Category: Let’s Go Travel

One Day Binge Eating Around Puerto Princesa (with Prices and Menu)

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During my recent trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan, I had one spare-chill day to explore the local food scene of the lovely city. I tried to avoid famous touristy restaurants and preferred to check on hole in the walls where locals usually dine. Walkable restaurants lang within the city centre, particularly near Rizal Avenue where I stayed. Here’s how my day went.

Breakfast:

I was on my leisurely 7 am walk from the city cathedral to Baywalk when I passed by this quaint food kiosk serving lomi near Balayong Pension House. Madami na’ng tao that early, and looking at their hefty serving, I already felt that I am at the right place to have breakfast. Huge bowl with egg and meat slices, meatballs, lumpia and chicharon topping with a load of garlic bits. Ala Eh’ Lomi is worthy of a recommendation.

Lunch:

For lunch, local friends recommended Itoy’s Coffee Haus. Itoy’s is said to be the first legit coffee shop in PP, which also offers a lot of food choices on their menu. I tried the Sizzling Bulalo, which is said to be the house specialty; and it did not disappoint. Tender beef, marrow and a hefty creamy sauce to complete the set. 200 Pesos per serve, good for 2 pax. 

Noon Snack:

Reef Hotdog; A small hotdog stand near the provincial capitol with very high ratings on tripadvisor. I was intrigued with the reviews so I made time to check it out and it did not disappoint. The kiosk basically serves gourmet European style sausages with a great deal of sauces and toppings to choose from. I had pineapple curry sauce with caramelised onion for my cheesy Hungarian. Awesome!

The place is run by a German and his filipino wife. No wonder this is a to go place for foreigners. Buns range from 120 to 200 Pesos.

Early dinner:

Puerto Princesa Baywalk Park. For early dinner, I met up with a friend to share a hefty meat, steamed vegetable and seafood boodle set with. 300 pesos lang for two pax, but seriously, this could feed more! Beachfront ambiance is also a plus plus plus for this place.

Late night eats:

I had a hearty bowl of chao long noodles at Thalia’s to close off this binge eating. Chao long is basically Palawan’s version of the Vietnamese Pho. Palawan has strong ties with the vietnamese immigrants since the WW2. As such, Pho noodles, spring rolls and Bhan Me’s are common sight around the city.

Chao long, however, is really a rice and pork porridge dish in Vietnam, I don’t know why that name was given to a noodle dish when it arrived in Palawan. They must have had some translation issues in the past. But whatever! Bala sila dyan.

So there, I ordered beef stew chao long at Thalia’s. It was good. filling. broth is more on the sweet side with a kick of hot spice. There’s another more famous chao long in PP called Bona’s, but a local told me it is super MSG. As such, I opted to settle for Thalia’s. It did not disappoint.

So there you go, that is how Jose Manuel overeats. Sabayan nyo na ako next time. ‘Til then =)

Hostel Recommendations in Taipei at 1000 Pesos and Below

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So during my recent visit to Taipei, I had some time to randomly check a few affordable hostels near Taipei Main Station. The five featured on the vlog attached are priced at 600 to 1000 Pesos per bed per night(off peak season). Affordable, yet still with very good ratings and reviews online; and not to mention super instagrammable interiors. I’ve included clips of their lounges, the shared bedrooms and most importantly, their respective bathrooms.
All five are clean, relatively new, and are worthy of a recommendation. Hope this helps on your next visit to Taipei. 

Hostels featured can be reached through popular hotel booking sites online.

1. Taipei Oxygen Hostel  – No.100, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist. Taipei City

2. Taipei Taipei Hostel  – #63, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City

3. Space Inn Hostel – Basement 1 Floor, #51 , Hengyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City

4. Angels’ Hostel – Mezzanine Floor, #51 , Hengyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
5. Sleepbox Capsule Hostel – #34, Hengyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
All these hostels are located within the same area as shown. 10-15 minutes walk from Taipei Main Station. Landmark to google : Taipei Peace Park, National Taipei Museum

Visa Free Travel to Taiwan for Philippine Passport Holders

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UPDATE: In case you missed it, Filipinos can now travel to Taiwan visa-free up until July 31, 2019! Taiwan’s visa-free travel program has been extended another year.

The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office has already made official that we,the Philippine nationals, who plan to visit Taiwan for the purpose of tourism, visiting relatives, attending functions or events, can enjoy VISA FREE entry to Taiwan, for a duration of stay up to 14 days.

According to Taipei Economic and Cultural Office(TECO), a Filipino visa-free visitor must meet the following requirement to Taiwan Immigration upon arrival:

 

  1. A regular Philippine passport with remaining validity of at least six months from the date of entry (diplomatic & official passport holders are not eligible for visa-free treatment);
  2. A return ticket or a ticket for the traveler’s next destination and a visa for that destination if it is required;
  3. No criminal record in Taiwan;
  4. A proof of accommodation (hotel) booking or host/sponsor’s contact information or arrangements of tour, travel, visit, events and meeting, etc.

Effortless na, diba?  However, this visa-free access will have a nine-month trial period until July 31, 2018. Kaya behave tayo dun mga bes, ha? wag mag J-walk, wag mag drugs, and landi responsibly!

 

For travellers intending to stay for more than 14 days, or for studying, working, employment, and other activities, you are still required to obtain appropriate visas before entering Taiwan.

For first time Pinoy travellers however, I personally recommend you to bring other supporting documents that may be asked by the Philippine Immigration before you can leave the country. Yes bes, it happens! Pwede ka pa rin hindi makalipad because the Ph immigration might find your travel plans to Taiwan questionable. As such, don’t forget to bring your company ID and certificate of leave pa din with complete details on approved date of  absences; and if possible, state the declared salary.  The purpose of this is to inform the Ph immigration officer that you have a stable work/living to return to here in our country, and that becoming a possible TNT in Taiwan is not your option. Panigurado lang. If the officer does not ask for these documents, then good! At least you were prepared. =)

Anyways, here’s a teaser vlog i prepared from my trip to Taipei last week. More details and tips coming soon.

 

So We’re Here in Baguio. San Tayo Kakain?

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Lamon! Lamon! Lamon! It’s that part of the laag that I look forward the most. Sino ayaw mabusog?

So last month, our travel group (char!) got invited once again by Azalea Hotels and Residences. This time, we visited the ever charming Baguio City. We did a lot of sight seeing. We visited BenCab Museum. We saw horses with pink hair. Quite a short trip, yet super fun. Baguio is lovely, as always. And the best part? Food trip! =D Here are some of the foodie highlights that we enjoyed during our stay.

FILIPINO COMFORT FOOD. Tradisyon Restaurant is Azalea Hotels and Residences’ in-house restaurant. The restaurant serves well-loved and familiar local and international food. The hotel chef dished up all his best entries during our stay. Here are some of the highlights.

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Beef Tripe Kare-kare FTW!
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All of Baguio’s freshest vegetables in one platter.
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Tradisyon Smoked Pork Belly
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Tuyong Espada (Included with the hotel’s breakfast buffet)
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Deep fried Native Chicken
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Staple Pinoy Pinakbet
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Tradisyon Lengua
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Bulasing . Chef’s own fusion of Pinoy bulalo and sinigang. Quite a unique blend of taste.

Tradisyon Restaurant is located at the Azalea Hotels and Residences Baguio, Leonard Wood Loop, Brgy. M. Roxas. Price range 150 to 400 Pesos. servings to share.

 

TRADITIONAL AND AUTHENTIC. A visit to Baguio is an opportunity to experience authentic Cordilleran food. The Farmer’s Daughter is one of the noted restaurants in Baguio that serve pure Cordilleran dishes. Most of the dishes here are of Ibaloi cuisine.

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Pinikpikan. Soup-based chicken dish. Traditionally prepared wherein a live chicken is beaten to death with a stick. 
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Pinuneg. an Ibaloi version blood sausage.  with a dip of chili alamang with soy and squeeze of calamansi.
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Kinuday. traditional – smoked pork meat.
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Lots of fresh and sauted vegetables to fill up the table.

Experiencing native dishes is a way of appreciating and giving respect to the Ibaloi tradition. 

Dishes are good for sharing and ranges from Php100 to Php200. The Farmer’s Daughter is located in Awan, Baguio City, just beside the Tam-Awan Village.

 

A TASTE OF THE EXOTIC. Bar-B-que baby chicken. I didn’t eat this. Lol. But my friends enjoyed their piece. This street food is everywhere in Baguio. As such, sali ko nalang din sa list. Baka bet nyo to look forward. hehe IMG20170918145605_Fotor

 

STRAWBERRY HEAVEN. Baguio and it’s region is blessed with year-long cool weather; thus, the abundance of different kinds of berries.  Probably the most popular is their luscious and bright red strawberries that they generously put on almost all kind of pastries and desserts I can imagine. Here are some.

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Strawberry Taho is virtually everywhere in Baguio
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Chocolate cupcakes with strawberry topping. Tradisyon Restaurant
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Tres Leches. Super milky and creamy cake bites. Tradisyon Restaurant’s best seller. Also with strawberry topping.
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Choco-Banana Cupcake. by Tradisyon Restaurant
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Dark Chocolate dipped Strawberry Kisses. Chocolates are also locally sourced. This set shown is a gift from Azalea. Similar gift sets are available on many places in Baguio.
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More Strawberries to keep you drooling.

Alright, enough about food. Move on tayo. Here is me strutting my best pose in front of Azalea Hotels and Residences, where we stayed for two nights.  Azalea Residences is Baguio’s first and only 4-star serviced apartment hotel. (http://www.azaleabaguio.com/)

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All shots included in this post were taken using OPPO Mobile Phone, The Selfie Expert.  No filter. All Natural light. ‘Til then. =)

Biyaheng Pinas:Josemanuel Visits Baguio City

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Here’s a quickie vlog on how I spent my recent 2 days off in Baguio City.  Flew in via Clark Int’l Airport. Baguio City is just two and a half smooth hours away by private van from Clark.

Traveling to North and Central Luzon is now easier for Davaoenos with Airasia Philippines’ direct Davao to Clark flights.

Stayed at Azalea Hotel and Residence Baguio. Splendid rooms and impeccable services as always. http://www.azaleabaguio.com

Biyaheng Pinas:Kawa Hot Bath In Tibiao, Antique

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Here’s a vlog on my quickie overnight side trip to Tibiao,Antique. The small town famous for the kawa hot bath is 2 to 2.5 hours away by bus from Kalibo City. Bus leaves every hour between 7AM to 2PM. Schedules are posted on Ceres Bus Line Website.

From Kalibo City (Ceres Terminal) take the bus to” San Jose,Antique”. Inform the conductor ahead of time that you are bound for Tibiao. All vans and buses of this route pass though Tibiao Town. You have a choice to alight at Tibiao Town Center, or at the crossing of Brgy Importante, which is a stop just before Tibiao town proper. Bus ride costs 150 Pesos per way.

The Kawa Hot Bath places are located up the hills and rice paddles of Brgy Importante. To get there, take a motorcycle habal habal for 80 to 100 Pesos per way. 20 to 30 minutes travel time. Tibiao is a pretty small town that is very easy to navigate. Locals are also very much willing to assist you on securing your rides. No sweat.

Going up the hills, expect to pay 50 Pesos Tourism fee at a booth. They provide Official Receipt for that. No worries.

At the moment, there are 4 places up the mountains that provide accommodation, full board meals and hot baths. There’s on resort that can be booked through Agoda, but through referrals, I opted to stay at La Escapo Lodge, Owned by the Barangay Captain of the place. Stay details are on my vlog attached.

 

Overnight Kubo Room (Fan Type) : 250/ pax

Hot Bath : 200/pax

Food (Paluto Style): 70 to 100 per set meal. Bringing of Baon is also allowed.

Other activities : Caving, Kayaking, rafting, rice paddle trekking with kids as guides (like 7 years old. lels)

At the moment, expect to have very unstable to no Network Signal. No Data. No Wifi. Good luck sa inyo mga bes. However, a visit to Tibiao is definitely a great opportunity to have some long overdue quiet time; A Place for retreat. A chance to reconnect with you inner thoughts. An inspirational book plus hot coffee will be a good idea.

The place is super green, super fresh smelling and soothing cool with drizzling rain from time to time. The accommodation huts are just up the stream so sobrang sarap matulog talaga hearing the water flow down and crash against the river rocks.

Definitely going back there soon.

—0—-

Where I stayed : La Escapo Lodge and Hot Bath, owned by the family of Miss Yolly Amar. Get in touch with them though facebook.

Biyaheng Pinas:Backpacking Capiz and Isla de Gigantes Sample Itinerary

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Here’s a quick recap vlog on how I spent one fine weekend backpacking Capiz and Isla de Gigantes. I flew in via Airasia’s direct Davao-Kalibo flight. Kalibo to Roxas City,Capiz is merely 1.5 hours away by van.
Capiz and Isla de Gigantes are two awesome alternative destinations accessible from Kalibo (in case Boracay is already a cliche).

Getting around tips:

Kalibo City to Roxas City, Capiz

From Kalibo Airport, walk towards the highway, which is merely 60 meters away. Tricycle rides from the highway to anywhere in downtown Kalibo is only 10 Pesos. Super cheap as compared to the chartered tricycles directly outside the arrival area (minimum 100 Pesos). Upon exiting the airport, don’t forget to try the Aklan Style Suman with Latik. To die for super yummy. Tradition ko tlga kumain nito upon arrival and before I leave.

Van terminal from Kalibo to Roxas City (Capiz) is located at the front of Citymall. 5 am to 7pm. 120 Pesos. 1.5 hours travel time.  Vans and buses alight at Pueblo de Panay Central Terminal in Roxas City.

A Platter of Steamed Talaba for only 35 Pesos at Baybay food park, Roxas City

Where to Stay in Roxas City : Beehive Inn. 400 Pesos Fan room with private bathroom and wifi.  Inn is located fronting CAP building; walking distance from public market. Roxas is very easy to navigate. Tricycles are the primary transpo. 10 to 15 Pesos fare.

Roxas City, Capiz to Isla de Gigantes

From Pueblo de Panay Terminal, hop on a Van with “ESTANCIA” Route, but you’re not going to Estancia. Let the driver know you are on your way to Isla de Gigantes so he can drop you off at BALASAN.  65 Pesos per way. One Hour travel. Balasan town is relatively populated. Nothing to be scared of.

From Balasan, hire a motorcycle habal-habal to Bancal Port (or just let the driver know you’re on your way to Isla de Gigantes.)   100 Pesos max to get there.

Bus ride is also doable but is a bit complicated.

Chartering a van from Roxas City is around 3000 to 5000 Pesos. The easiest way ever!

If given some time in Balasan, don’t forget to try their local bibinka. Super small and cute, like around 3 inches diameter lang. pero super yummy. like may buko strips inside and crystalized sugar on top. 

I pre-booked my day tour to Gigantes group of islands with Paul Bolivar of Gigantes island Tours and Services. Get in touch with them through Facebook. Package tour is at 999 Pesos with hefty Lunch (off peak price). Overnight packages are also available.

Here are some of the dishes served during our lunch. PANALO!!!  

 

Backpackers Hostel Recommendations in Boracay

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Hostel stay has now become a popular option when visiting Boracay. Hostels (or minsan referred din as Dormitory type accommodation)are perfect for solo backpackers, as well as travelling groups preferring shared rooms and amenities,to save on cost.

During my recent visit, naisip ko lang to come up ng list of hostels around the island with very good ratings, based on Agoda and Booking.com. Pinuntahan ko sila personally to check and take some videos of their rooms and amenities. Aside from good ratings, featured hostels here have prices not exceeding P 500.00 per night (Off peak rates). Check my short video blog below. =)

Here’s the shortlist of hostels featured,

1. Hostel Avenue . 3rd and 4th floor Pats Creek Bar, Station 2. This hostel offers the best location, as it is the only option at the moment with direct beachfront access.

2. W Hostel. Bolabog Road. Walking distance from D’mall. Best In View. Panalo ang roof deck amenities for chill nights. The hostel is managed by Koreans.

3. Mad Monkey Hostel. Popular chain of hostel na sila sa Cambodia, kaya panalo sa mga foreign backpackers. Massive swimming pool, sobrang party mode ng crowd. If bet mo magka jowa ng Kano, ok, dito ka. =)

4. Chill-out Hostel. The name clearly represents its atmosphere. Relax lang. Nice din ang pool. Very photogenic. If bet mo mag emote, dito ka. =)

5. Chillax Flashpacker Hostel. Panalo sa cleanliness. Bago ang facilities. Medyo secluded location at Diniwid beach (next to station 1). The Hostel is managed by a very accommodating New Zealander guy.

All these hostels can be booked through booking.com. For inquiries, pwede rin sila sa facebook.  Chikahin nyo lang. =)

Boracay Quickie Trip : What’s in my Backpack Challenge

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Hello,mga bes. Yes, I feel super rejuvenated,alive and fresh from my recent trip to Boracay. Quickie trip lang, 3 days. Di ako excited nun. Di nga ako masyadong nakapaghanda. Before the trip, I just had my hair highlighted with Sun-kissed Brown Balayage, courtesy of the Master Colourist himself, Buddy Congson of Hairs and Nails Salon. May I promote pa noh? Ganun tlga. #LoveLove

Moving forward, I thought of sharing with you guys how I prepared and packed my things for this trip. We all have our own styles of  loading our bags based on the purpose of the travel. Me personally, kahit anong occasion pa yan, I like my things light,organised and minimal, bringing only the necessary. I believe naman na pag may kulang, we can always buy them upon arrival (unless mamundok ka, then Kbye). As much as possible, I don’t baggage check in na. I don’t mind hand carrying my things naman, so that i can get off the plane swiftly and leave the airport agad. I don’t have to wait na for my bag sa carousel and all. Para sa mga nagtatanong, I use a Cabin Zero 44L Backpack. It’s a European brand na super lightweight material with huge storage capacity, parang maleta na ang peg. Hindi ito paid advertisement ha? Wag kayong echosera. I just like how this bag serves its purpose. Although wala masyadong compartments. It would be better if we also use smaller pouches to segregate and organise things.  IMG20170426173107Sadly for this trip, airline crew wanted me to check in my baggage because of the go pro stick. Weird nga eh. I had many trips na before and selfie sticks are allowed naman for hand carry. But Kebs na; life’s to short to question airline protocol.  Anyways, let us proceed with the dissection. Here is what’s inside my backpack:IMG20170426173337( from lower right, clockwise):

  1. Pouch 1 for clothes
  2. Pouch 2 for more clothes
  3. Pouch for shoes and slippers
  4. Pouch for Swimwear
  5. Pouch Toiletry/Skin care/gadgets
  6. Camera. Go Pro tayo kasi beach (On top of my backpack)
  7. A smaller day bag. Though it would have been better kung ung waterproof type nalang, kasi beach eh. Next time.

—–oo——

The Breakdown:

1-2. Pouch for Clothes . Pouch 1 -clothes for super casual, beachwear and the likes, and Pouch 2 -clothes for porma and for dine outs. On other trips, I have separate pouch for semi formal/formal.  Sakto lang ganitong style for quickie, business o leisure trip with friends. For long term backpacking, I have different method of packing. hihi. The Pouches, I bought lang sa 88 store. very helpful to.IMG20170426173419

3. Pouch for slippers and shoes. In Boracay, kasi kailangan porma, I brought one more sandal, not shown sa photo. lol . IMG20170426173534

4. Pouch for Swimwear. Recommend ko talaga mag rash guard sa beach, for skin protection na din. Sa brands, nothing in particular;department store- bought lang.  Meron pa to goggles and ear plugs, di ko na nasali sa pic.IMG20170426173651 Yung rashgard ko, may opening for the thumb to keep the sleeves in place.IMG20170426173708

 5. Pouch for Toiletry/Skin Care/Gadgets  . IMG20170426174028 Toiletries pouch ko sa upper left. Nothing fancy. Toothpaste, conditioner, shampoo in a refillable bottle (less than 100ml). I don’t bring soap nah, body wash lang.Hassle eh. Though when I am at home, I maintain using organic soap from Myskin Origins.

Pouch for Medicine, eyedrops, and my daily fibre supplement.

Gadgets – Just Charger and spare batteries for Go pro.

The white triangle, spare plastic bag, lol, as in silopin from Gmall, pwede na. Always ako meron nito, even in my work bag.

Pouch for Skin Care, lol, dami.  Ito un.

IMG20170426174144Face Mask – The cucumber mask in particular has a soothing and cooling effect to the skin; a perfect night care after a full day fiasco under the sun. I only use mask from The Face Shop; kinasanayan na.

Dermax UV Gel Sunblock for the face. I was advised by my derma to use only gel type water based sun protection, kasi I am prone to break outs. Mejo mahal, kaya for the face lang. I use a different one for the body.

Dermax Hyal C Serum. Serves as my facial moisturizer before bedtime. 

Day-long Sunblock Gel from Cetaphil for the neck and body.

Alcohol in a spray type bottle. Very convenient. Refillable pa.

Eye Roll on. lol. Di ko alam bat nadala ko to, I don’t use this often.

Acne Gel Cleanser from VMV.

Lip balm with SPF 15 from Nivea.

My Favourite perfume in a small handy bottle. Walang reason not to smell fresh during travel.

IMG20170426174205This is my sun protection set. I also bring this with me during fieldworks. 

So, yes basically that’s it. Haha, maarte ba? Sa skin care lng naman. Kailangan yun. Though I am fully aware that I do not have perfect smooth skin at the moment, it could have been worse if I never took care of it. Sabi nga ni Kris Aquino, oiliness is less to joblessness.

It was a fun 3 days trip to Boracay. Kulang tlga. But yes, we can always go back. Good thing Airasia Ph now offers direct flights from Davao to Caticlan/Kalibo. This means cheaper fare na for us coming from Southern Mindanao, because we do not have to pass by Manila or Cebu anymore.

Quickie weekend trip to Boracay? pwedeng pwede nah! IMG20170426111403_Fotor

During our trip, we were hosted by AZALEA Hotels and Residences Boracay, in Station 2. Azalea Boracay is the only 4 star service apartment-hotel in the island. Good location, furnished kitchen on every suites,commendable services. The hotel even has a heated pool at the roof deck. Panalo! Will upload more blogs re our accommodation soon, for now, you may get in touch with at http://www.azaleaboracay.com/.

Til then. Ciao =)

Portraits : The Philippine Eagle Conservation Center

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portraits Philippine Eagle

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The Philippine Eagle Center Mission

The Philippine Eagle Foundation is a private, non-stock, non-profit organization dedicated to saving the endangered Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) and its rainforest habitat.  Organized in 1987, it had before that time been operating as a project for research, rehabilitation, and captive breeding.

The Philippine Eagle Foundation commits to promote the survival of the Philippine Eagle, the biodiversity, and the sustainable use of our forest resources for future generations.

The Philippine Eagle Foundation
VAL Learning Village, Ruby St., Marfori Heights,
Davao City 8000 Philippines

The Philippine Eagle Center

Malagos, Baguio District
Davao City 8000 Philippines

 

Grote Markt of Brussels|A Photoblog

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The La Grand Place (De Grote Markt in Dutch) is the iconic square in the Belgian capital of Brussels. The place is a UNESCO accredited heritage site, and is by far one of the most well preserved old town square I’ve visited. 
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The Grote Markt is even more alluring at night time.

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The prettiest Belgian waffles are everywhere around the Markt.

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And there is nothing that a hot Belgian Chocolate drink can’t fix. This set is definitely a substantial substitute for love. Charot. Mema lang. More of Brussels on my next posts. Wait lang, mga besh.

A Day in Bruges| A Photoblog

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Bruges is a medieval city of northwest Belgium, that is highly distinguished for its canals, cobbled streets and brick-faced buildings. The city played a significant trading point in Northern Europe during the 14th to 19th century, and is among the few that had been spared from major destruction during the WWII. It was said that a certain general of the Nazi got charmed by its old world beauty, that he ordered protection over the place during the war. Today, Bruges is one of Belgium’s most visited spot, and is considered as one of the most well preserved medieval city in the whole of Europe.

Here are some snapshots that I took during my day tour around Bruges; gloomy, yet still pretty. =)brugge10brugge11brugge12brugge13brugge14brugge15brugge16Bruges is a mere one hour train ride from the capital city of Brussels. Several trips run between the two cities, but it is recommended that you take the intercity train from Brussels ‘MIDI’ station with fewer stops (Trains from Brussels Central Station take longer time). Round trip ticket is around 20 Euros. A day tour would be enough to see Bruges; and when purchasing round trip tickets, always ask the attendant to guide you re return time options. Always keep your ticket in the safe place as the attendant will check this from time to time. Bruges is very walkable. Upon arriving at the central station, do a quick stop at the tourist centre just before the exit, to secure a city map and take some free postcards with you. =) brugge17brugge18brugge19brugge20brugge21brugge22Food is fairly cheap in Belgium, compared to other European cities. In Bruges, a quick grub from Pasta Maria is recommended. A pack of Alfredo for 3 Euros isn’t bad already. brugge2brugge7

Between Brussels and Bruges is another charming medieval city, known as Ghent. If you intend to visit the place, ask from the Brussels MIDI station the proper transfer tickets. Credit card and debit cards are widely accepted in Belgium.

Jose’s 10 Best Street Food Moments

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Ok, dahil kain lang ako ng kain lately, I thought of shortlisting some 10 memorable street food moments and lamons from my recent biyahes around. Nothing super fancy, basta yung mga casual, simple at cheap pagkain lang; nonetheless, authentic pa din. Walang cheeseburger dito ha? So here goes. Enjoy. =)

1.) Pho, Ho Chi Minh (2013): Nung binubuo ko pa lang this compilation, first that came into my mind was the Pho I had from a modest sidewalk set up eatery named Bum Bo Hue, along Bui Vien Street. Sobrang sarap, sobrang fresh ng sangkap, very pretty looking, it’s actually unforgettable. Pho is a traditional beef (or chicken) broth soup ng Vietnam na madaming leafy herbs, usually cilantro or fresh mint. Iba din arrive nya compared sa other Asian soup. Super nice din nung lady owner, that she gave me kakanin. A big bowl was around 50,000 dong ( around $ 2.5 usd, 100 pesos ). This may not be the cheapest, but it was highly recommended by the hostel staff. Typical sa Ho Chi Minh yung naglalatag lang sa sidewalk ng tables and chairs, lalo na pag gabi; sobrang Vibrant ng place.

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Vietnamese Pho

2.) Authentic Pad Thai, Bangkok (2013): Though madami naman masarap na Pad Thai everywhere, iba pa din when you get to enjoy a freshly cooked set along Rambuttri o Khaosan Road. As such, deserving to ng spot dito sa compilation.  Pad Thai is an authentic Thai noodle dish that is mildly sweet and mildly tangy (from its tamarind-based sauce), and usually topped with peanut and drizzled with lemon. This one in the picture is a vegetarian set. Tofu lang yun gamit. around 59 Bhat (100 Pesos)SAM_1292

3.) Poh Piah, Singapore (2013): This may be ordinary for some, pero sobrang na enjoy ako sa Poh Piah na nakain ko dun sa SG. Poh Piah s a Fujian/Chaozhou-style fresh spring roll that is sweet,peanuty and medyo crunchy inside kasi magulay. This is also common in Taiwan, Malaysia and Thailand. This one on the photo was around 2 Sgd.SAM_0446

4.) Curry Mutton Balls, Kolkatta (2014): Ito ung first meal ko sa India, kaya memorable kasi sa labas lang to ng public market kasabay yung mga locals, kaya sobrang authentic ng feel. Sobrang flavourful din ng dish na ito. Wag na kayong ano, mahilig talaga ako sa curry. This was only 25 Rupees (Around 25 Pesos), may kasamang Paratha (Indian bread prepared on a griddle, and lightly oiled).

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Roti bread with some curry. My First Street food in India

5.) Masala Omelette Sandwich, Delhi (2014): Simple lang, super cheap ,like 25 Rupee (around 25 Pesos) pero sobrang saya ko na dito. Masala is a traditional Indian spice mix. Di ko ma explain ano lasa nito. Alanganin curry, alanganin cumin, basta very pungent. May fresh Onion pa at Coriander combined with the omelette. Overwhelming for some, pero sarap na sarap ako. Common to sa Pajar Ganj. 2x ko to breakfast when I was in Delhi.

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Masala Egg Omelette Sandwich . A cheap street food , prepared while you wait, which was good because you get to see how its done. (think fairly clean street food)

6.) Kusum Mutton Roll, Kolkatta (2014):  Nabasa ko to noon kay Migrationology.com. Its basically like kebab, only that the grilled mutton stuffing is somewhat curried, and is wrapped with a Paratha (Indian bread prepared on a griddle, and lightly oiled) and walang garlic sauce/white sauce for this; just red onion, onion stalk and light chili sauce.  Mga 70-80 Rupees per piece.

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the super yummy Kusum Mutton Roll in park street Kolkatta, mentioned by Migrationology.com as one of his 25 best street food in the world worthy of travel. and indeed it is.

7) Souvlaki, Athens (2015): Souvlaki is Greece’s version of Beef Kebab. This one in the photo is from a famous eatery called ‘Thanalis’ in Athens, which is known to serve good wraps. Souvlaki is somewhat more comparable to India’s Kusum Roll, kasi the wrapper is prepared almost the same way. Mas madami lang anik anik itong sa Greek like tomato, red onion, and may potato fries pa, tas may white sauce. Around 3 Euros (150 Pesos) pero generous naman sa size.

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8.) Not so traditional Salami Pizza, Rome (2015): Di ko na maalala ung name, nahanap ko lang to sa tabi tabi eh. Sobrang nasarapan ako dito, among all pizza na natry ko dun. May fresh basil leaves to under the salami.  3 to 4 Euros per serve.

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9.) Kimbap, Seoul (2015): Kimbap is like Korea’s version of maki/sushi… Only that feeling ko, theirs is more basic, fastfood-ish, and are usually stuffed with ham,egg, cheese and crispy vegetables.And like a typical Korean dish, may this one has a kick of Sesame oil. Common to sa mga subway hawkers around seoul. If you are not into the strong smelling fishcake and the spicy deokbokki, then this is your next best streetfood option in Korea. 

10.) Hongkong Style Skewers (2015): Hongkong is also every man’s streetfood heaven. Lahat ng cravings mo on international levels, nandun nah sa streets nila; kaya deserving din to ng spot sa compilation. Among all skewers, itong bacon wrapped sausage ang favourite ko. Basta may bacon, I’ll rest my case. Lol 

Bonus: Dessert, beh! =)
11.) Gulab Jamun, Delhi (2014) : Ito ang tunay na masarap! Jamun is a Solid Milk-based Mithai (Indian Sweets).  Usually caramelized, minsan meron pang rose flavour, o saffron flavour… kaya nagiging kakaiba na ung taste.

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Jamun Balls. deep fried sweet milk dough with caramel sauce. Yummy ! 15 INR for 2 piece !

12.) Belgian Waffle, Brussels(2016): Bilang sarado gana, sasali ko sa list this super pretty Belgian Waffle i had near the Grand Place in Brussels. Mejo chewy ung mismong waffle, ganun daw tlga ang authentic. Generous ang topping, and smothered with real white chocolate. Sobrang filling. This one is at 4 Euros, pero good for 2 na to.

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Yun lang muna guys. Sana nagutom kayo =)

Hello,Stockholm. Anung meron? (A Quickie Trip Around Sweden’s Capital City)

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I basically had only 1 day and a half to see Stockholm, kase transit lang naman siya. But given more time, I would have stayed longer, as the city is really charming and clean, not to mention numerous posh and smartly interiored cafes, and lots of well dressed goodlooking people walking around. =) Anyways, here are some snippets, ganaps and things that I did on my short trip to Stockholm.

Stockholm is one destination na I felt super foreign. Wala akong na meet na Pinoy. Wala rin masyadong backpackers dun. Actually nga, sobrang limited ng number of hostels dun. This was attested also by the staff of Crafoord’s Place, where I stayed. Even my room mate was a Swedish lady from a nearby town. Unlike Oslo or Amsterdam, mejo conservative ang mood and vibe ng Stockholm City Center. Tahimik. Hindi matao. Very walkable.

If you have some spare time, its also nice to visit Stockholm’s public library. This is one thing you can do in this city for free.

Active ang Free walking tour culture sa Stockholm. This 1-2 hours tour is arranged by locals, free of charge. You can just donate any amount you prefer. I was able to join one that was referred to me by Crafoord’s Place. No more online registration, I just went straight to  Gamla Stan Metro Station at 1 PM, and met fellow travellers there. Gamla Stan by the way is the old quarter of Stockholm. Fun thing about joining such hippie tours is that aside sa touches on history, madami sila naseshare na urban legends, and even royal family intrigues. Their current princess daw is married to her gym trainor, and the prince naman married a reality star na may mga scandal. How showbiz. lol. Anyways, here are some snippets of Gamla Stan, which is very photogenic by the way. And madami cafes and restaurants around. I spent 3 hours here. Kain, kape and just lounge around. Swedish pastries are amazing by the way.

After the tour around Gamla, I head to the opposite bank in the Sodermalm district, for a place called “Mariaberget”, kasi sabi dun mo daw makikita ang best view of Stockholm from a higher elevation. See the cliffy place with trees in the right side of the picture below? Yan na yun.

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Indeed, the view from there is stunning. Post Card Levels. stockholm37stockholm41stockholm38

Sa mga fans ng Ikea, there’s a free bus ride from the city center to the huge main outlet, that is around 40 minutes away. Super free ung bus back and forth. Sadly, I was not able to do it since I lacked time. But for those visitng soon, bus leaves every hour near outside Central Station. (Malapit sa Max’s Burger)

Food. Observation ko lang ha, among the Scandinavian cities I’ve visited, food prices are almost the same. However in Sweden, mas madami lang choices on the cheap and budget. Pastries there usually packaged at 3 for 20 SEK (100 Pesos) lang. And I swear, sobrang sarap ng mga puffs and tarts nila dun.

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Chicken Curry sandwiches are a thing there in Scandinavia. This one is a sample. Super good.

stockholm35Patok din sa kanila ang DIY Salad foodang. relatively cheap. stockholm4Sa Sweden lang din ako naka hanap ng super cheap na sandwich set in Scandinavia. This set of ham and cheese pancake with brewed coffee is only 20 SEK (100 Pesos).  Walang ganito sa Oslo.stockholm11

Sa mga ma-alak people, may Ice Bar dun sa Central Station banda, near Max’s Burger din. around 900 Pesos entrance fee.

Absolut Vodka, by the way, is from Sweden. =)

Accommodation. I stayed at Crafoord’s Place, which is fairly walkable naman from the Central Station. The place is actually a penthouse on the 8th floor of Stockholms College of Information Technology.  OK na to at around 1,350.00 Pesos per night. And like most other Scandinavian hostels, towel rental and linens are an add on cost. However, they provide comforter naman and a pillow, as seen on the picture below. stockholm5Maganda ang view from Crafoord’s , I swear. stockholm6

Airport Transfer . Flying to Stockholm from Asia, you will most likely land at Arlanda Airport, that is around 45 minutes away by bus.  Arlanda Airport is super convenient, meron na Metro train from there to Stockholm and other parts of Sweden.  However, it is really cheaper if you go by bus, with Flybussarna. In addition, buying tickets online via Flybussarna app gives you more savings pa (as of the year 2016 ha), like 99 SEK per way nalang from 119 SEK when you buy at the airport kiosk. No worries, may wifi ung airport nila, I basically downloaded the app there na.

More things to follow. GTG muna akey =)

Backpacking Iceland On A Cheap (Things to do,where to stay and stuff)

Published on by iamjosemanuel4 Comments

When visiting Iceland with a limited time only, here are some must sees and must do activities that should never be missed.

  1. Golden Circle Tour. This is a whole day activity that takes you around Iceland’s famous natural landscapes. I booked mine with Reykjavik Excursions for 10,400 Isk (4,500 Pesos). Yep, the package might sound pricey, but I did not have much choice, as there are no public transportation in Iceland that goes to the specified destinations. It would have been cheaper also if I tapped with fellow travellers and just share on a rented car, but I did not find any on my scheduled date. So, there. Nonetheless, the guided tour by Reykjavik Excursions was quite relaxed and we were not really rushed to complete things; which is good. Tip: Wear something waterproof jacket and pants when going around Iceland, as the weather can be quite unpredictable with recurring rain and strong wind, especially on the mountainous areas, to which is what this tour is all about.
    Gullfoss Waterfall is one of Iceland’s Iconic landscapes. this is around 30-40 meters drop in total.sobrang powerful
The Geysir is mother earth’s natural fountain. This is produced when hot air is formed underground and finds its way up pockets of water. Kaya tumasabog pa vertical when there is too much pressure already. Water is HOT!
Thingvellir National Park is significate, as it is there the continents of Eurasia and North America Split up, geographically.

2)Blue Lagoon Tour. Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. The spa is located in a lava rock field in southwestern Iceland, thus the naturally black ground. The somewhat milky coloured of the water is a natural thing that is a result of the Silica-mineral rich ground of the lagoon. Warm water dun at around 39 degrees Celcius. It was raining heavily when I went there, and was super cold if you are not in the water. Nonetheless, the experience was great! 10,700 Isk (4,600 Pesos)

3)Northern Light Tour.  Now here’s the tricky part, kasi the Nothern Lights are a natural phenomenon that is very much dependent on weather conditions. Experiencing this can never be assured. I myself waited for 4 nights, and wasn’t lucky enough to witness it. The whole Iceland was cloudy and rainy when I went there. 6,400 Isk (2,800 Pesos) for a light chase tour. Fully refundable if weather was awful during your stay.

4)Citywalk Reykjavik. This is a free tour that you can sign up with on the internet (Citywalk.Is). It is a 2 hours walking tour around the city that fully depends on donations. Any amount will be accepted after the tour. This one is a good activity especially for backpackers. Definitely a good venue to meet fellow travellers.

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Reykjavik is actually a very artsy city with a fun vibe. You get to see a lot of interesting around. Here’s one example.

Hallgrímskirkja Church is another iconic must see in Reykjavik. This contemporary-themed catholic church may be odd looking outside, but inside has very clean and crisp art and accents. It is the only church I’ve visited so far that has somewhat a minimalist feel on its interior spaces. Visiting this could easily be fitted after the Citywalk tour. Entrance is free.

5)Harpa Concert Hall and the surrounding port is another must visit icon of Reykjavik. Visitors can marvel on the amazing contemporary interiors of this post-modern glass box building. Imagine when the Northern lights are up and this glass building reflects all the activities of the sky. Surreal siguro un. No entrance fees on this as well.  The surrounding port is also worth a walk and probably have dine-ins there.

Food. Given naman na food in Iceland is expensive. Almost everything is imported, if not grown in a greenhouse. Though pricey, the portions naman are relatively big. Just to give you guys an idea, the cheapest that you can find along the street are hotdog sandwiches, for 450 Isk ( 180 Php/3-4 Usd), but it’s big na, like almost a foot long. Sample in the photo is Baejarins Beztu Pylsur, the famous Hotdog stand na masarap ung sauce and may crunchy fried onion bits sa bottom ng bun.

Baejarins Beztu Pylsur is the famous hotdog stand. it’s where famous international people had their bite, like Bill Clinton

Iceland people are fond of vegetarian menus din. As I’ve observed, almost always may vegetarian option sa menus. Vegetarian sandwiches are great on breakfast for 450 Isk ( 180 Php/3-4 Usd) . Basic black coffee is also around 450 Isk ( 180 Php/3-4 Usd) reykjavik14

Average-priced dine ins are at around 900 to 1,800 Isk (400 to 800 pesos). Bottomline, mahal ang dine-in sa Iceland because of labor and taxes.  Here are a few snapshots.

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A Hefty Chicken Doner from XO diner
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Traditional Fish Stew with Rye Bread from Sjávarbarinn
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Herb Crusted Salmon

They also have whale dishes, but I never dreamed of eating such. Haha. sorry.

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Strawberry cream pie with meringue crusty topping from Oddsson’s cafe at the ground floor

Kung gusto makamura, grocery! And particularly sa Bonus Supermarket near the port or the BSI Bus terminal. Ito yung baon ko when I went to the Golden Circle Tour. hehe

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You can also find cheap ready to eat at groceries. One Whole chicken only costs 1,499 Isk (650 pesos)

Accommodation. There’s not much choices on hostels in Reykjavik. The best na nahanap ko is Oddsson Hotel/Hostel, which is it at 10-15 minutes walk from the Port, and a little more from the city center. Waterfront ang Oddsson, so maganda ang view, and sobrang lamig talaga. May “Vida Express”Grocery at the front, and a little further, there’s “Bonus Supermarket”where the locals go. The hostel has a big kitchen and a balcony, with a heated jacuzzi pa. One night is around 1,500.00 Pesos, towel use excluded. reykjavik1214971638_10210521812582889_538648521_oreykjavik13reykjavik89

Airport Transfer. There is no train facility in Iceland, so the next best and secure option is by bus. Though minimal ang difference with others, the cheapest option is with Grayline Airport Express, and get the roundtrip (Airport-Reykjavik-Airport) package of around 4,000.00 Isk (Php 1,760.00, pwedeng sa website nila, or at the airport na by cash or credit card). For some reason, di ko naisip kunin ang round trip kaya napamahal ako.

Iceland was part of the 10 days Backpacking trip in Scandinavia. For the overall budgeting part, refer to this article : https://iamjosemanuel.com/2016/11/05/backpacking-scandinavia-10-days-in-swedennorway-and-iceland-magkano-ba/

12 Things To Expect in Iceland (Kung Alam Ko Lang!)

Published on by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

Iceland. Wala na akong masabi kasi probably madami na kayong alam na facts and figures about this dream destination. Anyways, here are some things that I’ve learned from my visit, and some personal realizations that could have made my short trip better. Sa mga nagbabalak pumunta, sana may mapulot kyo dito.

  1. TRIVIA: 10% nalang ng Iceland is covered with Glacier/Ice due to climate change. Lumalawak din naman to pag winter pero topical lang and is expected to be washed out by change of season. When I went there,only few snow-capped mountains can be seen from afar.
  2. THE SAD PART: Iceland is majorly a cold-barren land, with large portion of it covered by volcanic rocks, making farming and vegetation close to impossible (which justifies why mahal ang pagkain dun. I swear, naka greenhouse sila even for tomatoes). There are minimal trees left, naubos na ng occupants during the early days, and later did they realise na they cannot regrow trees easily. reykjavik36reykjavik26
  3. MAN AGAINST ELEMENT: Sobrang unpredictable ng Iceland’s wind and weather all year round. It was autumn when I went. Though the temperature is manageable at around 6-10 degrees C, it is the strong,piercing wind that challenges all living things. chot! Seriously, super strong wind expecially sa mountainous parts, some can actually tilt up to 70 degrees and not fall.
  4. UNEXPECTED ACTIVITY: Iceland is a volcanic island. Don’t be surprised with recurring mini earthquakes almost everyday. Thus, madaming hot springs and thermal pools dun that local people enjoy, kahit within the city lang. Point is, bring your SWIMMING Outfit dahil mapapasabak ka talaga sa dipping. I swear naka boxer brief lang ako when I went to Blue Lagoon. Nilaban ko lang with Davao City-level of confidence. Sabi nga ng Indonesian friend ko, “That is very Filipino”. 
  5. OUTFIT: Given the weather unpredictability of this country, WATERPROOF COAT AND PANTS are a MUST! Yun ang kulang ko. I did not research good enough before I left. High cut shoes is also recommended, and preferably leather.  Gloves and Ear muffs are recommended. Gloves, ideally the leather one with removable tips for easy camera use.
  6. SKIN CARE: the cold can at times be more harsh than the heat. Bring moisturiser and lip balm. Don’t neglect your lips. Una yan dudugo.
  7. UPON ARRIVAL: Walang train ang Iceland. Either you go by bus or pasundo ka sa daddy mo. And when you go by bus, whatever the company is, BUY ROUND TRIP pag early morning ang flight mo out of Iceland. Wag matigas ulo.
  8. FOOD: Syempre kailangan nyo din ma experience dining in at Reykjavik. There’s Sjavarbarinn and Messin, among other mid priced restaurants in the city. But if trip nyo mag grocery para maka mura, go to the port, and malapit dun, there’s Bonus Supermarket. Don’t buy from convenient stores. Mahal.
  9. CULTURED PEOPLE: Guys, walang Mcdonald’s sa Iceland. FYI Norman.
  10. GENERAL TIP: Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! and for free!!! Potable water in Iceland is clean enough to drink; The whole of Scandinavia actually.
  11. PASALUBONG: When buying foodie pasalubongs, buy at the airport na before departing. Particularly the local chocolates in Duty Free are like almost 50% cheaper than in Reykjavik’s. Mataas kasi taxes ng city. And I swear, Icelandic chocolates are to die for. In the airport, you can actually buy Salmon meat and other meat products and even Icelandic breads pastries with proper travel packaging. Bsta, iba ang Airport dun in terms of items to buy. Bili din kayo nung Smoked Cod Liver na delata. Masarap pang appetizer. Cheaper din sa airport.
  12. EMOTIONAL PREPARATION: Lastly, prepare yourself sa feeling na seeing the Northern Light is just a bonus in life and a blessing from the Lord Almighty. As it is a natural phenomenon dependent on the weather, not everyone gets to experience them. Personally, I did not see it even though I waited for 4 nights. What hurts is that I was just late by a weekend, kasi days before daw, the light was super strong that you can see them even from the city. Ohw, well, I can just revisit for that someday. And tours for the Northern Light are usually fully refundable when you don’t get to see them. September to March daw ang strong sightings of this elusive show. So book your tickets between those months and magpa-Novena kayo sa mga taga Dona Pilar Village of Davao for good weather.

Interested sa budget? read here, https://iamjosemanuel.com/2016/11/05/backpacking-scandinavia-10-days-in-swedennorway-and-iceland-magkano-ba/

Guy in yellow coat is Martin of Citywalk Reykjavik Free Tour, where me and 2 Indonesian friends joined. Check out their website sa google. Anyways, here are some more snapshots I took around Reykjavik.

And here’s me biting an apple. Share for good luck.

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