tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79287582085692528012024-02-19T00:56:50.715-08:00J2TravelGuideAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-58084765851902626052016-01-25T11:31:00.000-08:002016-01-25T11:50:59.986-08:00Muscat, Oman<b>Photoblog: Muscat, Oman</b><br />
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My apologies for not having updated this blog the past 4 months. I have been very busy with work and business.<br />
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Since my last blog post was about my favorite travel photos, this post will be a photo blog but will be about a specific location - Muscat, Oman.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-3688569890626340272015-09-15T20:29:00.002-07:002015-09-15T20:29:45.439-07:00My Favorite Travel Photos (Philippines) Part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My apologies for not having posted updated this blog the past 2 months. We are halfway thru the rainy season here in the Philippines, so travel is still not encouraged due to typhoons (storms) coming in and out of the country.<br />
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Nevertheless, I am still posting some of my favorite Philippine travel photos made the past three years to whet your appetite for more travel as in 2 months, the dry season here will be commencing.<br />
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<i>*I am also a freelance photographer specializing in weddings, events and portraiture. Hence, I have been working on a lot of my photo files the past few months.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the Intramuros Wall, Manila</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manila Ocean Park, near Luneta, Manila</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mauban, Quezon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boracay Fire Dancer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBN4R4mDgV_rgFGf7XFn92zLgZIRMjtAOYWzbCR7n1c-OBuafFnzsqiDDLHYGTQiSHEzKRJ-hzkb_-_G2lukd1XiF1ixJDe2WIgUU_HRChs41qp1O7ntrEhG0OJ7yIwT9qO3sFzxSe_QW/s1600/C+TEMP+3926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimBN4R4mDgV_rgFGf7XFn92zLgZIRMjtAOYWzbCR7n1c-OBuafFnzsqiDDLHYGTQiSHEzKRJ-hzkb_-_G2lukd1XiF1ixJDe2WIgUU_HRChs41qp1O7ntrEhG0OJ7yIwT9qO3sFzxSe_QW/s640/C+TEMP+3926.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taoist Temple, Cebu City in the Visayas</td></tr>
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Since these photos have large file sizes to showcase their quality, I am limiting the entries in this post and will post my other favorites in a different post.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-17883545190279970222015-07-11T02:33:00.000-07:002015-07-11T02:33:38.471-07:00Nobu Restaurant City of Dreams<br />
Last June, I had the chance of staying with visiting relatives at the Nobu hotel of the newly launched City of Dreams casino complex. The P8,888 promo rate for the room included breakfast for two at the famed Nobu restaurant.<br />
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Since it was during breakfast hours, the restaurant was virtually empty so I got the chance to take a few photos of the restaurant's interior.<br />
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So after we were seated, we immediately proceeded to the buffet table. And as you can see in the photos below, the presentation was top notch.<br />
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I skipped most of the usual breakfast buffet fare, so I could try the unique offerings of Nobu. Also, I wanted to gorge on something healthy so I had mostly vegetables.<br />
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The waitress informed us that aside from the buffet items, we are allowed to select 3 items from this menu list. They serve it one at a item, so if you liked what you ordered, you can use up your remaining 2 orders for that same item.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSbV5O1_5i25n7neTwBnVl56UmJSRda4_ZUXpPF6lIdS3tOnlByde3UZS5wGQxM5gtfkssPQVeBWv9zmjeFVb6wx3dJunse__Cl-oRXYFABrEiHv1irTEfky6ByN9vcBe8hBXkuJLelc/s1600/NR+9229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSbV5O1_5i25n7neTwBnVl56UmJSRda4_ZUXpPF6lIdS3tOnlByde3UZS5wGQxM5gtfkssPQVeBWv9zmjeFVb6wx3dJunse__Cl-oRXYFABrEiHv1irTEfky6ByN9vcBe8hBXkuJLelc/s320/NR+9229.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nobu style tapsilog with Wagyu beef</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Note that the servings here are quite small so the tapsilog pictured above is actually smaller than the usual value meal serving size of even fastfood establishments in the Philippines. A few bites, and the tapsilog is done.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRimBhZO_hJpHYBdUXOfvfgmBxJ96QwmMMJo-74xLUfnrrPLMG631NtJocJC3k-dDXLEXGzQEivNyFlr9oY3Busq4sfSqfS-EqevprzcmYqkdrnQcMzsgr6tJs-PrP_-QqYuUdVzeBxRb/s1600/NR+9254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTRimBhZO_hJpHYBdUXOfvfgmBxJ96QwmMMJo-74xLUfnrrPLMG631NtJocJC3k-dDXLEXGzQEivNyFlr9oY3Busq4sfSqfS-EqevprzcmYqkdrnQcMzsgr6tJs-PrP_-QqYuUdVzeBxRb/s400/NR+9254.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silken Tofu Hotpot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmeXZFq6sUVZvr1iQ-gGRaRgngBwZnuyPfVtv9aC_XSftjd5-xVBfGH9CgK6wAjW4vTi-Hm2PBSWR4MxeZDlLyQClmSTSipXzIC_hD0mm_aS21x92MywrCTzHol8WuKVaXQb8j9HGJqY/s1600/NR+9237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmeXZFq6sUVZvr1iQ-gGRaRgngBwZnuyPfVtv9aC_XSftjd5-xVBfGH9CgK6wAjW4vTi-Hm2PBSWR4MxeZDlLyQClmSTSipXzIC_hD0mm_aS21x92MywrCTzHol8WuKVaXQb8j9HGJqY/s400/NR+9237.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shioyaki (fish dish common in Japanese cuisine)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I may have eaten healthy during that breakfast, but I am still a fan of dessert (yes even for breakfast!) so here are a few more items I had.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D5UQKdrXKne8mAndUrTrXq3jvspo420TIlgi-12oTJXNPUVFDhCDbWznmGZt1L5vD1iWAEGRX_YhTyv-5QRHcpzWZ7BUszUAJO2sKFpKVoldWiMhoz6mhXC-NyRTK6fr5oZXyAHo451A/s1600/NR+9232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1D5UQKdrXKne8mAndUrTrXq3jvspo420TIlgi-12oTJXNPUVFDhCDbWznmGZt1L5vD1iWAEGRX_YhTyv-5QRHcpzWZ7BUszUAJO2sKFpKVoldWiMhoz6mhXC-NyRTK6fr5oZXyAHo451A/s320/NR+9232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDm4k-bCVaRavATYOntSigZ0RVCZF3O9VclLZqntFJu35vrbuHNv_XjNEjJjVNX734pSoh7bX-rPI8s7Jzu_MidNOpBsECu7bj_Vxqfr4jMv1-_p-eQGh17Dgj6X-Z7egUV_9pyNmTd9K/s1600/NR+9251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDm4k-bCVaRavATYOntSigZ0RVCZF3O9VclLZqntFJu35vrbuHNv_XjNEjJjVNX734pSoh7bX-rPI8s7Jzu_MidNOpBsECu7bj_Vxqfr4jMv1-_p-eQGh17Dgj6X-Z7egUV_9pyNmTd9K/s320/NR+9251.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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If you are looking for the usual buffet wherein you are expecting generous servings of the usual meat items this may not be the buffet for you. Nobu restaurant is more of a dining experience,<br />
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I also did not include the price of the items as this was a breakfast buffet bundled with the hotel room. Do note also, that even in California, Nobu restaurants are known for premium prices. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-89958556849215773572015-05-19T18:07:00.000-07:002015-05-19T18:07:32.237-07:00Baguio Revisited<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBZMj_wRu0ZQHSD1Z7vCSjs8LBq-UMuYDu6tgQisOfe9iaZHS6CxqJss-ejlYhqxC6ZeNjkwZayzFV9SgKInRRe-Q5hkvi9UVx0D-zfyT0A6koKXfIEGbMPY-aVMA_BRgSdZsjqN2QMBu/s1600/BP+247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBZMj_wRu0ZQHSD1Z7vCSjs8LBq-UMuYDu6tgQisOfe9iaZHS6CxqJss-ejlYhqxC6ZeNjkwZayzFV9SgKInRRe-Q5hkvi9UVx0D-zfyT0A6koKXfIEGbMPY-aVMA_BRgSdZsjqN2QMBu/s400/BP+247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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While Baguio has been traditionally considered the Philippines' summer capital, other Philippine destinations (e.g. Boracay and Palawan) have challenged it in recent years<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJSD_VkVbilYdWiw896q-aGq9nwo1jHoBJq48RT6mlIYKynPL-6c-jTTTVry1jMN1T6Ty9D6nbdVWYEIb_7-KPZ3zzDSMIDelZ7zyQIL54TrzbJ9EuRjfo5MDWXQ9Z6x3s0jRyhvwnLwI/s1600/CJH+00094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJSD_VkVbilYdWiw896q-aGq9nwo1jHoBJq48RT6mlIYKynPL-6c-jTTTVry1jMN1T6Ty9D6nbdVWYEIb_7-KPZ3zzDSMIDelZ7zyQIL54TrzbJ9EuRjfo5MDWXQ9Z6x3s0jRyhvwnLwI/s400/CJH+00094.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp John Ampitheater</td></tr>
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However this summer and months before that , Baguio experienced a resurgence due to the extra exposure given by the romantic Philippine telenovela Forevermore. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_ZN8j_mFpBJUCa_e4CkNwIDztKKibSkYjCHVRpShXL8XJeUYrmp9Tk479buAACqpqiVW3Qa5368eftymQzhV1LuEgAWDjnyXouu1rI3FXDqSfTWvxQMvo9gqUYYOa_70l8rwpmFbjmk/s1600/BP+239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_ZN8j_mFpBJUCa_e4CkNwIDztKKibSkYjCHVRpShXL8XJeUYrmp9Tk479buAACqpqiVW3Qa5368eftymQzhV1LuEgAWDjnyXouu1rI3FXDqSfTWvxQMvo9gqUYYOa_70l8rwpmFbjmk/s400/BP+239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Forevermore viewers don't just want to watch, they actually want to channel their inner Xander and Agnes by visiting the actual shoot locations in Baguio and neighboring areas<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wxJKHZDEeBaYUyT-k3tVnRAVbFU5cu497TsXB6fcwz2brevvpGgCkXSn7bfGlH-LeecA2NaiHjKaHBRfzGQX_y0Zc7W9qYnEfK-38KdDk6-o3yXi47oKC9WbOHfF55sg-KcrTVJzLeQ/s1600/CJH+00096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wxJKHZDEeBaYUyT-k3tVnRAVbFU5cu497TsXB6fcwz2brevvpGgCkXSn7bfGlH-LeecA2NaiHjKaHBRfzGQX_y0Zc7W9qYnEfK-38KdDk6-o3yXi47oKC9WbOHfF55sg-KcrTVJzLeQ/s400/CJH+00096.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not really an actual cemetery but this where you can "bury" negative feelings the way Agnes and Xander did in the series.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2H0INNITQ2rCzve20-Bsmym0-5RWiftya3vCn6NwV8SnTujGInMvhL2wCafU_gkJU8tvwXjLxOjjfv5Akkr9rGrfQtiMlHYMil7JeWuxDSZIyn3YSZLWdqM_romBle2tkDxQbTOM7Bk/s1600/CJH+00099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2H0INNITQ2rCzve20-Bsmym0-5RWiftya3vCn6NwV8SnTujGInMvhL2wCafU_gkJU8tvwXjLxOjjfv5Akkr9rGrfQtiMlHYMil7JeWuxDSZIyn3YSZLWdqM_romBle2tkDxQbTOM7Bk/s400/CJH+00099.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you get tired chasing the supposedly "Forever" of your life, you can dine for around P1000 (US$22) per person at the nearby Manor Hotel (aka Hotel Grande in the telenovela). Yes, it is expensive for the typical local tourist but you will feel like a Grande or a Saavedra during your meal.<br />
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After your meal, you can sip coffee enjoying the view while contemplating your next business moves e.g. acquiring that parcel of strawberry farmland known as La Presa.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnbEW52pIetTH4mdryz0mLTw0cbSpko-94xBtCIjFBR92Lv0XHNp-ud7Iauf4xATwyjz1IVfon11aywvbFP25B-vU0eiGvmx3Clq4xwusNH-87mInBwGu-_yo8GuRsiKF9O5TpgBRokLf/s1600/CJH+00085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFnbEW52pIetTH4mdryz0mLTw0cbSpko-94xBtCIjFBR92Lv0XHNp-ud7Iauf4xATwyjz1IVfon11aywvbFP25B-vU0eiGvmx3Clq4xwusNH-87mInBwGu-_yo8GuRsiKF9O5TpgBRokLf/s400/CJH+00085.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f9EstXuMOeqNdZtfZOan6P-5cJTn_XtPyosDovlPuqigfUouTvr_wGwiJOutdSynM7Wf3AiXXyyM0DTgcHCFwPrzUAO60mrS5xWYxN_GbMFzNmfbhDPwb0Qd7ssXbdROSkPIl_oJYrMd/s1600/CJH+352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6f9EstXuMOeqNdZtfZOan6P-5cJTn_XtPyosDovlPuqigfUouTvr_wGwiJOutdSynM7Wf3AiXXyyM0DTgcHCFwPrzUAO60mrS5xWYxN_GbMFzNmfbhDPwb0Qd7ssXbdROSkPIl_oJYrMd/s400/CJH+352.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel lobby of Manor ("Hotel Grande")</td></tr>
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Just don't dangle someone from the balcony the way Xander did in the series<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NiBjH_ZP1vZypDCbtP_G9U0ufWpzfuRG-60VKHFv4iQDxBGi6dNzqReSFKrz2tRHjklo8baiA5Nr7fgQHnhUok4_xDnAYitBSBDUvZ0elQ0TfOfaXngXhwYkN1bnhBX35L5tLxjIudXU/s1600/CJH+00074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NiBjH_ZP1vZypDCbtP_G9U0ufWpzfuRG-60VKHFv4iQDxBGi6dNzqReSFKrz2tRHjklo8baiA5Nr7fgQHnhUok4_xDnAYitBSBDUvZ0elQ0TfOfaXngXhwYkN1bnhBX35L5tLxjIudXU/s400/CJH+00074.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8PaCNFIRfVpQYoUmoyvGeY9UYXHuSXF99n6LK3TxNYf1Hyz48MOljNO8WhnrKoSPNaXBahYLEeWVPpEOjm2NllKYB-aFxNebBbU5jLuJ-hWQgKa9CQ-5zwALg8zoqsDhYR7qEhbsGNvM/s1600/CJH+00079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8PaCNFIRfVpQYoUmoyvGeY9UYXHuSXF99n6LK3TxNYf1Hyz48MOljNO8WhnrKoSPNaXBahYLEeWVPpEOjm2NllKYB-aFxNebBbU5jLuJ-hWQgKa9CQ-5zwALg8zoqsDhYR7qEhbsGNvM/s400/CJH+00079.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Note that I did not feature La Presa location anymore given the huge crowds, negative environmental impact and garbage left by some irresponsible tourists.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-87749386572770761192015-05-16T16:38:00.000-07:002015-05-16T16:38:50.536-07:00Crimson Resort Mactan Daytrip Part 1<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJmU5EwDKHZ2Sok1Fx4_aa-_6pkUnjUmO5URY0e2hyBpa7U08RjNlxJDWSCiUnawl7Qt-Upjteo9HSm7ztnOgflwqRmJ7iVI2brTHAGmzaZQJdyc66WGPYjWw9kMgmk3hHvJ4SEKXBpnx/s1600/CR+9961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJmU5EwDKHZ2Sok1Fx4_aa-_6pkUnjUmO5URY0e2hyBpa7U08RjNlxJDWSCiUnawl7Qt-Upjteo9HSm7ztnOgflwqRmJ7iVI2brTHAGmzaZQJdyc66WGPYjWw9kMgmk3hHvJ4SEKXBpnx/s400/CR+9961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Summer in the Philippines will be over in around 3 weeks. That's still enough time for you guys to make 1 or 2 more trips to a nice resort before the rainy season starts. Crimson Resort in Mactan island is a luxurious option if you will be travelling to the Cebu area.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEozhhyphenhyphenaLU9y0tIShOT3zQXe9Ox831L571Vr1WfZedV241BYEgmsbeZb1elJz_StV-SfaenE-u8N8iomLhLXxVFEcdkMuJiACucLhtulTottFTH3yF2tGX_Zbx1tO1WU3AdBpiNdTnZElx/s1600/CR+9964.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEozhhyphenhyphenaLU9y0tIShOT3zQXe9Ox831L571Vr1WfZedV241BYEgmsbeZb1elJz_StV-SfaenE-u8N8iomLhLXxVFEcdkMuJiACucLhtulTottFTH3yF2tGX_Zbx1tO1WU3AdBpiNdTnZElx/s400/CR+9964.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was actually staying in Crimson's sister property, Quest Hotel, when the latter's hotel staff gave me the option to go on a daytrip to Crimson resort. The daytrip cost me a total of P1,867.50 (March 2015) inclusive of lunch buffet and use of the resort facilities (locker, swimming pool, etc) Use of kayaks, snorkels and other water sports equipment is not included though.<br />
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Note that when you get your locker key for your stuff, you will be required to provide a P500 deposit which is refunded when you return the key at the end of the day.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNStKCt19g8MRkVXhkqnuX4Y4pQ_BSDIo5R_uYj5RM-8rSGGji7qiYDi3aznWvDw1WuADXFuiUYieN1wreC3HLig2lP0hWgPN5-P_8OEAVSEfQ8xjjSmvNKj4okIPGvOXVzuJ7Erx0Elu2/s1600/CR+9954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="435" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNStKCt19g8MRkVXhkqnuX4Y4pQ_BSDIo5R_uYj5RM-8rSGGji7qiYDi3aznWvDw1WuADXFuiUYieN1wreC3HLig2lP0hWgPN5-P_8OEAVSEfQ8xjjSmvNKj4okIPGvOXVzuJ7Erx0Elu2/s640/CR+9954.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The resort's famous three tiered swimming pool facing the seas</td></tr>
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The daytrip is from 10AM to 5PM and the free shuttle trip takes around 45 minutes from Quest Cebu to Crimson Resort Mactan. So by the time we got there, the lunch buffer had just opened so I decided to have lunch first.<br />
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Anyway, I will continue this article in another post to make this page entry shorter and thus easier to read using portable devices.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-65630692963164348092015-04-17T06:04:00.002-07:002015-04-17T22:14:27.706-07:00Villa Noe CagbaleteHere are more details about the Cagbalete resort where we camped out last March<br />
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Here are the rental rates as provided by my contact person for Villa Noe Resort<br />
(<b>Prices as of April 4/15/2015)</b><br />
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<b>Cottage Rentals per night</b><br />
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1 - 2 pax P1200<br />
2 - 3 pax P1800<br />
2 - 4 pax P2000<br />
4 - 6 pax: P2500<br />
6 - 8 pax: P3000<br />
8 - 10 pax P4000<br />
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<b>Tent Rentals per Night</b><br />
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Small - P400<br />
Medium - P600<br />
Large - P700<br />
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If you bring your own tent, you pay only P250/night<br />
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Of course, the tent campers can use the toilets and baths available. Don't expect hotel-like bath amenities. Also, don't forget to bring your basic toiletries as there are no convenience stores here.. Yes you still need a toothbrush even if you are just communing with nature.<br />
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Picnic tables are also available for P200 per day for daytrippers, mostly Quezon locals I suppose given Cagbalete's distance from other urban areas.<br />
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The cooking area is also available for free but there is a P100/fee to rent a set of cooking utensils. Charcoal is also available for P50/bag but you can buy cheaper ones at the Mauban public market before boarding<br />
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Note that Cagbalete is a small island without its own power generating capabilities. Hence electricity at the resoirt is only available from 6PM to 6AM when the resort powers up its generator.<br />
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<b>Activities at Villa Noe</b><br />
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Rental of a 2 person kayak is a very affordable P100/hour<br />
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You can do some snorkeling, but like most Philippine beaches, you have to do a bit of further travelling by boat to find some good coral formations with schools of fish<br />
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A local kid was trying some sort of skimboarding but did not find any success given Cagbalete's calm waves. By the way, the waves at their peak during the high tide at night and early afternoon (March 2015).<br />
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Given Cagbalete's shallow and calm waters, it is also perfect if you just want to chill with friends given Cagbalete's uncrowded and quiet atmosphere.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQebesuf_0Uzmku7g6vdmSnW1rRBqIt47SNd2oH1eD5bPPtkzwnhxhCdLVhtCaFK3R6UqWT9Nzf65E8nmNyHNf2lG58HUrtAm0jBVNqrpBUtmF2xr5okPvDvBr_ZbsQE1vDFN2uDtmzqE/s1600/C+1215+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQebesuf_0Uzmku7g6vdmSnW1rRBqIt47SNd2oH1eD5bPPtkzwnhxhCdLVhtCaFK3R6UqWT9Nzf65E8nmNyHNf2lG58HUrtAm0jBVNqrpBUtmF2xr5okPvDvBr_ZbsQE1vDFN2uDtmzqE/s1600/C+1215+B.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the calm waters of Cagbalete</td></tr>
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Not sure if it is every night, but there were fire dancers during the Saturday night we were there.<br />
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If you are into backpacking/camping (eg Anawangin, Burot, etc) and prioritize nature and solitude over deluxe hotel amenities and rowdy parties, you should definitely try Cagbalete.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-51138732123724695212015-04-05T19:55:00.000-07:002015-04-05T19:55:10.229-07:00Philippine Beach Destinations for Summer Part 1I have not finished writing Part 2 of my recent Cagbalete trip, so I will just post some sort of photo blog first. Just to give you viewers ideas for the summer which already started in the Philippines.<br />
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<u>Cagbalete - Mauban, Quezon</u><br />
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<u>Panglao - Bohol</u><br />
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Guimaras - Visayas<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-48758619659032602015-04-01T06:25:00.000-07:002015-04-01T06:25:20.187-07:00Visita Iglesia Churches: ManilaTomorrow is Maundy Thursday in the Philippines. Here are some churches in Manila that can be part of a <i>Visita Iglesia</i>. Note that most of the churches here have also been a significant part of Manila's history and thus also considered tourist attractions.<br />
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<b>1. Manila Cathedral -</b> Cabildo St. Intramuros<br />
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<b>2. San Sebastian - </b>Bilibid Viejo St cor. Legarda<br />
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<b>3. Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene</b> - Quezon Blvd cor Hidalgo, Quiapo<br />
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<b>4. Espiritu Santo</b> - Tayuman cor Rizal Avenue<br />
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<b>5. Malate Church</b> - Roxas Blvd near Vito Cruz<br />
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<b>6. Paco Park Church</b> - San Marcelino St. cor Padre Faura<br />
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<b>7. San Agustin Church</b> - Real St cor. Gen. Luna St., Intramuros<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-6327702520114102002015-03-28T01:26:00.002-07:002015-03-28T01:26:27.581-07:00Visita Iglesia Church:: San Agustin, Intramuros<br />
Next week March 29 - April 5 is Holy Week, a solemn event celebrated in predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. During Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, most Catholics try to visit 7 churches as part of what they call <i>Visita Iglesia</i>. If you are going to the Intramuros, Manila area, here is one church that should be definitely part of your itinerary.<br />
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San Agustin is one of the major attractions of Intramuros - the Walled City within Metro Manila. SO it is easy to ask for directions to the place or you can do what is the more effective thing to do which is to google map it.<br />
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Here is some more information from a historical marker located in one of the church corridors<br />
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Once inside San Agustin, please remember to follow the guidelines below as it is still a place of worship.<br />
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I've been to several old churches and cathedrals and I can easily say that San Agustin is truly magnificent and awe-inspiring.<br />
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This is why San Agustin is an extremely popular church wedding venue for Filipino Catholics.<br />
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It is also one of only four Baroque churches of the Philippines inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. So if you are in the Manila area, you might want to include this in your itinerary if you are doing a Visita Iglesia or just looking for a historical landmark.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-73496523474505783752015-03-22T23:42:00.000-07:002015-03-22T23:42:13.343-07:00Hinulugang Taktak Reopens<br />
I was supposed to write the second part for Cagbalete island but decided to interrupt it with some sort of news advisory. Famed Hinulugang Taktak Falls Park in Antipolo recently launched its soft opening last month (Feb 2015)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March 19, 2015</td></tr>
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I first visited it last January 2015 but the park was still undergoing renovation and clean-up and they were not yet letting visitors go down to the falls. I was told to come back 3rd week of February as this was this target date for a soft opening.<br />
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I came back around March 19 and yes the park has soft opened and entrance is still free! <i>(No definite date was given as to when the Park admins will start charging fees, but expect it before or around summer)</i><br />
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Note also that we do not want Hinulugang Taktal to revert back to its earlier state. So please follow the rules and regulations posted below.<br />
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Please note also that the park is located at the bottom. Going down may be easy but remember that you would have to go home later and climbing up requires more effort from your legs.<br />
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Some people are debating in online forums if the foamy white water seen near the falls is caused by soap and other pollutants from upstream or just due to the impact of water splashing. According to a representative of Antipolo CEWMO (City Environment and Waste Management Office), it is due to the presence of aluminum sulfide which they used to cleanse the water. This substance is also known as"Tawas" and you would notice its distinct smell when you approach the falls.<br />
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The park's benches and kiosks have been repainted and fixed, indicating the park's readiness to take in majority of summer visitors to Antipolo, probably the nearest resort town (from Metro Manila)<br />
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While pollution from upstream have been significantly reduced, CEWMO's rep mentioned some of their long terms plans for the park. This include acquisition of the private property above the falls to be allocated for the construction of a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). This is probably the imost important major component as this would allow park officials to later on add fishing and boating as park activities<br />
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Cleanup by the Antipolo CEWMO's workers continues despite the soft opening. They are definitely expecting a surge in visitors during the Holy Week, which falls on the first week of April 2015. <br />
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The photo of the swimming pool was from January 2015. The pool did not have water yet when I came back in March, but it seemed that it might be ready by the next few weeks. The shower rooms and rest rooms looked really nice and clean. But they were fixing something in the pipes when I arrived so they had to turn off the water.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jan 2015</td></tr>
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Hopefully everything goes as planned so that we could see future park visitors boating like the employee below. Then they could catch fish, which they can cook in the park grounds.<br />
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One really good indicator of a wilderness area's environmental health is the presence of wildlife. I saw 5 - 10 egret-like birds such as the one shown below. Truly a good sign that Hinulugang Taktak Park may be well on its way to full recovery.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-50491133769332201982015-03-18T07:34:00.003-07:002015-03-18T07:34:47.630-07:00Travelling to Cagbalete Island<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2r4tJRNpIxq51ZpVv-sDfc-NKEKIq8cxufTm-fL6fO4ghUWNzsCpW3gM8FrEAUC5_y3zfbcD3dEKBXehJB7r5wMTQSuM3fMERirEIhC_nLPbCdVyO_U_ODKv_gfhdOSmeVn89xXjQiH3/s1600/C+9439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2r4tJRNpIxq51ZpVv-sDfc-NKEKIq8cxufTm-fL6fO4ghUWNzsCpW3gM8FrEAUC5_y3zfbcD3dEKBXehJB7r5wMTQSuM3fMERirEIhC_nLPbCdVyO_U_ODKv_gfhdOSmeVn89xXjQiH3/s1600/C+9439.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cagbalete is a small island northeast of Mauban town in Quezon province. It is accessible by a combination of land and boat rides. For this trip, we took a JAC liner bus from the Kamias station along EDSA near East Avenue. A detailed trip duration/cost breakdown is shown at the bottom<br />
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Once you get to Mauban town, remember to pass by the tourism office first to pay the P50 environmental fee prior to proceeding to the pier for the boat ride. They also sell some food and drink stuff there, albeit selection is limited..<br />
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The people there also provide info as to the time the next boat arrives. Should you need to wait for a few hours, you can also spend the time waiting here.<br />
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You may also opt to hire private boats (like the ones below). One advantage is that they can drop you off at your resort, sparing you the 10-15 minute walk with your luggage. Another is that it probably won't be as packed as the public commuter boat which is really crowded. Of course hiring a private boat is more expensive especially if you have a smaller group of passengers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi4oNzf68SqbG6QU-NWrRJ2rE3oYBbg3N_o6wY1_yEczOmwwA5XllGaQBze8OYstHXX_rYcAx0kfJV0cdXgxUBTdlBDHzwWHR5ZzET2KApyBwIh_TYEy62OJTakO4P5TxEtFDj0M18RC7/s1600/C+9848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIi4oNzf68SqbG6QU-NWrRJ2rE3oYBbg3N_o6wY1_yEczOmwwA5XllGaQBze8OYstHXX_rYcAx0kfJV0cdXgxUBTdlBDHzwWHR5ZzET2KApyBwIh_TYEy62OJTakO4P5TxEtFDj0M18RC7/s1600/C+9848.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mauban pier ("Daungan" or "Pantalan")</td></tr>
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Since you would be riding a big<i> katig</i> (Philippine)boat with outrigger) for the final leg, people who easily get seasick should look at the photo below to get an idea of how choppy the waves can get.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWGDNLM6g8bBbbAUSPt2MmHCkYd6WLLIA0M8uqW3nLgLO_EtU4rV3aW4uacg8WO4N0UhyphenhyphenYkER_wDVBp0ujVxqNB8TqGru1wHdt9EmjxURrtuCUZryru4uIY7QUdpQB5Xt097pjBQLbwr5/s1600/C+9827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWGDNLM6g8bBbbAUSPt2MmHCkYd6WLLIA0M8uqW3nLgLO_EtU4rV3aW4uacg8WO4N0UhyphenhyphenYkER_wDVBp0ujVxqNB8TqGru1wHdt9EmjxURrtuCUZryru4uIY7QUdpQB5Xt097pjBQLbwr5/s1600/C+9827.jpg" height="336" width="640" /></a></div>
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As the big boat cannot go to shallow waters, passengers will be transferred to a smaller boat packed like sardines (see small boat on the right)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGqBs1IBhVY_FW_vPmF0hA3vGyQMYe9oKNuy9Ka578ZS4cErbfwA-hPOH3IQg2ki8QUSqlyWhwLnumfeKz-c4MpzoIjEZ9xn4huRQky7vmwleiv_w18NsP0081npxCQhESQv2lRbfkO9S/s1600/C+1197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGqBs1IBhVY_FW_vPmF0hA3vGyQMYe9oKNuy9Ka578ZS4cErbfwA-hPOH3IQg2ki8QUSqlyWhwLnumfeKz-c4MpzoIjEZ9xn4huRQky7vmwleiv_w18NsP0081npxCQhESQv2lRbfkO9S/s1600/C+1197.jpg" height="222" width="400" /></a></div>
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Travel time from Mauban pier to Cagbalete takes around 45 minutes to an hour. However, the large public boat docks on the island's western side (No. 2 on the map)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;">you<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00qQSTNg5MDVtAFoxUFV7MzNNSfYmax6E-cRMiPJpJAxucHyt6kvmkgCSk0v614-IpYqJFaczXhj_0lZQC0OBLN4oU99UibXvWRCz71SiJVsW99FhisvaubwG3Hfg3Egv7ctYu9uHroR3/s1600/C+9413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00qQSTNg5MDVtAFoxUFV7MzNNSfYmax6E-cRMiPJpJAxucHyt6kvmkgCSk0v614-IpYqJFaczXhj_0lZQC0OBLN4oU99UibXvWRCz71SiJVsW99FhisvaubwG3Hfg3Egv7ctYu9uHroR3/s1600/C+9413.jpg" height="640" width="584" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tourism Office Cagbalete Map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once you set foot on Cagbalete island, numerous townsfolk will offer to guide you to your resort or help carry your bags. You can also opt to use the map above should you decide to DIY it, but you may not know the easiest trails leading to your resort.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_X-Lj_K4tE5Gl_e2D4C_kFGRFGp46j6jqRDMVU88tuCn3gf3wnSAyk9e1YhbXaSBtks660EuyWJPhWlVS6Zvrb9avWCV8VkUHXD7E4KMJPPSI4QTCx9KMCccndoKW9Dl33EypgJetjg/s1600/C+1198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_X-Lj_K4tE5Gl_e2D4C_kFGRFGp46j6jqRDMVU88tuCn3gf3wnSAyk9e1YhbXaSBtks660EuyWJPhWlVS6Zvrb9avWCV8VkUHXD7E4KMJPPSI4QTCx9KMCccndoKW9Dl33EypgJetjg/s1600/C+1198.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sabang port fishing community</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We arrived at Villa Noe resort late Saturday afternoon mid-March, which is sort of the unofficial start of summer in the Philippines. It was already low tide so the exposed mini sand bars had numerous tourists exploring and taking photos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEMj9FNcKVnq6TjNb1RrDFwOzEqgwvBFEo-UBYSjpLvv_LitWSYTvIsO3FL1Ef5tHz2NCdpXR4VDNJ6O_YSjQTCGcjPShSpQs9Dt6FnbFiFhkdTHWcoQaFsMDvgZnv2U9Bx347_GTR9s/s1600/C+9432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEMj9FNcKVnq6TjNb1RrDFwOzEqgwvBFEo-UBYSjpLvv_LitWSYTvIsO3FL1Ef5tHz2NCdpXR4VDNJ6O_YSjQTCGcjPShSpQs9Dt6FnbFiFhkdTHWcoQaFsMDvgZnv2U9Bx347_GTR9s/s1600/C+9432.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here are the estimated costs per person (1 way) from Metro Manila to Cagbalete Island (As of March 2015):<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 337px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6314; mso-width-source: userset; width: 133pt;" width="178"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2759; mso-width-source: userset; width: 58pt;" width="78"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2872; mso-width-source: userset; width: 61pt;" width="81"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.4pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="19" style="height: 14.4pt; width: 133pt;" width="178"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 378px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 7793; mso-width-source: userset; width: 164pt;" width="219"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2759; mso-width-source: userset; width: 58pt;" width="78"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2872; mso-width-source: userset; width: 61pt;" width="81"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.4pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="19" style="height: 14.4pt; width: 164pt;" width="219"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 487px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 7793; mso-width-source: userset; width: 164pt;" width="219"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3555; mso-width-source: userset; width: 75pt;" width="100"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 3100; mso-width-source: userset; width: 65pt;" width="87"></col>
<col style="mso-width-alt: 2872; mso-width-source: userset; width: 61pt;" width="81"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.4pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="19" style="height: 14.4pt; width: 164pt;" width="219"> </td>
<td class="xl65" style="border-left: none; width: 75pt;" width="100">Est trip
duration</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; width: 65pt;" width="87">Phil pesos</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; width: 61pt;" width="81"> Est US $ </td>
</tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.4pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="19" style="border-top: none; height: 14.4pt;">Kamias JAC
liner to Lucena</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">3.5 to 5 hrs</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">217</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> 4.82 </td>
</tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.4pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="19" style="border-top: none; height: 14.4pt;">Lucena shuttle
to Mauban</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> 1 hr</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">65</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> 1.44 </td>
</tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.4pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="19" style="border-top: none; height: 14.4pt;">Tricycle to
Pier</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">5 - 10 mins</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">10</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> 0.22 </td>
</tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.4pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="19" style="border-top: none; height: 14.4pt;">Public boat to
Cagbalete</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">< 1 hr</td>
<td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">50</td>
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> 1.11 </td>
</tr>
<tr height="19" style="height: 14.4pt;">
<td class="xl69" height="19" style="border-top: none; height: 14.4pt;">Total 1 way
trip cost per person</td>
<td class="xl69" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> </td>
<td class="xl68" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;">342</td>
<td class="xl70" style="border-left: none; border-top: none;"> 7.60 </td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; width: 58pt;" width="78"><br /></td><td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; width: 61pt;" width="81"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td><td class="xl66" style="border-left: none; width: 58pt;" width="78"><br /></td><td class="xl67" style="border-left: none; width: 61pt;" width="81"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Well, that's just the "Getting to Cagbalete" portion. I will create a separate article for Cagbalete itself..<br />
<div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-46911380628624452352015-03-02T18:34:00.000-08:002015-03-02T18:34:09.535-08:00Quest Hotel Cebu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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During my recent Cebu trip (Feb 2015), I stayed for one night at the Quest Hotel, which is just across the northwestern corner of Ayala Terraces Cebu. I was planning to spend less time in Cebu City proper in order to explore more of the southern areas, but I changed my mind the moment I checked in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5LYALDxumpEo4TmrdKckF1rlUp69frF4tcu0ceit6cb3msUBaMgK8jEtoC-vSeLrs7CbP_WLsoeBfgD83oON4TqnugHOkrG1E9Utj7vc5MPqSMeRlVbnphn7AXjYfLpY1R8A6FsXbTOp/s1600/Q+9856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5LYALDxumpEo4TmrdKckF1rlUp69frF4tcu0ceit6cb3msUBaMgK8jEtoC-vSeLrs7CbP_WLsoeBfgD83oON4TqnugHOkrG1E9Utj7vc5MPqSMeRlVbnphn7AXjYfLpY1R8A6FsXbTOp/s1600/Q+9856.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
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I checked in around 10AM on a Sunday and there was no queue as most weekend guests had already checked out. They also allowed me early check in (as against the standard 2PM check in) as they already had a room available.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgnqqz3JBgPMD8Yq4_mf9shcZNH0gvlKOkwi3Yb2ETeNPzEeWUpJoOcn27AMiToDc-G7vK-E8u2dsxLPsQGR9EKdF7RjcOviQkIlcSToII7Dz-trqeJ8V8s2fZpr19oCEPZW3zhfoTho/s1600/Q+9860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgnqqz3JBgPMD8Yq4_mf9shcZNH0gvlKOkwi3Yb2ETeNPzEeWUpJoOcn27AMiToDc-G7vK-E8u2dsxLPsQGR9EKdF7RjcOviQkIlcSToII7Dz-trqeJ8V8s2fZpr19oCEPZW3zhfoTho/s1600/Q+9860.jpg" height="448" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quest Hotel lobby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I took a photo of the lobby prior to proceeding to my room just to give the viewers an idea. I would like to thank the hotel staff for the prompt response after I left my driver's license at the check in counter. While setting my luggage in the room, a courteous hotel employee knocked and promptly delivered my forgotten license.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3N_C21_9Kl3JPMr971x3oO0kJDjhZRqUHlxchkQRbi9uciaBM0qLO5v3glt-Pg4Y1YSceEI3Df9sF-ZS6OVYXph46VRqhszy5lfzwsBf44i7A2lODb8yaB1EXaeRGlA0QzPSx0wtCnAn/s1600/Q+9822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3N_C21_9Kl3JPMr971x3oO0kJDjhZRqUHlxchkQRbi9uciaBM0qLO5v3glt-Pg4Y1YSceEI3Df9sF-ZS6OVYXph46VRqhszy5lfzwsBf44i7A2lODb8yaB1EXaeRGlA0QzPSx0wtCnAn/s1600/Q+9822.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quest Deluxe bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is a business and conference hotel so there is a spacious area for writing or using your laptop. They just don't have the usual USB cables, laptop connections, that are somewhat standard in most US business hotels. WiFi was a bit slow too at certain times; I got good speeds though when I logged pm at around 4AM when most hotel guests were probably sleeping<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf00goq6FVXDI1wl-a5jIawqL8jfPe4PH-Xizb32tQt9EbAg31rPk1u3k3A0pm4Daoavf3naskEWzTB95k4ZtXoUTRtEfG4hNTXKOt3n9S7Z-utd44xHUAOesDYXd0r-KoVlLkKD1yGOwM/s1600/Q+9823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf00goq6FVXDI1wl-a5jIawqL8jfPe4PH-Xizb32tQt9EbAg31rPk1u3k3A0pm4Daoavf3naskEWzTB95k4ZtXoUTRtEfG4hNTXKOt3n9S7Z-utd44xHUAOesDYXd0r-KoVlLkKD1yGOwM/s1600/Q+9823.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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The bathroom is just as clean as the room which is definitely a plus for any hotel in my book. Normally, my concern when I get a hotel room from an online sale, I worry that the hotel would give me an older and more worn out room. However that fear went away the moment I stepped in and checked every nook and cranny of the hotel room<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BU0UHkcnYW9GC0ugQ33OuklU8dYwbImfys7OChjbtLQOquKXpjt-H_I_Hk4dtBnTkgI2wBja9uxnyiQjnaJMSE80OOViywaHw1tcnqsNZUxTDm8WOaBAO9yjTsWVun3rZ3xOGyrUxctz/s1600/Q+9824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BU0UHkcnYW9GC0ugQ33OuklU8dYwbImfys7OChjbtLQOquKXpjt-H_I_Hk4dtBnTkgI2wBja9uxnyiQjnaJMSE80OOViywaHw1tcnqsNZUxTDm8WOaBAO9yjTsWVun3rZ3xOGyrUxctz/s1600/Q+9824.jpg" height="400" width="357" /></a></div>
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<br />
The room also had a safe for your valuables. Plus the standard mini fridge with items sold at the usual hotel rates.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZBVTLykek-eazgjQB7Z9-glLbhSINdeL1TmUgogZiO6o4rhro-pvgjGefFNhShR7LlAlbrBzlvXw7wkjxDjQA3TV2oAYY-xUK5S39QtPuxpj_ArAnIfzs6n_BIRw7yGkogKw1Wg-CA2I/s1600/Q+9827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZBVTLykek-eazgjQB7Z9-glLbhSINdeL1TmUgogZiO6o4rhro-pvgjGefFNhShR7LlAlbrBzlvXw7wkjxDjQA3TV2oAYY-xUK5S39QtPuxpj_ArAnIfzs6n_BIRw7yGkogKw1Wg-CA2I/s1600/Q+9827.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></div>
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Different kinds of massage are also offered by the hotel, with most of them priced at P700 per hour, which is around US$15 at the prevailing Feb 2015 exchange rate.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzasvDoyyjkfaM230h_QQd2w_63GV4CxjDBm0NTHkA8-7V82cKFzCNDI8UxjEWraG3DdHefOdzO7-Ebch8F9KU5tPgDab2JjrbtPUhdodEcK-zndJ7qGU8y4j0x49mJqwRztV7eJNpNTc/s1600/Q+9833+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzasvDoyyjkfaM230h_QQd2w_63GV4CxjDBm0NTHkA8-7V82cKFzCNDI8UxjEWraG3DdHefOdzO7-Ebch8F9KU5tPgDab2JjrbtPUhdodEcK-zndJ7qGU8y4j0x49mJqwRztV7eJNpNTc/s1600/Q+9833+B.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's a snapshot of the in-room dining menu which is from the hotel's Puso restaurant. Most of the food items are reasonably priced but I only got to try their breakfast as nearby Ayala Terraces with more variety of food options.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkVGrZq0jUTGOgl2hDB9y-CbrAFm_wqMMGENx0DNHI_69jYb6BfN9Z9NfPpKG0fRawEozUjbOZVe0_ptgGKVi5HwaHzalcprkFEWkzIxogi0kvdMrW0B1wrgA6FnDGwabFDsxGmJv93xC/s1600/Q+9846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkVGrZq0jUTGOgl2hDB9y-CbrAFm_wqMMGENx0DNHI_69jYb6BfN9Z9NfPpKG0fRawEozUjbOZVe0_ptgGKVi5HwaHzalcprkFEWkzIxogi0kvdMrW0B1wrgA6FnDGwabFDsxGmJv93xC/s1600/Q+9846.jpg" height="378" width="400" /></a></div>
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After I was able to settle in the room and freshen up, I went straight to the 7th floor to check the swimming pool area.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh101M5K4TDgRhda9_cNxnmGvGa0AoS1R-M07LOiOx4GJ6JtZJXQGH24trbF5Hu4LQUnd8ehJbtETwXKDft_2Ap6eexXXZTNPTqF2qsNPdb24tiZzzwbyDEz2c2qCd2f64QV2XYKg5BsgAX/s1600/Q+9837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh101M5K4TDgRhda9_cNxnmGvGa0AoS1R-M07LOiOx4GJ6JtZJXQGH24trbF5Hu4LQUnd8ehJbtETwXKDft_2Ap6eexXXZTNPTqF2qsNPdb24tiZzzwbyDEz2c2qCd2f64QV2XYKg5BsgAX/s1600/Q+9837.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The small pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoFbrhDaf3spdGeY4Gwj2mJPzXsb-_vv_UeSaH7qpat2v6NIjmQN4SXVEkzG7Ic3xK5VvJ76IAyEc8atNzlw_xH7SXKhMHnxo2Agz_tS40g_GvJqLnxeX-RJnyUNXX-0UngfDriA2Zjmc/s1600/Q+9838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDoFbrhDaf3spdGeY4Gwj2mJPzXsb-_vv_UeSaH7qpat2v6NIjmQN4SXVEkzG7Ic3xK5VvJ76IAyEc8atNzlw_xH7SXKhMHnxo2Agz_tS40g_GvJqLnxeX-RJnyUNXX-0UngfDriA2Zjmc/s1600/Q+9838.jpg" height="392" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pool bar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb61PL3SCUbqxlk6zk8krYNtbYgN397KotKP3e0r8SldeiAyHSZL6LFQ6CPWG4pjvFlcCyzaRwnZSh1BOBiGHG3Cwq7kMoHi55OWnXAgrUCDP03xbNPWtGoW1PWpjAJyHqtIsDKv8Httk/s1600/Q+9883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVb61PL3SCUbqxlk6zk8krYNtbYgN397KotKP3e0r8SldeiAyHSZL6LFQ6CPWG4pjvFlcCyzaRwnZSh1BOBiGHG3Cwq7kMoHi55OWnXAgrUCDP03xbNPWtGoW1PWpjAJyHqtIsDKv8Httk/s1600/Q+9883.jpg" height="387" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDWQCMUuQr33Yge-ts3RxyTG7ED25Cfp5CZ-1I_njkJxARwFguwWwDtSEs-57_K2JEAcT0BdCd6wVAAUpoyQIZfQp51d-ejTF1CjI-BnFHZOjFsHUrddNsE_utWA3zqyynaJjKtIPzKlg/s1600/Q+9875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDWQCMUuQr33Yge-ts3RxyTG7ED25Cfp5CZ-1I_njkJxARwFguwWwDtSEs-57_K2JEAcT0BdCd6wVAAUpoyQIZfQp51d-ejTF1CjI-BnFHZOjFsHUrddNsE_utWA3zqyynaJjKtIPzKlg/s1600/Q+9875.jpg" height="400" width="313" /></a></div>
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I was hoping to shoot the sun set over the skyline of the Cebu's business district but the view was blocked by tall plants. It would have also been nice as there was a large gazebo facing what would have been awesome sunsets.<br />
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Here is the pool bar's bar chow menu to give you an idea of their offerings and the prices/<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMenOr8pjOSow6UhNzU_LQSeXJAvQrcxfyBNuHa8VWGo3Yqs0LujuDLmiu2blHAAnghTQ9psUdEuBE4wEYxV92G6fGCNIfr00xMpOursZZIhMqI2wCgm5Fjnf7p28DUp1TKqDMFxRBZBsO/s1600/Q+9887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMenOr8pjOSow6UhNzU_LQSeXJAvQrcxfyBNuHa8VWGo3Yqs0LujuDLmiu2blHAAnghTQ9psUdEuBE4wEYxV92G6fGCNIfr00xMpOursZZIhMqI2wCgm5Fjnf7p28DUp1TKqDMFxRBZBsO/s1600/Q+9887.jpg" height="400" width="353" /></a></div>
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I wanted to have a few drinks at the pool bar around dinner time, but it was full as seating was limited to only 7 to 8 guests so I just skipped it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVluapYSXrnwMs5x5qHzITpqi6EOMgH7utOVppJligv-4RY88hikQ21Qk8i426JcBSra6w7H2g5MNRNz7mk2-fvnTheDSsZRFp13qKqU6KjpbrIziaaTB49mNhUdCXE6ZZRGCcb3McOQ14/s1600/Q+9863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVluapYSXrnwMs5x5qHzITpqi6EOMgH7utOVppJligv-4RY88hikQ21Qk8i426JcBSra6w7H2g5MNRNz7mk2-fvnTheDSsZRFp13qKqU6KjpbrIziaaTB49mNhUdCXE6ZZRGCcb3McOQ14/s1600/Q+9863.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></div>
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The following morning, I just ordered a few ala carte items, instead of the breakfast buffet (around P550) as I was going to have a lunch buffet that same day at Crimson Resort Mactan, which is a sister property of Quest Hotel. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-H1_zjgS5LnGTvXF_CXzGpK6kNqkrnR3zQEWm1mo_LhNbFBZJQr6rdQtsivJlyACKnc0evLjWrUNbXLQJ8KhqDOg-DiNIbe9xF9uXWy_RqNjzM8jmXQky3fuYyGen2OdSo4xCzWOp3Zo/s1600/Q+9867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-H1_zjgS5LnGTvXF_CXzGpK6kNqkrnR3zQEWm1mo_LhNbFBZJQr6rdQtsivJlyACKnc0evLjWrUNbXLQJ8KhqDOg-DiNIbe9xF9uXWy_RqNjzM8jmXQky3fuYyGen2OdSo4xCzWOp3Zo/s1600/Q+9867.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Total for this (including mango juice) is P250 (US$5.50)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The price for this stay was P2,982 (US$ 67.50) per night booked via an Agoda flash sale. This rate is just for the room and excludes breakfast or any other meal.. According to the hotel room brochure this Quest deluxe room is normally priced at P5,700 (US$127)<div>
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I did not get to try the business center and other amenities though due to lack of time. But I had a great experience here nevertheless and I felt welcomed and appreciated by all the hotel staff I interacted with during my stay. <div>
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Final note: I was not able to take a photo of the exterior of the hotel facade as it is located fairly close to a busy street. It is easy to find though with its signage and the East West Bank and Filinvest branches adjacent to the entrance. If you are coming from Ayala Terraces, just look for the Public Utility Terminal and the flyover and the flyover along Archbishop Reyes avenue. <br /><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-3887572682988595002015-01-14T17:56:00.002-08:002015-01-14T17:56:52.414-08:00Aircon Room for Rent (Metro Manila)<br />
If you are looking for cheap but clean and safe accommodations in Metro Manila, Philippines, we have an available room with aircon located in Barrio San Jose in the Northeastern portion of Metro Manila.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR0iYFP6dKwKYB8_wLgyGbXUeVS5iSF9yWJ94nMh8-fb279WmGLz00Nd5jLDRh2SNIGx4Iy4_d2cK4TGLS3flF_8Qgk9RuG0cklNotNlM33IWzGW_dSFqiEdxtXTxPhaU-XbANKrkKFGh/s1600/KC+map+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR0iYFP6dKwKYB8_wLgyGbXUeVS5iSF9yWJ94nMh8-fb279WmGLz00Nd5jLDRh2SNIGx4Iy4_d2cK4TGLS3flF_8Qgk9RuG0cklNotNlM33IWzGW_dSFqiEdxtXTxPhaU-XbANKrkKFGh/s1600/KC+map+3.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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It can be reached in 1.5 hours from Clark Airport (north) and NAIA airport (South) assuming normal Metro Manila traffic conditions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd8v_atrobIZx9a0dbPGx6lznY6ZhDyIhKSFCG4LPg2aX6ZfeQ4OE5M8ZNmTz7zk9TSNjXrIZoG1K9_mUJr13qNuJZSNdBwnL2KQ8SOl6lsFLC7CEyjmwjxMvzvjhrB9kyAoqRP3KTDV8/s1600/KC+map+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd8v_atrobIZx9a0dbPGx6lznY6ZhDyIhKSFCG4LPg2aX6ZfeQ4OE5M8ZNmTz7zk9TSNjXrIZoG1K9_mUJr13qNuJZSNdBwnL2KQ8SOl6lsFLC7CEyjmwjxMvzvjhrB9kyAoqRP3KTDV8/s1600/KC+map+2.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></div>
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Areas that can be easily reached from this location include Intramuros ( 30 to 45 nubs), Makati (1.5 hrs) and most Quezon City malls. It is also quite close to the LRT1 5th Avenue train station which you can use to access the MRT (EDSA light rail)<br />
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Here are photos of the room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-O-nLmG4J-SGdVwORDTDOElbDRJNHx9RPXF3ULlGnRvH7OWGB8fQIcfHaQwB597KDmhsYUHd8oKQm1XD0wHVMZOAHZCTrajSOACSnwtK7sflMeAT8LYZK4uCtnbYnnON8y2EH4qRcMvI/s1600/C+8384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-O-nLmG4J-SGdVwORDTDOElbDRJNHx9RPXF3ULlGnRvH7OWGB8fQIcfHaQwB597KDmhsYUHd8oKQm1XD0wHVMZOAHZCTrajSOACSnwtK7sflMeAT8LYZK4uCtnbYnnON8y2EH4qRcMvI/s1600/C+8384.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>Bathroom </b><br />
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- with shower but no hot water (even during the coldest months, it is still warm in the Philippines)<br />
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For inquiries and bookings, you may PM us at jx2photog@gmail.com. The nightly rate is<br />
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1 adult occupant: 18 euros or US$21.<br />
2 adult occupants: 20 euros or US$24<br />
3 adult occupants: 25 euros or US$30<br />
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Check in time is 2PM. Check out time is 12noon. <br />
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The maximum allowable number of occupants is 3 people. Discounts are available for stays that last longer than 3 nights. Filipino breakfast and coffee are included in these prices. We can also accept the equivalent in Philippine peso, UK Pound, South Korea Won and Singapore Dollar as payments<br />
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The following additional services may also be availed of at reasonable prices.<br />
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1. Lunch or dinner. (US$4.00 or 3.50 euros per meal per person)<br />
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2. Transfers to and from airports are also available at an additional charge. We also offer tours to certain tourist attractions in Metro Manila and nearby provinces (prices start at US$15 per trip per person)<br />
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3. Laundry services<br />
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4. Internet rental and printing services<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-75314463296309959272014-12-10T18:33:00.001-08:002014-12-10T18:33:48.755-08:00Christmas Season: Philippines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCERrCLj2ioRySKQcsM-1RetOab9DYrpdOdcR4cEXcOfnd_gCGSaf2-hrs7Wz7vilnqRPvjW0_o649TGf-CqRJtDFmueLCbmFe7PMD1bL4ZatPplH3P_OuVQMOXpGDofo-OXORphB_k5k3/s1600/20141124_153104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCERrCLj2ioRySKQcsM-1RetOab9DYrpdOdcR4cEXcOfnd_gCGSaf2-hrs7Wz7vilnqRPvjW0_o649TGf-CqRJtDFmueLCbmFe7PMD1bL4ZatPplH3P_OuVQMOXpGDofo-OXORphB_k5k3/s640/20141124_153104.jpg"> </a> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-25517255239489314612014-11-23T18:50:00.001-08:002014-11-23T18:50:14.399-08:00Christmas Season: PhilippinesThey say that the Philippines has the longest Christmas season in the world. Well I tend to agree with that as a you hear a few Christmas carols blaring in the malls as early as September. Though the malls here decorate a bit for Halloween during the month of October, it is more of a minor interruption or sideshow.<br />
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Once Halloween is over, that's when the Christmas season goes full blast. Think of the US a few days after Thanksgiving but much more pronounced. And it is not just the malls in urban areas that decorate, various places in most parts of the Philippines go all out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSEUCAyaUpLyxUbaoF2mR96h8VFcud3hNQQWJJzGFkxKgIECuyN8jwJhrtg_JvJi_2J1IbqzjsxQiVijDD4x4Zzi0lIkBtc5rj755iqnqS4xpTt74qDMyG9pWPdgOSHdtLmh53ctsoJof/s1600/20141123_204558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSEUCAyaUpLyxUbaoF2mR96h8VFcud3hNQQWJJzGFkxKgIECuyN8jwJhrtg_JvJi_2J1IbqzjsxQiVijDD4x4Zzi0lIkBtc5rj755iqnqS4xpTt74qDMyG9pWPdgOSHdtLmh53ctsoJof/s1600/20141123_204558.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">December 2012: Cebu, Iloilo and Manila</td></tr>
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Here are some of the best Christmas decorations that I have seen in various Philippines provinces. For the next few weeks, I will be featuring other places as well.<br />
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You may also follow me at <a href="http://instagram.com/jx2photog/">jx2photog</a> at Instagram for more updates.<br /><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-76294443616427277272014-08-24T18:40:00.000-07:002014-08-24T18:40:16.703-07:00Aug 25 Heroes Day Philippines<br />
August 25, 2014 is National Heroes' Day, a national public holiday in the Philippines, a day meant to honor the country's heroes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_t4dXYhg9U/U_qQ5j58_DI/AAAAAAAAF3w/m8dbdcqe4y0/s1600/GS%2B286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_t4dXYhg9U/U_qQ5j58_DI/AAAAAAAAF3w/m8dbdcqe4y0/s1600/GS%2B286.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriela Silang<br />Makati Ave, Makati</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDVFbTtUa60/U_qQCdwbMfI/AAAAAAAAF3Q/ovIYxojLxcE/s1600/JR%2B173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FDVFbTtUa60/U_qQCdwbMfI/AAAAAAAAF3Q/ovIYxojLxcE/s1600/JR%2B173.jpg" height="400" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jose Rizal, <br />Luneta, Manila</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q7-HRSLxes/U_qRCDtPCAI/AAAAAAAAF4M/OvryLPfUnMw/s1600/LL%2B136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q7-HRSLxes/U_qRCDtPCAI/AAAAAAAAF4M/OvryLPfUnMw/s1600/LL%2B136.jpg" height="400" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lapu Lapu<br />Luneta, Manila</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhxxFzfZE_M/U_qRBVnXADI/AAAAAAAAF4E/b8jShmL1LZo/s1600/LL%2B3894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhxxFzfZE_M/U_qRBVnXADI/AAAAAAAAF4E/b8jShmL1LZo/s1600/LL%2B3894.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lapu Lapu @home<br />Mactan, Cebu</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7oaZ2PqUzWk/U_qQ-_wIAuI/AAAAAAAAF38/SwUafQ5WmNQ/s1600/C%2B4403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7oaZ2PqUzWk/U_qQ-_wIAuI/AAAAAAAAF38/SwUafQ5WmNQ/s1600/C%2B4403.jpg" height="400" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manuel Quezon<br />Corregidor Island</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-51691964373293555562014-06-25T09:15:00.000-07:002014-06-25T09:15:43.536-07:00TAO Beach Venetian Las Vegas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yup after featuring a church in our previous post, this next one will be about an institution known as a pioneer when it comes to sexy parties in Sin City.<br />
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Well, why not? Two weeks ago, I got the opportunity to stay at the Venetian Hotel again after 3 long years so I jumped on it without hesitation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R4JMtr1AfMs/U6nF4s0bIXI/AAAAAAAAFeM/GCmO2g0UknA/s1600/T+6416+B_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R4JMtr1AfMs/U6nF4s0bIXI/AAAAAAAAFeM/GCmO2g0UknA/s1600/T+6416+B_edited.jpg" height="400" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Venetian elevator poster</td></tr>
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After checking in, I saw this poster on the elevator wall. Tao Beach is open 7 days a week! I was not expecting a lot of "interesting events" as we arrived midweek. Last time I was here, they were only open during weekends and special weekdays. I guess they decided that there enough guests during the peak summer season (US) to warrant being open 7 days a week.<br />
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So immediately after leaving my luggage and changing to the appropriate "dayclub/pool party" attire, I headed off to the Venetian's 4th floor, which houses most of the swimming pools.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8N7HAduNB8/U6m84XluGsI/AAAAAAAAFZE/WysHDc_5BvE/s1600/T+6390_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F8N7HAduNB8/U6m84XluGsI/AAAAAAAAFZE/WysHDc_5BvE/s1600/T+6390_edited.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is the main pool; keep walking until you see the sign below</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-77cWLXXReSc/U6nESTaq6SI/AAAAAAAAFdw/nERUDqnbg4c/s1600/T+27+B+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-77cWLXXReSc/U6nESTaq6SI/AAAAAAAAFdw/nERUDqnbg4c/s1600/T+27+B+edited.jpg" height="313" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least there are no long lines midweek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NdGdJOSeZFI/U6m8PmRvc_I/AAAAAAAAFW8/Loq2Kjpy7GM/s1600/T+29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NdGdJOSeZFI/U6m8PmRvc_I/AAAAAAAAFW8/Loq2Kjpy7GM/s1600/T+29.JPG" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may look deserted but most of the guests were in the pool as temps reached triple digits (F)</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJXsqLoY4nQ/U6m8iV3PG1I/AAAAAAAAFYM/rFLaSDVN-xY/s1600/T+39.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJXsqLoY4nQ/U6m8iV3PG1I/AAAAAAAAFYM/rFLaSDVN-xY/s1600/T+39.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-62NfIQRPuLw/U6m8YemSnTI/AAAAAAAAFXc/LvxyeAmyn24/s1600/T+33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-62NfIQRPuLw/U6m8YemSnTI/AAAAAAAAFXc/LvxyeAmyn24/s1600/T+33.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry no Ginebra or Tanduay here, just my usual Mojito</td></tr>
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Mixed drinks here are usually priced around $14 plus tip. Yes it seems expensive but it is actually in line with the price of alcoholic drinks in Vegas clubs and bars. And the plus side is that the eye candy amount here is much higher than most Vegas nightclubs and day clubs IMHO.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tbiNzyxoRQk/U6m8gIxNKUI/AAAAAAAAFYE/m4yfRhOqcSg/s1600/T+38.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tbiNzyxoRQk/U6m8gIxNKUI/AAAAAAAAFYE/m4yfRhOqcSg/s1600/T+38.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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If the price for individual drinks already seem exorbitant for you, look at their bottle service prices below. You really need to be a "baller" to afford these prices.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmIdLBOnYgQ/U6m8fEufC2I/AAAAAAAAFX4/OCiHBV3feVE/s1600/T+34.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PmIdLBOnYgQ/U6m8fEufC2I/AAAAAAAAFX4/OCiHBV3feVE/s1600/T+34.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These prices are in US $</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MCWdIp3d6qU/U6nERZPQUaI/AAAAAAAAFds/PlSzz51XSXA/s1600/T+45_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MCWdIp3d6qU/U6nERZPQUaI/AAAAAAAAFds/PlSzz51XSXA/s1600/T+45_edited.jpg" height="400" width="371" /></a></div>
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Even if there are few female guests on a weekday, there is still enough eye candy in Tao Beach as the female employees are in bikinis. TAO Beach makes Laboracay look tame in comparison, seriously.<br />
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Sorry gals and gays, the male employees get to keep their shirts and shorts on.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ik1HeAItb6M/U6m8emYUYkI/AAAAAAAAFXw/3HchXhXU51E/s1600/T+37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ik1HeAItb6M/U6m8emYUYkI/AAAAAAAAFXw/3HchXhXU51E/s1600/T+37.JPG" height="386" width="400" /></a></div>
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Don't expect me to post recognizable close up photos of the bikini-clad female guests. Privacy is taken seriously here as TAO receives a lot of A-list guests. And I mean real A listers like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Lebron James, the Kardashians, just to name a few.<br />
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So don't even think of bringing in your DSLR with telephoto lens for some stolen shots. Like the casino hotels in Vegas, the bouncers and other security staff are also ginormous.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hs84VofZBvQ/U6m8MhoetOI/AAAAAAAAFWs/mNROh1BBi3k/s1600/T+28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hs84VofZBvQ/U6m8MhoetOI/AAAAAAAAFWs/mNROh1BBi3k/s1600/T+28.JPG" height="290" width="400" /></a></div>
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There's also a jacuzzi near the bar should you find the main swimming pool too crowded. Don't expect to do laps though in the pool as the size is only about a quarter of an olympic swimming pool. But hey, I guess this setup allows TAO guests to get up close and personal with other guests.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5rkN_BORyY/U6m85REVdeI/AAAAAAAAFZM/VJz9RjstWu8/s1600/T+6391_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z5rkN_BORyY/U6m85REVdeI/AAAAAAAAFZM/VJz9RjstWu8/s1600/T+6391_edited.jpg" height="456" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closing time</td></tr>
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Oh to that girl who bought me a Patron shot, thank you! It did not mix well with the 3 other mixed (Vodka and Rum-based) and caused a slight headache, but who cares. It would have been considered extremely rude to not accept a free tequila shot from a hot girl. I love this place!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0United States37.09024 -95.712891000000013-36.4181565 99.052733999999987 90 69.521483999999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-34230329806305187502014-06-17T18:18:00.002-07:002014-06-17T18:18:22.410-07:00Iloilo: Molo Church<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Summer has officially ended in the Philippines with the advent of most school openings. The rain has also started pouring on a more regular basis, so I will stop posting about Philippine beach destinations temporarily. However, this also means that domestic airfares are now cheaper as evidenced by numerous seat sales by Philippine carriers.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9QE-Kd-y0Q/U35_tfxXO5I/AAAAAAAAFE4/fEDBir9lfRo/s1600/M+1923_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b9QE-Kd-y0Q/U35_tfxXO5I/AAAAAAAAFE4/fEDBir9lfRo/s1600/M+1923_edited.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the park in front of Molo Church</td></tr>
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One such domestic destination that is often included in those seat sales is Iloilo City, located in the Western Visayas Region of the Philippines. It is one of the country's oldest cities and as such offers several historic Spanish churches worth visiting.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG4-KbiHIw8/U35_su8sxNI/AAAAAAAAFE8/i9b6l4CiwyE/s1600/M+1920_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZG4-KbiHIw8/U35_su8sxNI/AAAAAAAAFE8/i9b6l4CiwyE/s1600/M+1920_edited.jpg" height="433" width="640" /></a></div>
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Molo Church is one such church that is easily accessible from Iloilo City even by jeepney.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bP0w0T4HWGU/U35_nxo6Z0I/AAAAAAAAFEk/MpmyvqAgM_c/s1600/M+1887_edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bP0w0T4HWGU/U35_nxo6Z0I/AAAAAAAAFEk/MpmyvqAgM_c/s1600/M+1887_edited.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
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Molo is sometimes called a feminist church as most of its religious icons are female saints. It is also adjacent to a convent (pictured below) though I am uncertain if this convent is still operational like the church.</div>
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Like most churches, there is no entrance fee for Molo Church. There is a small donation box though, at the church's center aisle. Donations would greatly help its caretakers continuously maintain this well-preserved historic Iloilo church.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-81969154729145320722014-06-03T17:26:00.000-07:002014-06-03T17:26:11.612-07:00Pagudpud<br />
After Cape Bojeador lighthouse, it rained hard, so we had to skip famous Kapurpurawan Rocks and the Bangui Windmills. There was an approaching storm that was going to hit neighboring Cagayan province and Ilocos was somewhat affected as you can see dark clouds in the photo of Pagudpud below.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pagudpud: Bangui windmills in the background</td></tr>
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So the kind tourists who allowed me to hitchhike dropped me off near Pagudpud town after the skies cleared. I hopped on the next bus and hired a tricycle driver to go looking for modest accommodations. I was optimistic that I could easily find one as July to October was off-peak season.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of the bigger hotels at Pagudpud beach<br />Did not stay here though</td></tr>
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It was definitely off-peak season, as I had to wait for a few minutes when the tricycle driver asked me to check out Sabrina's which he recommended. The owner's daughter was not at the front desk as she was fixing other stuff given she was the only staff there at the time.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is easy to spot Sabrina's due to its different looking balcony</td></tr>
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It was not really an issue as she was not expecting other guests given that only one out of the thirty plus rooms was occupied. She was quite happy that I rented out another room (guest number 2!) and allowed me to negotiate the rate down to around $20/night for the room (with own bath below).<br />
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Given that I was in the heartland of the Ilocos region, I just had to have Bagnet for dinner, which is a popular fried(roasted?)pork dish in that region.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bagnet: Yummy, but watch the cholesterol</td></tr>
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The waves of Pagudpud are quite strong after the summer season and were also enhanced by the approaching storm. But this is also why it is also considered a surfing spot in the Philippines.<br />
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Anyway, here is one last photo of Pagudpud showing an awesome sunset given that its long coastline faces the west.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-71288363696662372762014-05-28T17:25:00.000-07:002014-05-28T17:25:11.020-07:00On the road to Pagudpud: Cape Bojeador Lighthouse<br />
This is going to be a short post as a visit to the Cape Bojeador lighthouse in Burgos Town, Ilocos Norte would only require less than an hour of your time, as there is really nothing much to do in an old Spanish era light house other then take scenic photos, selfies and usies.<br />
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I boarded a Cagayan-bound bus headed north in one of the bus terminals at the back of the Laoag Provincial Capitol building. This was in the early afternoon after I checked out of Tiffany hotel. <br />
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The lighthouse is located in the northern town of Burgos approximately an hour (by bus) from Laoag. Note that the bus will just drop you off as entry by heavy vehicles is prohibited. I read in most travel blogs that there are tricycles that will take you to the lighthouse. Unfortunately, none were to be found when I got off the bus during the off peak month of July.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merge to the west (Right if you are coming from Laoag)<br /> once you see this sign on the Pan Phil Highway</td></tr>
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The distance of the lighthouse from this road sign is actually not that far; it is probably a quarter mile walk on a slightly uphill access road. The only problem when I started walking was that it started to rain when I got off the bus. Good thing some friendly Pinoy tourists on a pick-up truck arrived around the same time and asked me to ride with them.<br />
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The place was practically deserted that rainy afternoon. Had it not been for the group on a pick up truck, I would have been the sole guest of the light house. A stoic old man serves as the lighthouse's caretaker though. <br />
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It was raining so the view at the top of the tower wasn't that great. But I think a sunset view here would have been awesome given it faces west where the sun sets.<br />
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Well it is just an old light house so don't expect fancy rooms and corridors for your social networking posts. It may not be a major tourist destination, but this Cape Bojeador lighthouse is definitely worth a stopover if you are doing an Ilocos Norte road trip.<br />
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Good thing this Pinoy group was also headed north, so they offered me a ride to the town right before Pagudpud. Thanks strangers!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-22980232931572302702014-05-20T17:41:00.000-07:002014-05-20T17:41:15.599-07:00Laoag, Ilocos Norte<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The city of Laoag in Ilocos Norte was originally supposed to be my jump off point to Pagudpud, the "Boracay" of the northern Philippines. I did not want to take the 12 plus hour ride to Pagudpud so I decided to just fly (45 minutes only!) to the nearest airport in the Ilocos region, then take a less than 2 hour bus ride further north to Pagudpud.<br />
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But while researching Laoag, I learned that it offered also other nice tourist spots that are easily accessible. I reckoned I would be able to explore Laoag City proper since my flight would be arriving early afternoon. Then prior to heading out to Pagudpud the following day, I would still be able to explore the nearby towns such as <a href="http://j2travelguide.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html">Paoay. </a><br />
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Laoag Airport also had this nice touch wherein there's a free shuttle ride from the airport to most hotels located in Laoag City proper. Just let the driver know your hotel destination. This feature is not that common in most Philippines towns with the exception of the country's biggest and most touristy cities.<br />
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I did not make any advanced hotel reservations so I just chose on Google maps a small boutique hotel with decent TripAdvisor reviews (3+ above). The hotel was also within walking distance of most of Laoag's tourist attractions. It probably won't matter to travelers seeking genuine Ilocano cuisine, but the hotel is less than a 5 minute walk from a Jollibee(north) and a Max's Restaurant (south)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hotel Tiffany Twin Room</td></tr>
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Please note however, that this hotel, which has multiple floors, does not have elevators. I was ok with my 4th floor room, as I felt I needed the exercise in preparation for trekking and hiking mountains. But for elderly, young kids and the young but not so fit, you may want to request a lower floor room.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinoy readers, spot the <i>tabo</i> in the hotel bathroom</td></tr>
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It was also just a few blocks from the Provincial capitol building of Ilocos Norte. This area is within easy walking distance of other Laoag tourist destinations, such as the Sinking Bell Tower and the Tobacco Monopoly Monument,<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ilocos Norte Provincial Capitol Building</td></tr>
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Ilocos Norte has been historically a major Tobacco producing region especially during the Spanish era. Hence, just across the Provincial capitol, you will find a towering monument for the Tobacco Monopoly.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobacco Monopoly Monument</td></tr>
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As with most Philippine towns, the main catholic church is located quite near the town's seat of power.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St William Cathedral of Laoag</td></tr>
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While the Ilocos Norte region is known for having hundred year old Spanish churches, Laoag's pride is the unique church structure known as a Sinking Bell Tower.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sinking Bell Tower</td></tr>
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The photo below shows what used to be the main entrance of the Bell Tower. Nowadays, even a small child will find it difficult to enter given the the tower has sunk so many feet into the ground.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bell Tower entrance now closed</td></tr>
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The Spanish era bell tower is also near a more recent SM Hypermart which you may visit in case you need go on a supply run.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old and the New</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-jv5mF9aRY/U3t0jpGW0YI/AAAAAAAAFCs/-wkIsudKU1g/s1600/L+2159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s-jv5mF9aRY/U3t0jpGW0YI/AAAAAAAAFCs/-wkIsudKU1g/s1600/L+2159.jpg" height="295" width="400" /></a></div>
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Laoag also makes it also easy to navigate to the other tourist towns of the Ilocos region. The sign above is for the northern destinations while the photo below is for the southern destinations.<br />
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I have not visited most of the nearby attractions given my limited time, so I will most probably explore further this region if I get to visit the Philippines again.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-87655512269004966472014-05-08T19:17:00.000-07:002014-05-08T19:17:58.273-07:00C Boutique Hotel Baguio <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was browsing Deal Grocer website this week when I saw post -summer discounted deals for C Boutique Hotel in Baguio I availed of a similar deal last July for a suite so this post will be featuring that stay. In case some of you might be planning of going to the Philippines' summer capital (Baguio!), this blog post may prove some helpful.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DO53FIswGkk/Uk5dj7l4GFI/AAAAAAAAEkE/NpNUkLqDaNA/s1600/C+9940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DO53FIswGkk/Uk5dj7l4GFI/AAAAAAAAEkE/NpNUkLqDaNA/s1600/C+9940.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since my friends backed out at the last minute and the coupon was expiring in a few weeks, this July 2013 trip became a solo adventure. My last trip to Baguio was in 2012 and I did not get to visit some of the places I wanted to see, as I was travelling with a group. This would be an opportunity for me to review this relatively new boutique hotel and take photos of other Baguio spots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jH4PjsmwQcM/Uk5daBM7wHI/AAAAAAAAEjk/idjnh91f14g/s1600/C+9932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jH4PjsmwQcM/Uk5daBM7wHI/AAAAAAAAEjk/idjnh91f14g/s1600/C+9932.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the loft</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view from the loft</td></tr>
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The suite has a loft with bed which can probably sleep 2 kids or 1 adult. Hence, the coupon for the suite can sleep the maximum allowable of adults and 2 kids comfortably.<br />
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The bathroom was nice and clean enough for that price point. However, the water pressure of the shower was weak though. I am not sure if I can fault the hotel for this as Baguio has always been known for the scarcity of water especially during the April-May summer season.<br />
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The hotel also has a small cafe adjacent to the registration area near the entrance. There are not a lot of eating establishments within the immediate vicinity which was composed mostly of residential houses.<br />
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The Deal Grocer deal came with breakfast coupons good for 4 people. Good thing that the hotel staff were nice enough to allow me to use all coupons. So I used 2 for early breakfast and 2 for early lunch.<br />
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Before you judge and brand me as a ravenous glutton, please note that like most Filipino restaurants, C Hotel's serving sizes were quite small compared to the typical servings in the US.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g67025Xwwr4/Uk5c86aX5wI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/dDpOUuzNMQg/s1600/C+84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g67025Xwwr4/Uk5c86aX5wI/AAAAAAAAEiQ/dDpOUuzNMQg/s1600/C+84.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonuan Bangus</td></tr>
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For my first breakfast, I had the Bonuan boneless <i>bangus</i> (milkfish) meal, a specialty from Pangasinan, a neighboring coastal province. It was quite good unlike the fresh fruit platter which I ordered as my second coupon. It was not that bad, but the fruit slices still included the bland tasting parts of the pineapple and the watermelon.<br />
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After I came back from an early norning shoot of the nearby sights, I was hungry again so I used another coupon to order a shredded beef tapa meal. I found it not as tasty as the bangus meal though.<br />
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I just give the last coupon to the friendly hotel staff prior to checking out from the hotel at 12 noon I then proceeded to Mines View Park which I last visited in 2005. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh8PIsKIjoM/Uk5c2X6jZ6I/AAAAAAAAEh8/O3c_ggwkkz8/s1600/C+103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh8PIsKIjoM/Uk5c2X6jZ6I/AAAAAAAAEh8/O3c_ggwkkz8/s1600/C+103.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C Hotel's cross streets</td></tr>
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Finally, one more nice thing about C Hotel is that it is equidistant from both Mines View Park (northwest) and Wright Park (southwest). Both can be reached by walking from the hotel in 15 minutes. You can also board the jeepneys that ply Gibraltar road, which is 3 to 5 minute walk from the C Boutique Hotel.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-21123341883683124992014-04-23T11:31:00.003-07:002014-04-23T11:31:21.356-07:00Cebu City Marriott Hotel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCRWF4o-qws/U1f1yh5oLlI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/eJVEdsQaCto/s1600/C+M+8798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uCRWF4o-qws/U1f1yh5oLlI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/eJVEdsQaCto/s1600/C+M+8798.jpg" height="433" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last July, I had the chance to visit Cebu again as it was my jump off point for my travel to Bohol . Since I would not have time to visit the more far flung areas of Cebu, I just chose to stay close to the Ayala Terraces Mall area, which was already quite familiar to me given my previous visit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm Lounge</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1863183128"></span><span id="goog_1863183129"></span>So I booked an overnight stay at the Cebu City Marriott, which was quite convenient as it was adjacent to the Ayala Terraces Mall. This hotel property was constructed several years before the Resortsworld Marriott n Metro Manila, yet it doesn't feel that dated compared to its younger sibling. It is also cheaper around 15% to 20% cheaper than the Manila property. I think I spent around US$100 for an overnight stay (July 2013).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lI2eVsOB5js/U1f11ntIIqI/AAAAAAAAE0g/K3knEyfZS38/s1600/CM+8629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lI2eVsOB5js/U1f11ntIIqI/AAAAAAAAE0g/K3knEyfZS38/s1600/CM+8629.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yet despite its cheaper price. the difference in ambiance and amenities is hardly noticeable. The room I stayed in was similar to the rooms I stayed in Marriott properties in Manila, San Diego and San Jose.<br />
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After freshening up, it's time to check out the food offerings within the hotel property.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7N1Lv1D053Q/U1f2HPcnkyI/AAAAAAAAE1E/HLkhBCMSLfQ/s1600/CM+8799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7N1Lv1D053Q/U1f2HPcnkyI/AAAAAAAAE1E/HLkhBCMSLfQ/s1600/CM+8799.jpg" height="400" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">P1200 = $26 for the Prime Rib buffet</td></tr>
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Filipinos are avid consumers of meat, so even breakfast consisted of sweetened pork (<i>Tocino</i>) matched with eggs, rice and <i>achara</i> (picked vegetables Pinoy style). Since I was still stuffed, I just had this ala carte order instead of the breakfast buffet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yU-9zUt_K_A/U1f22mFhxGI/AAAAAAAAE14/e2qNjvyQIiw/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yU-9zUt_K_A/U1f22mFhxGI/AAAAAAAAE14/e2qNjvyQIiw/s1600/photo+%25281%2529.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden Cafe by Marriott entrance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This hotel meal set me back around $13</td></tr>
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If you are still looking good after all that food, you might as well hit the Marriott's swimming pool for a refreshing dip under the sweltering tropical summer sun (April-May)<br />
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Yes it's not as grand as the typical Vegas pool, but keep in mind that Cebu province has some of the best beaches this side of the Pacific.<br />
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As mentioned earlier, its close proximity to Cebu Ayala Terraces Mall is a major consideration for me. They have a lot of good (and cheaper) dining options here. There's also a Gaisano supermarket here which has a <i>pasalubong</i> area for all the famous Cebuano delicacies (<i>Broas</i>, dried mangoes, etc)<br />
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There's also a nearby Citibank branch within a short 10-15 min walking distance from the hotel.<br />
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The only downside for some tourists is that the establishments here close relatively early at around 12 midnight. So if you are looking for a rockin nightlife, you would have to go elsewhere.<br />
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Cebu City Marriott is located along Cardinal Rosales Avenue right next to the Ayala Terraces Mall. Most taxi drivers would know this location. You can also call them at (632) 411-5800 or visit their website at Marriott.com.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-70359389150298616922014-04-17T15:26:00.002-07:002014-04-17T15:26:56.415-07:00Visita Iglesia<i><b>Visita Iglesia</b></i> - a Lenten tradition in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines during the <i>Semana Santa</i> or Holy Week. As this is often observed during the month of April, it often serves as the unofficial kick off of the summer season in the Philippines.<br />
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It involves visiting 7 churches on Good Friday. So here are some churches you may want to visit if you are in that particular area and wish to do a Visita Iglesia.<br />
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<b>1. Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral</b><br />
Cebu City, Cebu<br />
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<b>2. Basilica De San Martin de Tours</b>:<br />
Taal, Batangas<br />
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Reportedly the biggest Catholic Church in Asia, it is just a 2.5 to 3.5 hour drive from Metro Manila (depending on traffic conditions)<br />
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<b>3. St Augustine Church</b><br />
Panglao Island, Bohol<br />
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<i>*Some of the centuries-old churches of Bohol were destroyed or severely damaged during the 2013 earthquake. Panglao's St Augustine church was not included in any news articles I researched, so I am assuming it is still intact</i><br />
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<b>4.Church of St Augustine (Paoay)</b><br />
Paoay, Ilocos<br />
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<b>5. Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino</b><br />
Cebu City, Cebu<br />
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It was partially damaged during the October 2013 earthquake, news videos showing its belfry crumbling. However, even if the main structure is still intact, I am not certain if visitors are allowed to go beyond the courtyard and inside the church due to safety concerns.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">these saints watch over the field where the Sinulog is held every January</td></tr>
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<b>6. St Pancratius Chapel</b><br />
Paco Park, Manila<br />
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This church (which is actually just a small chapel) is located in Paco Park, a surprisingly tranquil park right smack in the heart of Manila. However it is usually closed whenever there are no masses or weddings held. But you can still enjoy the serenity and solitude of Paco Park, which was originally a cemetery during the Spanish colonial period.<br />
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...and finally...<br />
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<b>7. Manila Cathedral</b><br />
Intramuros, Manila<br />
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The symbolic headquarters of Roman Catholicism in the Philippines, this was closed for quite some time due to renovation work. The good news is that it recently re opened last week,<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRVAtBHTY0o/U1BS9E7G6JI/AAAAAAAAEzY/WHlDR1f3Cok/s1600/MC+987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GRVAtBHTY0o/U1BS9E7G6JI/AAAAAAAAEzY/WHlDR1f3Cok/s1600/MC+987.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Manila Cathedral under renovation (October 2013)</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7928758208569252801.post-80050148877853373762014-04-06T18:47:00.002-07:002014-04-06T18:47:29.275-07:00Philippine Summer 2014 Part II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The previous blog post covered mostly beach areas in the the island areas of the Philippines. So for this one, we will focus more on areas near Metro Manila, where majority of the Philippine population reside. Metro Manila is also where the main international airport of the Philippines is located: the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.<br />
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So if you do are based in Metro Manila, you can still beat the summer heat by just chilling at some<br />
Metro Manila hotels with nice swimming pools.<br />
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<b>Hotel Sofitel</b><br />
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<b>Marriott Resortsworld</b><br />
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Or head to the nearby provinces which are just 2 to 3 hours (depending on traffic conditions) from Metro Manila.<br />
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<b>Cintai Corito's Garden Resort</b><br />
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Cintai Corito is one of the newer resorts in Batangas, south of Manila. It is located in Balete, Batangas easily accessible via the STAR tollway. <br />
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I was there last July and though I am more of a beach bum, I still was delighted by their swimming pools. It was not that crowded that day though as it was a June weekday, which was already after the Philippine summer season.<br />
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Anyway, that's it for now. Stay cool this summer if you are in the Philippines.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00025586176801459830noreply@blogger.com0