amount as entrance fee, there are several pocket gardens around the corners that are free for all.

The Bamboo Grove in Arashiyama is one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites found in Kyoto. No entrance fee as well to see this. Place is flooded by tourist at around 9 am onwards.It is best to be early.

—Fushimi Inari Shrine – Shrine of the Ten Thousand Red Torii—

Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head shrine of the god Inari, located in Fushimi Ward in Kyoto. The shrine sits at the base of a mountain, also named Inari. This Shinto shrine is dedicated to Inari, the god of rice, sake, and prosperity. Shinto is Japan’s ethnic religion.

The establishment of the sacred grounds date back to 711 A.D. Today, the shrine is said to hold over 10,000 Torii (gates). A Torii is a traditional Japanese gate found at the entrance of a Shinto shrine, symbolically marking the transition from the earthly to the sacred.

Getting there: From Kyoto Station,take JR Nara Line to JR Inari Station. Train ride takes around 5 to 10 mins. The Shrine is just outside of the station. Fare: around 300 Yen (150 PHP) RT. No payment required if you have a JR (Train) Pass (See Pass details here). Entrance Fee: None for the shrine,as this is a public ground for worship. However, if opted, the museum entrance fee is only 300 yen, which includes access to some lovely displays on sake brewing as well as complimentary sake for guests to take home. Best time to visit: Morning at 7:30 AM. In my case however, I opted to visit Arashiyama in the morning and gambled with the flock of afternoon tourists in Inari. As such, I have no decent photo of myself. dami bombers. lol.

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Tip: If time allows, you may proceed to Nara from Fushimi Inari, which is another tourist spot 30 minutes away from Inari Station (Same line, JR Pass covered as well).

—Gion District—

Gion is Kyoto’s entertainment district where the thriving Geisha culture is still being practiced. To see a Geisha woman (if you are lucky), be at Gion at about 5:30 p.m., where these women are on their way to the scheduled evening engagements, all made up in their traditional kimono and make up. Also in Gion is the Starbucks branch located inside a traditional tatami house.

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Getting there: From Kyoto Station,take bus 100 or 206. Bus ride takes around 15 mins. Get off at Gion Bus Stop. Then use Google Maps to navigate. Gion district is just at the opposite side of the bus stop.Fare: around 200 Yen (100 PHP) RT. Entrance Fee: None. Best time to visit: late noon, 4 pm onwards for a chance to see the Geisha women.

—Kiyomizu-dera Temple—

A short walk up the hill from Gion stands Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist Temple. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple offers a great overlooking view of Kyoto.

Entrance Fee: 200 yen. Best time to visit: Sun down to evening.

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Where to Stay in Kyoto:

K’s House Kyoto – Backpacker’s style accommodation. An overnight stay costs around 1400 to 1500 Pesos on weekdays (via agoda). Price differs for weekends.

Kyoto is a popular tourist destination, especially during autumn. As such, hostel prices are relatively high as compared to Osaka. When touring Kansai Area (Kyoto+Osaka+other nearby’s), it would probably be cheaper to stay in Osaka and just arrange a day visit to Kyoto, since these two cities are only 30-40 minutes apart by train (which is also included with the JR pass).

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I visited Kyoto together with Himeji and Hiroshima. Will post a complete costing on these 3 cities combined. Stay tuned. =)

For Japan Visa application guide, click here.

I flew to Narita(Tokyo) from Cebu City via Cebu Pacific Air daily direct flight. Kyoto is around 2.5 to 3 hours by train from Tokyo. For plane ticket bookings, click this.

XIAMEN AIR TO LAUNCH DIRECT FLIGHT FROM QUANZHOU,CHINA TO DAVAO CITY

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The first non-stop route from mainland China to Davao.

On December 18, 2018, Xiamen Airlines will officially launch its inaugural flight from Quanzhou(Jinjiang) to Davao. This is also one of only three international routes operated from Davao’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport.

PHOTO BY XIAMEN AIR WEBSITE

Aside from Manila, Cebu, and Kalibo, Davao will be the fourth city that Xiamen Airlines flies to in the Philippines. As it is the airline with the largest market share of the China-Philippines market, Xiamen Airlines is devoted to boost exchanges between the two countries through network development.

As per Mr. Lin Huagun, General Manager of Xiamen Airlines, “Quanzhou- Davao route will be operated by Boeing 737, under flight number MF8679/80. Passengers will be able to depart from Quanzhou every Tuesday and Friday at 9 o’clock in the morning and arrive in Davao at 12:15. On the return journey from Davao, passengers can depart at 13:15 and arrive in Quanzhou at 16:30 in the afternoon. By now, this route is the only non-stop flight from mainland of China to Davao. The Quanzhou – Davao route will be operated by a Boeing 737-800, operating with the flight numbers MF 8679/8680. Passengers will be able to depart Quanzhou for Davao every Tuesday and Friday, leaving at 9:00 AM, and arriving at 12:15 PM. On the returning flight from Davao, passengers can depart at 1:15PM and arrive in Quanzhou at 4:30 PM. This is currently the only direct flight between Davao and Mainland China.”

Round trip ticket starts at ++ 15,000.00 Pesos as per Xiamen Air website. For bookings and ticket inquiries, click HERE.

China’s consular office in Davao starts visa services.

In line with the drive to establish a stronger tie between Quanzhou and our beloved city, the Chinese Consular office of Davao now accepts visa application.

“This will facilitate bilateral exchanges between China and the Philippines, especially in the southern part. It also shows the Chinese government’s confidence on the City of Davao,” Consul General Li Lin said.

Consular office address : Acacia Street Juna Subdivision, Davao City

China Tourist Visa Application guide-blog to follow.

Tokyo Three Days Itinerary For The Weekenders

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Mga beshies and readers of mine from VisMin, may good news ko! Cebu Pacific will now be flying DAILY from Cebu to Tokyo-Narita and back starting December 1,2018. Excited much? Yes, we are!tokyjosemanuel40I once asked a travel-enthusiast friend why she keeps on coming back to Tokyo. She cheerfully gave me four reasons: the beautiful season-based cityscape,the ultra-modern facilities, the Ginza shopping district and the level up food trip experience. Tokyo,Japan is definitely among the top travel destinations of Filipinos for a lot of reasons. And with the CebPac daily flight from Mactan Airport, traveling to Tokyo shall now be more practical for us living in Visayas and Mindanao. Flying time only takes 4 to 4.5 hours.

Got a long weekend coming? Tara, lets go-Tokyo!

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So, excited na mulaag? Wait lang, guys. Secure your Tourist Visa first. Wag kayong ano! Check the link below for guidelines.

Easy Japan Tourist Visa Guide for Filipinos

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The Weekenders’ Itinerary:

Day Zero (Thursday): We left Cebu-Mactan Airport in the morning and arrived in Tokyo-Narita around 3:00pm. We went straight to Tokyo-Ginza shopping district because shopping is priority! Joke lang. I just window-shopped with my friends. The biggest Uniqlo  Flagship Store is located in Ginza. 12 Storeys lang naman, mga bes! All seasons Uniqlo products. bakanteha na imong credit card for this. 

Ginza district is lined with ultra-modern architecture and posh shop interiors to inspire every designer’s creative lobes.

The 12 Storey Uniqlo Building in Ginza

Ginza district gets even more amazing with its bright lights at night.

Day One (Friday): Cultural Immersion Day.  We spent the day in Tokyo’s Old District-Asakusa for a temple visit and experience traditional Japanese hobbies.

  • Gold fish scooping activity at Asakusa Kingyo (Budget 1500 Yen/pax)

  • Sensō-ji -Asakusa Temple Visit (Free Entrance)

  • Traditional Candy Making at Ameshin-Asakusa (Budget 3000 Yen/Pax)
    • Address: Hanakawado Studio1F Hori bldg, 2-9-1 Hanakawado, Taito-kuHours: 10:30~18:00 Closed on Thursday.
    • (link: http://www.ame-shin.com/en/)

The supposed result
My output. Lol. It’s just so wrong in many ways. mura nag pokemon

Michelle, Apollo and our guide, Naoko
Rachel, Marco, Doyskie of Cebu

Day Two (Saturday): Modern Day Activities.  Here, we got to experience the latest ultra-modern entertainment facilities of Tokyo.

  • MORI Building Digital Art Museum by EPSON teamLab (Budget:3200 Yen/pax)
    • Interactive Visual Art Museum for all ages.
    • Location : Odaiba

  • Quick Photo Op at Gundam Statue in Diver City Mall, Odaiba

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  • Virtual Reality Amusement  Center at Sky Circus Sunshine 60 Observatory
    • (Budget : 1200 Yen/Pax + add fees on specific rides)
    • Business hours 10 AM to 10 PM

Sky Circus also offers one of the best overlooking views of Tokyo Metropolitan at sunset.

photo by Apollo Santos

  • Night out at Shinjuku

Day Three (Sunday): Last minute shopping. Flight home is scheduled at around 2 PM. arrive in Cebu-Mactan Airport at around 6:30 pm

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Where to Stay:

Option 1: Business Hotel

  • Hotel Villa Fontaine in Tamachi .
  • Top rated.
  • Budget : around 12,000 Yen/night.
  • High end toilet fixtures. Superb amenities. Breakfast Buffet included.
  • 10 mins, walking distance to Tamachi Station.

Option 2: Hostel Living-Capsule/Shared Room Type

  • Ryokan and Hostel Wasabi in Nippori, Tokyo.
  • Top rated.
  • Budget : 4000 to 5000 Yen/night
  • 2 minutes walk to Mikawashima Station (JR Jobar Line). 3 Stations away from Tokyo Station.

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Rough Budgeting in Php (Sample expense breakdown using option 2, Hostel Stay)

  • Regular Airfare (4 months advance) with Cebu Pacific Direct 15,000 Pesos RT
  • Visa = 1,000 Pesos via travel agency
  • Data Sim = 800 Pesos via TravelSim PH
  • Hostel Wasabi = 2000 Pesos per Day x 3 days (Though there are cheaper options naman. google nyo nalang)
  • Food Allowance = 1500 Pesos per day x 3 days (I swear, Sapat na to if di ka nmn climber)
  • Transportation/Train rides = 700 per day x 3 days
  • IT Entrances/Souvenirs/other expenses = 10,000 Pesos
  • Total Estimated budget = 40,000 Pesos
  • Uniqlo Shopping = Swipe!
  • New Camera = Swipe! 12 months to pay.
  • Other Climber’s expenses= Swipe! Charot.

For ticket bookings, click here.

I purposely gave a realistic costing because it is better to fly prepared than maging dukha doon sa Japan. But kayang kaya naman to lower this costing; particularly on airfare. Alam ko, abangers tayo ng sale eh. hehe.

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More Blog posts on Tokyo to Follow:

  1.  Tokyo Video-Blog
  2. Detailed Hostel Living in Tokyo Video-Blog
  3. Foodtrip Around Tokyo and Beyond
  4. Japanese 7-11. 1000 Yen Lunch Challenge Video-Blog
  5. Maximizing JR – Unlimited Bullet Train Pass . Is it worth the money?

Stay Tuned. =)

Easy Japan Tourist Visa Guide for Filipinos

Published on by iamjosemanuel4 Comments

Hi Guys! I just came back from my Japan trip and I will be posting a series of blogs re the ups and downs of my journey for everyone’s future travel reference. So much stories to tell; from all the bento kiosks and good ramen shops that I found, to getting lost on Japan’s massively overwhelming train network. But first, fundamental requirement muna tayo guys. I will be discussing below the basic requirements for Tourist Visa Application. Hope this helps!Collage_Fotor_Fotor.jpg

Now is really a good time to visit Japan as Cebu Pacific will start flying Daily from Cebu to Tokyo-Narita and back, starting December 1, 2018. This direct flight made the travel time more practical for us living in Visayas and Mindanao.  Flight only takes 4 to 4.5 Hours. And we don’t have to go though any NAIA fiasco na. Cebu-Mactan Airport is more chill (I swear!) and Prettier.

BASIC TOURIST VISA REQUIREMENTS (SINGLE ENTRY)

  • Philippine passport. Must have a signature and at least 2 blank pages. Must have at least 6-months validity.
  • A duly filled up visa application form. You may download it at https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/files/000163096.pdf
  • ID picture. 4.5cm x 4.5 cm. Write your name and birthdate on the back side. Paste it on the application form.
  • Birth certificate from PSA. Must be issued within the past one year. Old birth certificates issued with NSO logo is not valid anymore. Dapat yung colored paper na with PSA logo, which you can order and pay online via https://nsohelpline.ph .  If may alterations or errors on your birth details, settle that muna with the agency.
  • Marriage certificate from PSA. Only if you’re married. If not, deadma.
  • Daily schedule. Your itinerary in Japan. It doesn’t have to be super detailed. Just indicate your projected date of arrival and departure, and the places you wish to visit during your stay on a day to day format (Day 0, Day 1, Day 2 etc).
  • Income tax return Photocopy (ITR Form 2316 for employees or Form 1701 for self employed). I also submitted the receipt or Landbank Deposit Slip for the ITR.
  • Bank certificate. Issued within the past 3 months. This part is very subjective. Some blogs say you are supposed to maintain +++100,000 Pesos. But i know people who had 50,000 Pesos only for a proposed 3 days trip, and she still got approved.
  • Optional na, but it is also best to submit a certificate of employment with your salary, position and company contact information. This will help you prove that you are indeed returning to the Ph and will not be TNT there. If self employed, a copy of your DTI Registration will suffice.
  • Photocopy of other government ID’s like SSS, Tin, Pag ibig, Postal, if have lang. but optional. Photocopy of Company ID also if employed. provide 3 specimen signatures on every copy.

Tips and Reminders

  • All documents, application form, itinerary etc must be printed on an A4-size paper.
  • Do not Staple or fold your documents. Folder nyo lang with clip.
  • Printed or hand written application form is OK. Black ink is preferred. No erasures.
  • If you cannot provide ITR and employment certificate, you may still take your shot by writing a cover letter explaining your side. Pero magdasal ka na. lol
  • And as I always recommend to my readers, especially for first timers, that “if you are unsure of the process, get a travel agency to sort out your documents for a fee.” For Davao residents, Traveloft, Inc. can assist you. (https://www.facebook.com/traveloft.davao/ )
  • We are NOT required to book flight or hotel yet. However, the application asks for a flight number and an address in Japan. To get a flight number, just log on to Cebu Pacific website and get the regular flight details. For the address in Japan, just write down your desired hostel or hotel (realistic to your budget/bank certificate, of course). The travel agency can help you with this.
  • Unlike other visa processes, Japan visa application cannot be submitted directly to the Japanese Embassy. All applications must be submitted through an accredited travel agency.  For the list, visit https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/00_000253.html; or just go to your trusted travel and tour, they can probably connect you to the nearest accredited agency in your region.
  • Application fee is at 1000 to 1,500 Pesos.
  • Once approved , your passport with visa sticker will be returned to you via your chosen agency. Releasing time takes 5 to 10 working days.
  • Application may be submitted as early as 3 months before your travel date.  Single entry Visa usually allows 15 days stay, at 90 days validity upon approval.
  • And lastly guys, this guide, like any other guide blogs, do not assure 100% approval. Ang iyong kapalaran ay nakasalalay parin sa iyong mga sariling kamay, kung malinis ba ito o hinde. Charot! Just provide all necessary documents and pray for the stars to align in your favour. Charot again! Mag patulong kayo sa travel agency oi!

And that’s it! I hope this checklist will be of help sa mga mag aapply.  Please note that this application guide only tackles Single Entry Tourist Visa. For Multiple Entry Tourist Visa, I will post a separate blog on that, if I got one na. For other types of Visa such as business, seafarer or Fiance, please check the Japanese Embassy website for the specific guidelines. For Application with Guarantor or sponsoring relatives in Japan, refer also to the embassy for your specific process.

To check on flight schedules, click here official Cebu Pacific Website.

 

 

 

Random Shots:Queenstown,New Zealand

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Queenstown, the scenic South Island holiday spot, is probably the most popular destination in New Zealand among international visitors. Queenstown was once a gold mining town. But today, the city is a favoured destination for high-octane outdoor activities and mountain climbing. Although the place is hyped by its outdoor-ish image, Queenstown will still be fully enjoyed by vacationers who prefer laid back strolls and a lazy trip of sightseeing and dining experience. Count us in on that! Here are some of the snapshots and must sees for the lazy vacationers like me.

collagenzaustralia6Queenstown sits on the shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu, set against the dramatic Southern Alps. Imagine the view, guys! With such background, uhmm… perfect jud mag model model. loljoke. Pose anywhere you like because every corner of this town is seriously photogenic and is entrance free!

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Queenstown is also a heaven for foodies. Must try is the ever famous Fergburger. Giant Angus Beef Patty in a seriously hefty set of bun with everything in it. This burger has become a NZ culture in itself. A Staple must try in Queenstown, that lines can already be seen even at an early 8 A.M. And since Queenstown is a holiday spot that never run out of tourists, fergburger closes at 5 A.M. For the employees, rest is only for the weak. lol. Fergburger is priced at 18 Dollars (700 Pesos) but it could seriously feed 2 hungry pax or 4 Annilou’s (A friend with small appetite).  Typical complete meal in NZ by the way is between 10 to 18 Dollars for a sandwich/burger and 15 to 22 Dollars for a rice or Middle Eastern meal. Coffee is usually at 6 Dollars up.

Puhoi Chocolate drink is also a must try! just around 4 Dollars (P 160) a bottle.  Don’t be bothered by the cold, Patagonia Ice cream is also a must try.

The highlight of this trip really is my first Snow experience. Lol! As a boy from the sun-burnt city of General Santos, getting up close and personal with snow is a seriously big deal! So yeah, me and Richmon went up the Coronet Peak where the Remarkables Ski field is located. The highest point of the peak is at 1,649-metre.

The 45 -mins. bus ride from Queenstown costs 20 Dollars (800 Pesos) RT. There is a specific bus solely serving this route every hour during the day. Just ask around sa mall where to fine the Remarkables office. QT town centre is pretty small, you definitely won’t miss a thing.

Photos by Richmon. Entirely shot using #Oppo. collagenzaustralia3

  • Entrance to the ski field is free of charge.
  • Ski experience starts at 130 Dollars(5,500 Pesos) with gears and coaching.
  •  Lockers are available for 10 Dollars (400 Pesos).
  • Drinking water is free,as to everywhere in New Zealand. Tap water is very safe to drink,by the way.
  • Wearing sunblock is a must due to direct exposure to the sun (even if it’s cold up there).
  • Don’t forget to bring a Shaded  Eyewear as the entire peak is almost entirely covered with white and it is seriously glaring.
  • Dress appropriately. Layer is a must. Plus a non-slip closed footwear. Snow covered ground is slippery.
  • A Legit food hall is available. usual prices are at 12 to 16 Dollars( 500 to 700 Pesos) per meal.
  • Bring Milk, ube and others to enjoy your own halo-halo up there. Loljk. Do not eat the snow.
  • Start a snowball fight if you like.

Queenstown is served by its own International Airport. However, we opted to land in Christchurch and drove our way to QT via Lake Tekapo. That’s 7-8 hours of scenic ride. Our road trip was hosted by Richmon’s brother, Eric, who is based in Christchurch.

Lol! Full blog of this to follow! Watch out. =)

Christchurch blog here. https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/11/02/random-shotschristchurchnew-zealand/

Visa Application link here. https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/04/22/new-zealand-tourist-visa-for-filipinos-2018-online-application-guide-with-photos/

Random Snapshots:Lake Tekapo,New Zealand

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Without any reservations, Lake Tekapo is one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited on earth. We only stayed here for a few hours during our way to Queenstown, but the place left me in wonderment. Truly an unforgettable sight to treasure.

Picturesque by day and dazzling by night, Lake Tekapo is part of a UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve, making it the perfect spot for stargazing.  queenstownjosemanuel15On the shores on the lake you’ll see the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, where the altar window frames a perfect view of the Southern Alps beyond the lake (newzealand.com)queenstownjosemanuel16Lake Tekapo is about three hours drive south-west of Christchurch in the Mackenzie Basin. The township faces north across the remarkable turquoise coloured lake to the mountainous drama of the Southern Alps. Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky-turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in the water.queenstownjosemanuel59Best seen between April and September, Lake Tekapo is known for it’s clear nights and lack of light pollution, making it a great viewing destination. queenstownjosemanuel13Wasn’t able to experience Tekapo star gazing though. More reason for me to revisit the place someday. An overnight stay would have been ideal. queenstownjosemanuel18Passing through Lake Tekapo, it took four more hours to reach Queenstown. There are bus tours that covers these place from Christchurch, but the best option for tourist really is to rent a car and drive at your own pace and stops. Our road trip was hosted by my Richmon’s brother, Eric.

Video Blog of the whole roadtrip shall be uploaded very soon.

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Here’s a preview of Queenstown. Lakas maka artista ng place. Chos!

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Visa Application link here.https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/04/22/new-zealand-tourist-visa-for-filipinos-2018-online-application-guide-with-photos/

Random Shots:Christchurch,New Zealand

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New Zealand is mainly divided by two large islands; the Te Ika-a-Maui  of the North, named after the sacred fish of Maui, and the Te Waipounamu of the South, which means “rivers of green stone”. Popular NZ destinations like Auckland and Wellington is located in the North Island, while Christchurch and Queenstown is located in the South.

For this New Zealand trip, we spent most of our days in the South where my companion’s family resides. From Auckland, we flew 2 hours by Air New Zealand to Christchurch. We also did a road trip to Queenstown via Tekapo, which was the highlight of this vacation. I shall have a separate post on that. For now, here are some snapshots around the lovely city. Big shoutout and Thanks to Richmon’s brother, Eric, for hosting and touring us around.

We popularly see September, October, November as Fall/Autumn months as it happens across Europe, Korea,Japan and the Americas. It is different, however, on the lands down-under, as these months are Springtime. This is the perfect time to visit as the weather is expectedly favourable and colours are popping out everywhere. In addition, you still get to experience snow on the higher grounds (such as in Queenstown during our trip).

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The Botanical Garden in Christchurch is a must see. The Museum is also located inside the garden compound. And it’s free of charge.

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The City also boasts its Architecture. Streets are lined with contemporary buildings, using current materials and methods of construction. There are no high rises though; mostly low to mid-rise. Must sees are the The Cardboard Cathedral (a transitional Anglican Diocese of Christchurch with colorful facade) and the Hoyst Cinema Building. Check out the interiors as well.

The Cardboard Catherdral Facade

stunning interiors of Hoyts Cinema

 

Enthusiasts of architecture will definitely enjoy a stroll around the city centre, which is fairly walkable, with patches of greens and tree-lined parks and a charming- well cared stream the flows across the park. Wall murals and are also a thing around Christchurch.

Model model around the streets is also tolerated in Christchurch. Lol.

Drop by Rockpool bar at Hereford St. for some tummy fillers that will never disappoint. Their BBQ Ribs and Smoked Salmon Pasta are to die for.

Queenstown blog is up next. Stay tuned. =)

Going to NZ? Check out this EASY TOURIST VISA Application guide here link. https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/04/22/new-zealand-tourist-visa-for-filipinos-2018-online-application-guide-with-photos/

Auckland Photos are also shared here. https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/10/30/random-snapshots-aucklandnew-zealand/

Random Snapshots: Auckland,New Zealand

Published on by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

Dreamy, surreal, unspoilt scenery. After visiting New Zealand, a whole new level of appreciation for a foreign land had been set.

Dream-like ocean views, lush green valleys, snow capped surrounding mountains, our short trip to New Zealand offered us a glimpse of good things that the country offers. The country enjoys peace, progress, opportunities and abundance. No wonder a lot of our Filipino friends opted to relocate there. Nasabi ko din actually sa sarili ko, ” I want to live here”.

Arriving in Auckland, me and Richmon opted to see in the capital city muna, before we headed to the south island where his family lives.  In Auckland, we were hosted by Richmon’s relatives, Ate Mary Ann and Kuya Mario Molera, who’s been living in NZ already since the 1990’s.

Having only two nights to spend definitely wasn’t enough to see all the nearby spots. With out limited time, we opted to see the natural sceneries of the west coast, instead of driving to the popular Rotorua and Hobbiton down south. Together with our lovely hosts, we did a road trip west of Henderson to the surreal ocean views facing the Australian-Tasman Sea.

Here are some snapshots of our DIY west coast day tour plus a glimpse of Auckland downtown. All thanks to Kuya Mario and Ate Mary Ann! =)

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Auckland International Airport gave the Middle Earth feels as these giant 16′ Dwarven statues greet you at the arrival lounge. 

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Arataki Visitors’ Centre

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Arataki Visitors’ Centre
Arataki Visitors’ Centre

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Muriwai Beach

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Paragliding around Muriwai Coast

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The Highlight of this day tour was definitely seeing flocks of migratory Gannet birds nesting on their natural habitat by the cliffs of Muriwai. Surreal experience to! I did not expect seeing this at all. Kuya Mario did not mention. It was a surprise!

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Gannet Bird Sanctuary at Muriwai Cliffs

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Here are some random shots and binge eating moments around Auckland City.

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The Auckland Crew

And this concludes our two nights stay in Auckland. Christchurch and Queenstown are up next. Stay tuned.

We flew to Auckland, NZ with AirasiaX Via Kuala Lumpur; smooth nine hours travel time, with a quick – 90 minutes lay over in Gold Coast, Australia. Airport Transit Visa to Australia shall only apply if your lay over exceeds 4 hours.  So for this trip, no need!

How we secured our NZ Tourist Visa?  Check my detailed blog on the link below . below https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/04/22/new-zealand-tourist-visa-for-filipinos-2018-online-application-guide-with-photos/

Australian Tourist Visa: DIY Easy Online Application for Filipinos

Published on by iamjosemanuel5 Comments

Hey,hey,hey! I just got my Australian Tourist Visa approval a few weeks ago. The process is relatively easy and is very much DIY-able. Aside from rejoicing for the approval, I am also thankful that the Aussie Immig was generous enough to grant a multiple entry ’til 2020. Cool, diba? As such, I will be sharing here the step by step DIY guide I did for this application, para naman sabay sabay tayo mag selfie duon with the Koala Bears!

This blog guide however, shall focus solely on Tourist Visa – Online Application for Filipinos living in the Philippines. If you are looking for Business, Study or Fiance Visa, I reco you visit the main Australian Immigration Website at https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/ for the specific process.

Yes po, Australian Immigration now accepts visa application online. Meaning, no more personal interview. You only need to prepare and properly scan your valid requirements, submit online and pay by credit card. If accepted and approved,the grant certificate shall be emailed to you. No more submission of passport to the embassy for verification and stamping. Easy breezy!

If opted, you can still submit your traditional application personally at the Australian Embassy via VFS Agency. But since I reside in a city that is 2 hours away by plane from the capital, it is more practical for me to do all transactions via online.

The difference between personal and online application? Walang Visa Sticker when applied online. In lieu, a grant certificate shall be issued via email, which you have to print and carry with throughout the trip. The traditional sticker eklavu on the passport are only given when documents are personally submitted.

Online application however, may still be required a personal interview if the evaluators find your documents questionable. That being said, let me just cite na din my travel blogger idol Aileen Adalid’s disclaimer, “NO ONE can give you a guarantee on your approval — not even a lawyer, a consultant, a travel agent, or an embassy employee. Anyone who says otherwise is most likely going to be a scammer.”

So without dragging this further, here is the DIY step by step process I did,

  1. Prepare basic visa requirements.

    –Photograph file – Passport sized with very light gray background 500 KB Max. (Alam ng studio ang size, Raw file straight from camera, unedited, scanned photo not allowed )

    –Evidence of Family Composition -Scanned Copy NSO Birth Certificate in Colored Paper

    –Evidence of Employment – Current – Scanned Copy Employment Certificate with Salary Details and approved date of leave, signed by your boss.

    –Evidence of Financial Capacity – Scanned Copy Current Bank Cert, Bank account statement, Credit Card statement , ITR or Business Permit (If available, but I did not submit. Instead, I scanned property titles under my name. Insurance policy and bonds may also count. I submitted my PRU Policy. This is optional)

    –Evidence of Previous Travel – Scanned Copy of Past and Current Passport showing all stamps and visas.

    –Evidence of Planned Tourism Activity – I made a mock up day to day itinerary. Hotel Reservation is optional, but may help. Don’t pay for this muna.

    When scanning, only file formats .JPG, .PDF or .PNG are accepted. Each document must be of good quality but must not exceed 5MB in size. Except for the Passport photo which is ideally 500 KB size and of Jpg format. It i advised that filenames shall contain your name in it (example ” LIM,JOSE PASSPORT PHOTO.jpg”) . If this preparation is too difficult, then I recommend you rather apply though an agency than doing a DIY.

    Lastly, as you noticed, AIRLINE TICKET OR EVEN A RESERVATION is NOT REQUIRED.

  2. Log on to Australian Embassy Official Home Affairs Website

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/600-/Visitor-e600-visa-online-applications . As a Tourist Visa applicant, your application shall be under “VISITOR e600” Category, no other! Website will look like this.

The page that will launch your ticket to a brighter future. click “start application“

2. The “start application” with then prompt you to create an ImmiAccount. ImmiAccount is the main portal for accessing the online services of the Australian government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Parang facebook lang ito that you have to provide basic information, contacts, a valid email add and a strong password. An email verification will be done. This Immi account shall become your official access and monitor this application and for future transaction with AU immigration.

If you already created an Immi account, click login.

click New Application at the upper left

3. Start filling up your e600 form. Here is what you will likely see. Easy to understand.

4. After filling up,you will be led to a document uploading interface which looks like this. inappropriate file type and size will be prompted. refer to requirements given above.

5. After all scanned files have been accepted by the online interface, you will be prompted to the payment page. I I paid mine via credit card for AUD 140 (Around 5,500 Pesos)

6. Submit and wait for Confirmation Email “Received”. This is the waiting time that your scanned documents will be evaluated. Also the perfect time for novena and pa-misa sa church for grace.

7. Receive decision via Email. I got mine after 10 days. The grant certificate will look like this. No need to submit your passport na to the embassy in Manila for verification and stamping. This certificate will suffice.

And that’s it! You have approval na and you’re ready to sell your kidney for travel funds.

Points to remember:

As per website, results are released 30 to 60 days after the submission. However, most of the recent applicants got their results earlier; provided, complete at valid ang scanned documents. I got mine after 10 days.

Since this is an online application, no need to print and submit paper requirements. Unless your uploads are not clear, then they may ask for those, or require you a personal appearance.

Bank account: As per usual travel blogs, bank accounts are ideally at 100 dollars x number of days stay x 2. better if more.

You can apply as early as 6 months before the trip.

Again, walang assurance ng approval. I feel that I got approved mainly because of the stamps I collected from my previous trips.

Lastly, IF UNSURE, WAG MAG DIY APPLICATION. Seek assistance from a reputable travel agency. PM me for recommendations. Chos! =)

New Zealand Tourist Visa for Filipinos 2018 – DIY Online Application Guide with Photos

Published on by iamjosemanuel19 Comments

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WAIVED NA PO ANG TOURIST VISA FEE FOR NEW ZEALAND!

True! Hindi po ito fake news. Before, it was mandatory to pay NZ$ 165. As of June 2017, A resolution has already been approved, stating that the Citizens of the Philippines do not have to pay anymore the fee or immigration levy for TOURIST/VISITOR VISA application, when coming to New Zealand for fewer than 60 days (Reference: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/).

However, point out ko lang po clearly, NZ is NOT VISA FREE. It is only the big amount of fee that was taken out. We still have to submit necessary requirements to the NZ Embassy for the issuance of visa prior to our trip.

Traditional method of submitting paper requirements is still being implemented today. However, NZ Immigration already formulated a “Passport Handling-Online Application” method, which has taken visa application to the next level of easiness. With this method, applicants are only required to completely fill up a form on their website and then submit online the scanned copies of usual visa requirements. For this convenience,however,applicants shall pay a fee of less than 1,000 Pesos for the “Passport Handling”, which shall be discussed later. This is relatively a small amount compared to the big chunk of levy that has already been relieved from us. Passport handling fees may also be bank transferred na. This has made the application process more convenient, especially for us living far away from Manila/Cebu where embassy offices are located.
This guide blog focuses solely on Visitors (Tourist) Visa via Online Application. For other types of Visa, refer to https://www.immigration.govt.nz.

So without further ado (Char), here is a step by step guide on how I completed my application.

STEP 1 : Gather the visa requirements,

  1. Photo – passport sized (900 x 1200 pixels minimum), light colored background(except white, ideally light gray), JPEG Format straight from file. Bilhin nyo yung file ng picture sa studio. scanned from printed photo is not allowed; file size between 500KB and 3MB
  2. Valid Passport – scan pages with personal information; PDF Format
  3. Government issued Identification Card – either driver’s license, PRC, SSS, GSIS, TIN, Philhealth; PDF Format
  4. Proof of Employment – letter of approved leave from employer ideally with salary and other details ; PDF Format
  5. Evidence of Fund – Bank Certificate with ADB; Bank Statements; Updated Passbook; PDF Format
  6. Evidence of Onward Travel – Airline confirmed booking(meaning, ticket reservation from a reputable travel agency); PDF Format ; pwede rin Airline ticket mismo if you already have one, but not advised.
  7. Cover Letter – letter of intention. You may also put here your proposed day to day itinerary ; PDF Format
  8. Other Financial Document – Credit card billing statement, ITR; ; PDF Format
  9. For Self Employed – business permit, SEC or DTI registration. Annual ITR for the employed; PDF Format
  10. Record of Previous Travels – Scanned copy of your past and current passport with all stamps
  11. Copy of other Valid First World Visas (If available) – USA, Schengen, Japan or others; PDF Format

Re bank funds, some successful applicants mentioned “100 USD per day x # days stay x 2” maintaining balance. I guess we should prepare the same na din (or more) to prove our capacity to visit their country.

Step 2 : Go to https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa

Select appropriate visa options. it will look something like this.

Click on the RealMe Link at the bottom to start application

Step 3: Create a RealMe Account which serves as your application form. This is where you will be uploading all your infos and scanned documents.

Provide usual infos, username and password. This step will also ask for an email verification.

After Email verification, your RealMe account will now look something like this. Click the “Visitor Visa” Highlighted in RED.

Step 4: Fill up RealMe Form in order that is given.

Fill up all the “Identity and Contact” requirements. one after the other. Save infos from time to time.

This may be intimidating, but just say No to all these entries, unless you seriously have a condition to declare.

The interface still asks for this stage even if you declared “single” early on. Samok ha!

This is the part where you upload your JPEG and PDF files

The good thing about this interface is that it prompts you for detected errors such as this. Cool! Very first world!

Step 5: Submit online your completed RealMe Form. In 24 hours, you will receive an email confirmation and instructions on where to submit your passport. This is not yet your approval.

Step 6: Payment of Passport Handling Fee thru Bank.

While it is most common for applicants to submit their passports personally, NZ offers an option to pay through Banco de Oro, which is very favourable for people away from Manila. Passport handling will be catered by VFS Global, which is NZ embassy’s partner agency. Details can be found at http://www.vfsglobal.com/NewZealand/Philippines/how-to-apply.html

Instructions on Bank Transfer Payments are detailed on this website.

For my application, I paid the 570 Handling fee plus 380 Courier Fee for them to return my passport after assessment. I did not avail the SMS assistance anymore, since the updates on my application can be monitored on my RealMe Account

Print the bank form and show to the bank during payment.

Step 7: Submit Passport to VFS Office for Assessment and Verification

Photocopy Bank Deposit Slip/ Transfer Slip and submit this to VFS together with your valid passport, the printed and signed bank form, a printed copy of “thank you” page and the Email Confirmation. Applicants from the province may send their documents ti VFS via any preferred courier.

Step 8: Result

Once the result is released, VFS will send your passport back to your given address. Courier fee for the return is part of the prior payment.

NZ Visitor Visa issuance is indeed fast. I got my approval 4 days after submission of passport to VFS.

Points to remember:

As per website, results are released 20 days after the submission. However, most of the recent applicants got their results within 3 to 4 days!

Since this is an online application, no need to print and submit paper requirements. Unless your uploads are not clear, then they may ask for those.

You can apply as early as 6 months before the trip.

Grant on duration of stay varies. Wala talagang template for this. But definitely, your stay will not exceed 59 days at a time.

For online application, No more sticker on your passport. The approval certificate that will be emailed to you shall serve its purpose.

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So there, hopefully this blog will be of help by the time you apply for your own. Though I am fully aware that this guide will not guarantee approval for everybody. Kaya sabayan nyo nalang din ng Novena for 14 days with miryenda cream bread and mayonnaise.

This guide,however, is focused purely on tourism/holiday visit. For other types of application, see https://www.immigration.govt.nz for details.

Re Waived visa fee, there is no information on until when this waived fee will last. So while we are enjoying the current privilege, might as well consider visiting this green country very soon.

Lastly, if you are unsure of your documents, or if you find the D.I.Y. online application too complicated, please get in touch na lang with a reputable travel agency to process your papers.  Life is short, wag na pa stress!

Take Me Back Balabac: A Travel Guide 2018

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With the clearest turquoise water and unspoilt shores, Balabac is one of the less visited destinations in the Philippines that deserves a spot on top of your travel bucket list. Here’s a quickie blog with nitty gritty details on how I reached the Balabac Group of Islands. But first, a little information muna about the place.

Balabac is a 2nd class municipality situated at the southwestern tip of Palawan province. Surrounded by the rich water of Sulu Sea, Balabac is a group of 31 islands and islets blessed with unspoiled fine sand beaches, wide sandbars and rich marine life. As per record, there are only about 40,000 inhabitants scattered around the islands. The province got much of its recent popularity after being featured by GMA’s Jessica Soho. As the show mentioned, this group of islands is our country’s last of the last frontier.

Balabac is only 8 hours away by boat to Malaysia. Kaya expect nalang that Malaysian products are a common thing in this very small province. Some locals do back door (paperless) entry to Malaysia, but as a responsible Filipino citizen, please do not consider doing that. No, no, no.

How to Get to Balabac – DIY Style

The municipality of Rio Tuba is the known gateway/commercial port with public boats traveling daily to Balabac main island where most of the community is located.

Puerto Princesa City — 6 hours –> Rio Tuba by bus + Rio Tuba — 3 to 4 hours –>Mainland Balabac by boat.

Public buses leave Puerto Princesa City (Palawan) from San Jose Terminal starting at 4AM. Fare is at P275++ for non-aircon bus and P450++ for aircon shuttle or bus, travel time is approximately six (6) hours.

From Rio Tuba, A public boat departs daily at around noon to mainland Balabac. Travel time is approximately four (4) hours and fare is P450 one-way. Please note that there is no fixed schedule of boat departure as it depends on sea condition and passenger traffic. Best to be at Rio Tuba as early as 10AM. You may also opt to stay overnight at Rio Tuba town. Basic pension houses at P 300-500/room can accommodate you.

Balabac Main Island Accommodation As recommended by a friend, JD lodging: (0910 662 0073) at P400 per night for 2 pax.

DIY Island Hopping from Balabac Mainland. To go around the sub islands, the only mode of transport is by boat. There are no public boats that go from island to island since most locals here own their own motorised boats. Chartering a small boat (4 pax-6 pax) from the locals usually starts at P5000 per day. Lodging houses can recommend this to you.

If you intend to stay outside of mainland Balabac, expect to homestay or with guided camping for a fee. It is advised that you pass by the municipality tourism desk upon arrival and have yourself registered. Small amount may be imposed to visitors in the coming months, as Balabac Tourism Board is already being put up at the moment.

Budget for 4 days 3 nights? Probably around P 7,000 to 9,000, assuming you’d share the boat rentals with 4 -6 pax.

Pre-arranged Tour Style – I Prefer this!

Considering its isolated location and limited facility, Balabac is relatively new to the tourism industry. Tourism standards are yet to be formalised. For convenience, as well as safety, I HIGHLY recommend joining pre-arranged tour to take you around the islands. A number of independent tour providers offer “island camping” packages with rides, insurance and on board meals for P 10,000 to P 12,500, 4 days,three nights. Check out Biyahe ni Josemanuel on facebook for recommendations.

What to Expect. As a relatively isolated destination, do not expect fancy accommodations and the comforts you’d find in Boracay. Balabac is more on the rough side for the adventure seekers. Clearly, it is not a destination for everybody at the moment. In addition, there are no ATMs in the Island. Bring enough cash with you; preferably small bills.

Best Time to Visit. Summer . March to May when the sky is clear and the water is calm. Imagine island hopping with a nagbabadyang typhoon…. rainy season is a no, no!

Safety. Security concerns have been raised in the past, particularly on foreign travelers (you may google these issues). As such, joining a pre-arranged group tour an advantage for safety and monitoring.

The importance of Insect Repellent Lotion. Some of the stops during the island hop have lots of mosquito and sand fleas. More to that, some parts of Balabac experienced Malaria scare last December 2017. As a precaution, bring your off lotion everywhere you go. Sleeved tops and long pants are also recommended, especially at night.

Mobile Networks. Mobile networks were said to be moderate 2G on the mainland, but most of the islands have none. Prepare to disconnect with your social media hang ups.

Toilet and Water Supply. When camping, expect the most basic toilet there is. Deep well freshwater on the islands is very limited. As such, limit your flush and bathing requirements to the minimum.

Electricity. Electricity at the mainland is said to be up to 12 midnight only. For island camping, solar power is utilised to supply only basic light and gadget charging between 6 to 10 PM.

Snorkeling. Balabac offers the best snorkling sites I’ve visited to date. You can clearly see the corals from the boat as the water is super clear and calm, hindi mo na kailangan bumaba. As a safety reminder, never do snorkeling on shallow water. Only do this when the reefs are ideally 3.0 meters away from you.

Kill nothing but time. Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Keep nothing but memories.

Checklist on Things to Bring

-A Lot of Sunblock (Organic/Reef Friendly Please!)
-Insect repellent lotion , moisturizing lotion, skin cooling mist spray
-Rashguard / Aqua Shoes
-Long sleeves / leggings
-Flash light / head lamp
-Powerbanks and extension wire
-Camera / Go pro (Having a drone would be perfect!)
-Snorkel gears
-Waterproof Bag
-First Aid Kit

-Sleeping bag ,Extra food/Snacks/Canned goods if you’re going camping.

Here’s a short video blog from by Balabac Tour. Enjoy =)