On our first night in Bora, where we had our bulalo and sisig dinner al fresco by the seaside...we decided to walk down the beach on station 1 after that heavy meal. It was supposed to be a romantic night until my husband shouted on top of his voice "Hey, don't pee there!" He was so annoyed seing a foreigner peeing on the beach. He wanted to find a Tourism Office right away, but I asked him to just calm down.
On our second night (which is just last night) when we had our eat-all-you can dinner, same incident happened this time in station 2. Our table was facing the sea and to my surprise a man was peeing on the beach just a few meters away from us! A Filipina and her foreigner husband beside our table were likewise dissaponited with what they saw. What turned out funny was when a Chinese couple leisurely walked and passed infront of him, pretending not to see him.
I wonder how much urine does the white sand receive each night? Then on the next morning, people lay down and sun bathe or bury their body as a sort of "theraphy"; children play and artists make their sand obras. Oh, what a wonderful white beach!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
We lost our room key and paid php 800!
On our way to Isla Bonita Resort this monring to pay our deposit before we finally transfer, we lost our Fat Jimmy's room key!
My husband tried his best to locate it by going back to where we walked, unfortunately he couldn't find it. Without any choice, he was forced to pay for the lost key. And though the one-pager leaflet in our room says it cost php 300 on lost key, we found out that since the key is attached to a keychain, we are charged php 1000! The staff gave us discount, and we ended up paying php 800. Indeed very precious keychain! This becomes a lesson to us -- always leave the keys on the resort when you leave your room.
My husband tried his best to locate it by going back to where we walked, unfortunately he couldn't find it. Without any choice, he was forced to pay for the lost key. And though the one-pager leaflet in our room says it cost php 300 on lost key, we found out that since the key is attached to a keychain, we are charged php 1000! The staff gave us discount, and we ended up paying php 800. Indeed very precious keychain! This becomes a lesson to us -- always leave the keys on the resort when you leave your room.
Looking for Cheap but Nice Resorts in Boracay
We are booked for only two nights at Fat Jimmy's, but we are staying in Boracay for four nights, from Monday till this Friday (Jan 23). We wanted to save ourselves from worries in finding a place to stay upon arrival in the island. But we also wanted to have a chance to get a better deal in accomodation -- nice place but budget friendly.
The basic criteria are hot and cold shower and free wifi connection, the second set of "must-have's" are aircon, cable television and fridge.
Fat Jimmy's Fan-cooled room costs php 1,500 while Standard Room costs php 2,500. The only difference between the two is the aircon, but both don't have television and fridge. They offer free wifi though. Plus, set breakfast for two. Like earlier mentioned, this resort is near the wet market (they call it D'Mall market) and D'Mall (where souvenir stores, restos and coffee shops abound), your consolation for not being on the beachfront and walking 10 mins to reach the white sand. One real dissapointment on the other hand is that the street going to Fat Jimmy's is where the recycling bins for trash are placed.
My husband had earlier wanted a beachfront resort, but I told him it is so costly (basing it from the quotations I got after inquiring through the internet). When we reached the island, I realized I was wrong. After dinner last night, we strolled from the middle of station 1 to middle of station 3. We found plenty of good offers! And all these are beachfronts ---or safe to say, their facades are on the beachfronts but their cottages/rooms are some five to 10 steps away (and don't expect the likes of Boracay Peninsula and Regency please!). No, these resorts are not those which you have to enter narrow streets (called eskenita).
We were offered as low as php 700, but since it has no hot and cold shower, the first on our basic criteria, we didn't ask to see the room. The rest of the offers range from 1,500 to 2,500 -- all are with hot and cold shower, aircon, cable tv and ref, though not all offer free wifi.
This morning, we took our decision --we are tranferring to Isla Bonita Resort. The suite room on the 2nd floor is very nice and clean, you can see the beach from the veranda; and it has all the requirements we needed. It costs php 2,500, but my husband was able to get it at php 1,500. Great deal! Well, it could be because we are "walk-in" guests. I then realized that for Boracay first timers, it is indeed best to book accommodations in advance. The brilliant thing to do is not to book your whole stay and rather just the first night or two; then leave the rest of the decision making when you are already on the island. Exactly like we did.
Other beachfront resorts with nice rooms and budget price are Blue Coral, Casa Pilar, Villa Camilla and Arwana.
The basic criteria are hot and cold shower and free wifi connection, the second set of "must-have's" are aircon, cable television and fridge.
Fat Jimmy's Fan-cooled room costs php 1,500 while Standard Room costs php 2,500. The only difference between the two is the aircon, but both don't have television and fridge. They offer free wifi though. Plus, set breakfast for two. Like earlier mentioned, this resort is near the wet market (they call it D'Mall market) and D'Mall (where souvenir stores, restos and coffee shops abound), your consolation for not being on the beachfront and walking 10 mins to reach the white sand. One real dissapointment on the other hand is that the street going to Fat Jimmy's is where the recycling bins for trash are placed.
My husband had earlier wanted a beachfront resort, but I told him it is so costly (basing it from the quotations I got after inquiring through the internet). When we reached the island, I realized I was wrong. After dinner last night, we strolled from the middle of station 1 to middle of station 3. We found plenty of good offers! And all these are beachfronts ---or safe to say, their facades are on the beachfronts but their cottages/rooms are some five to 10 steps away (and don't expect the likes of Boracay Peninsula and Regency please!). No, these resorts are not those which you have to enter narrow streets (called eskenita).
We were offered as low as php 700, but since it has no hot and cold shower, the first on our basic criteria, we didn't ask to see the room. The rest of the offers range from 1,500 to 2,500 -- all are with hot and cold shower, aircon, cable tv and ref, though not all offer free wifi.
This morning, we took our decision --we are tranferring to Isla Bonita Resort. The suite room on the 2nd floor is very nice and clean, you can see the beach from the veranda; and it has all the requirements we needed. It costs php 2,500, but my husband was able to get it at php 1,500. Great deal! Well, it could be because we are "walk-in" guests. I then realized that for Boracay first timers, it is indeed best to book accommodations in advance. The brilliant thing to do is not to book your whole stay and rather just the first night or two; then leave the rest of the decision making when you are already on the island. Exactly like we did.
Other beachfront resorts with nice rooms and budget price are Blue Coral, Casa Pilar, Villa Camilla and Arwana.
Where and what to eat in Bora
Between stations 1 and 2 are indeed the loudest place in Bora, where you find endless stretch of bars and resto, some with live band. You can eat fresh seafood anytime of the day/night as there are plenty of restos offering seafood dishes (grilled or cooked with sauce), and there are those which offer cooking services in case you opted to go to the market near the D'Mall and just buy your choices there. Resorts also offer cooking services, and price starts at php 100 per type of dish. You have to buy all the ingredients though.
For easy dining, I suggest you just go to the resto and order your choice of seafood and they will cook upon ordering. Price of crabs starts from php 100 per 100 grams. For prawns, lobster and other seafoods prices start from 250 per 100 grams. To give you a quick calculation, one big crab is almost 500 grams. Some don't weigh the crabs but rather offer at php 300 each. So just approximate the size of the seafood and calculate if the offer is a saver or not.
There are also several restos offering eat all you can dinner---beef, chicken, seafood --price starts from php 220 to 350 per person (unless you want the eat all you can at the Ambassador Hotel which will cost you php 585); price varies on the type of dishes and the number of choices. Most of the eat all you can don't include drinks, but there are a few which offers free bottomless iced tea.
There are also the tried and tested Andoks, Cindy's, Mang Inasal and Yellow Cab here. But for us, we wanted to try the untested ones. We gave in to the 260 per person eat all you can as my husband loves crabs and grilled tuna while the grilled clams intrigged my tastebuds.
For lunch, you can have sandwiches/ burgers. Grilled burger with chunky mushroom and cheese is best! It costs php 125. Just add a glass of lemonade for php 35 and potato wedges for php 70. Just double the cost for two.
If you still want rice for lunch, you can have a grilled specialties --squid with rice at php 130 to 150 per order; tuna or blue marlin at php 250; chicken bbq at php 90 to 120, pork bbq at php 70, porkchop at 70, and liempo at php 90. One can of softdrink at php 40 or san miglight at php 60.
Treating yourself with ice cream is great after lunch. Small cone costs php 25, large at php 65. Shakes or halo-halo is likewise mouthwatering! Costs php 50.
Bulalo and sisig are also very common on Filipino restos. An order of bulalo and sisig, two rice, two san miglight and two cans of softdrinks will cost you only five hundred pesos. But if you get the same order in a small resto inside the market (they call it D'Mall market) you can save by a hundred pesos. Well, the taste is different of course.
While grilled seafood ans stakes are everywhere, ihaw-ihaw also has its growing patrons --isaw costs php 10 to 15, dried squid costs php 30 to 40.
If breakfast isn't included in your accommodation package, there are plenty of restos offering breakfast. I saw one which offers continental breakfast with eat all you can eggs. Whew!
Various choices in food --Thai, Asian, French, Italian --name your cuisine, and Bora has it.
For easy dining, I suggest you just go to the resto and order your choice of seafood and they will cook upon ordering. Price of crabs starts from php 100 per 100 grams. For prawns, lobster and other seafoods prices start from 250 per 100 grams. To give you a quick calculation, one big crab is almost 500 grams. Some don't weigh the crabs but rather offer at php 300 each. So just approximate the size of the seafood and calculate if the offer is a saver or not.
There are also several restos offering eat all you can dinner---beef, chicken, seafood --price starts from php 220 to 350 per person (unless you want the eat all you can at the Ambassador Hotel which will cost you php 585); price varies on the type of dishes and the number of choices. Most of the eat all you can don't include drinks, but there are a few which offers free bottomless iced tea.
There are also the tried and tested Andoks, Cindy's, Mang Inasal and Yellow Cab here. But for us, we wanted to try the untested ones. We gave in to the 260 per person eat all you can as my husband loves crabs and grilled tuna while the grilled clams intrigged my tastebuds.
For lunch, you can have sandwiches/ burgers. Grilled burger with chunky mushroom and cheese is best! It costs php 125. Just add a glass of lemonade for php 35 and potato wedges for php 70. Just double the cost for two.
If you still want rice for lunch, you can have a grilled specialties --squid with rice at php 130 to 150 per order; tuna or blue marlin at php 250; chicken bbq at php 90 to 120, pork bbq at php 70, porkchop at 70, and liempo at php 90. One can of softdrink at php 40 or san miglight at php 60.
Treating yourself with ice cream is great after lunch. Small cone costs php 25, large at php 65. Shakes or halo-halo is likewise mouthwatering! Costs php 50.
Bulalo and sisig are also very common on Filipino restos. An order of bulalo and sisig, two rice, two san miglight and two cans of softdrinks will cost you only five hundred pesos. But if you get the same order in a small resto inside the market (they call it D'Mall market) you can save by a hundred pesos. Well, the taste is different of course.
While grilled seafood ans stakes are everywhere, ihaw-ihaw also has its growing patrons --isaw costs php 10 to 15, dried squid costs php 30 to 40.
If breakfast isn't included in your accommodation package, there are plenty of restos offering breakfast. I saw one which offers continental breakfast with eat all you can eggs. Whew!
Various choices in food --Thai, Asian, French, Italian --name your cuisine, and Bora has it.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Boracay for the first timer
It's my first time in Boracay and I opted to book our accommodations and airport transfer on the internet so we won't have any worries during the travel. My friend, Eric, who frequents the place advised that since my travel date is January 19, a day after the Ati Atihan, and which falls on a Monday I won't have any problem looking for available accomodations; and that transfer from the airport to the resort is easy and almost half the price compared to the one arranged by the resort. But for a first timer, I want ease to the max so all is arranged two weeks in advanced.
Me and my husband arrived in Bora at night, few minutes before 8. We were greeted by the friendly staff of Fat Jimmy's. We immediately went out to check for food as we haven't eaten lunch yet!
Fat Jimmy's is located at station 1, near the D'Mall where you have to walk just a few minutes going to the beach. At first I thought this is something boring, but I was wrong. When you are in station 1, you are very near to almost everything -- the tiangge where you can buy from underwear to house ornaments, from snacks to full meal with price lower than restaurants on beach front (of course!), and the wet market where you can buy fresh catch! It is also near the Crafts of Boracay Supermarket where prices aren't skyracketing unlike of course those small stores on the beachfront. The supermarket closes at 11pm.
There is also M Lhuillier (in case you run out of budget and ask somebody at home to send you money) and other small pawnshops. When you got a headache due to a slashed budget....there are also pharmacies here. :-)
Wait for my next posts for more... We just have to go around to bring you more first-hand tips.
Me and my husband arrived in Bora at night, few minutes before 8. We were greeted by the friendly staff of Fat Jimmy's. We immediately went out to check for food as we haven't eaten lunch yet!
Fat Jimmy's is located at station 1, near the D'Mall where you have to walk just a few minutes going to the beach. At first I thought this is something boring, but I was wrong. When you are in station 1, you are very near to almost everything -- the tiangge where you can buy from underwear to house ornaments, from snacks to full meal with price lower than restaurants on beach front (of course!), and the wet market where you can buy fresh catch! It is also near the Crafts of Boracay Supermarket where prices aren't skyracketing unlike of course those small stores on the beachfront. The supermarket closes at 11pm.
There is also M Lhuillier (in case you run out of budget and ask somebody at home to send you money) and other small pawnshops. When you got a headache due to a slashed budget....there are also pharmacies here. :-)
Wait for my next posts for more... We just have to go around to bring you more first-hand tips.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Getting Sporty in Subic
Travel is what interests me most. That's why when I got connected in a publication that launched a section on travel, I of course wasted no time in grabbing the opportunity to do a month’s featured travel destination.
The former home in the Philippines of the largest US Naval base---which now boasts of its virgin rainforest and crystal clear bay water--- was our destination. It’s Subic!
It was supposed to be just a day trip but when we were told about everything Subic has to offer by way of sports and outdoor activities, we realized that a day would never be enough. My editor and I reconciled our other stories deadlines and agreed to come together for a day and a half coverage.
We got sporty right on the first day with a jungle environment tour. Guiding us through it was the cheerful Mang Pepito of Eco Tours Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp (JEST). He taught us the basics of forest trekking –what plants and vines to keep away from, how to make forest trails and how to survive in a jungle overnight without food or water. Of course that’s never a problem because in the jungle, refreshments are never far away. Mang Pepito surprised both of us when he reached out, cut a bamboo-like plant called a “water-vine” and offered us a sip. It tasted much better than bottled mineral water!
Right after the tour we were treated to a jungle demo where we learned how to transform bamboo into table utensils, a rice cooker and gas stove! But make sure you don’t leave home without your jungle bolo.
Next on the agenda was fun in the water. My editor, a certified scuba diver tried diving Subic’s various shipwrecks offered by Scuba Shack. I stayed on the boat, sometimes dipped a foot or two into the water and went snorkeling in my braver moments.
Moby Dick Water Sports then took us jet skiing, and after that, we were off on horseback at El Kabayo that boast a stable of world-class Argentina-bred horses. We ended the day with a sunset stroll at the bat area and view deck of the Crown Peak Gardens, where the exquisite landscape and flowers could not be concealed by the dusk. With its world-class facilities, the hotel was the perfect place to wash away the tiredness of the day and recover for what awaited us the next morning.
A wake-up call at 6 signaled the start of next day’s adventures. We gave up a scheduled early morning bicycle ride in favor of trekking through Subic’s rainforest and then proceeded to the Subic Bay Golf and Country Club for a stroll. When the clock stuck twelve noon, it was time to pack our things and return home.
Driving back to the office was not as exciting as getting there, but the fun we had was the best consolation. Subic’s proximity to Manila means that nature, recreation and leisure are just a two-and-a-half hour drive from the metropolis. And that the other activities we missed, like fishing, a bay cruise, speed and paddle boats and bowling are just a hop, skip, and jump away.
The former home in the Philippines of the largest US Naval base---which now boasts of its virgin rainforest and crystal clear bay water--- was our destination. It’s Subic!
It was supposed to be just a day trip but when we were told about everything Subic has to offer by way of sports and outdoor activities, we realized that a day would never be enough. My editor and I reconciled our other stories deadlines and agreed to come together for a day and a half coverage.
We got sporty right on the first day with a jungle environment tour. Guiding us through it was the cheerful Mang Pepito of Eco Tours Jungle Environment Survival Training Camp (JEST). He taught us the basics of forest trekking –what plants and vines to keep away from, how to make forest trails and how to survive in a jungle overnight without food or water. Of course that’s never a problem because in the jungle, refreshments are never far away. Mang Pepito surprised both of us when he reached out, cut a bamboo-like plant called a “water-vine” and offered us a sip. It tasted much better than bottled mineral water!
Right after the tour we were treated to a jungle demo where we learned how to transform bamboo into table utensils, a rice cooker and gas stove! But make sure you don’t leave home without your jungle bolo.
Next on the agenda was fun in the water. My editor, a certified scuba diver tried diving Subic’s various shipwrecks offered by Scuba Shack. I stayed on the boat, sometimes dipped a foot or two into the water and went snorkeling in my braver moments.
Moby Dick Water Sports then took us jet skiing, and after that, we were off on horseback at El Kabayo that boast a stable of world-class Argentina-bred horses. We ended the day with a sunset stroll at the bat area and view deck of the Crown Peak Gardens, where the exquisite landscape and flowers could not be concealed by the dusk. With its world-class facilities, the hotel was the perfect place to wash away the tiredness of the day and recover for what awaited us the next morning.
A wake-up call at 6 signaled the start of next day’s adventures. We gave up a scheduled early morning bicycle ride in favor of trekking through Subic’s rainforest and then proceeded to the Subic Bay Golf and Country Club for a stroll. When the clock stuck twelve noon, it was time to pack our things and return home.
Driving back to the office was not as exciting as getting there, but the fun we had was the best consolation. Subic’s proximity to Manila means that nature, recreation and leisure are just a two-and-a-half hour drive from the metropolis. And that the other activities we missed, like fishing, a bay cruise, speed and paddle boats and bowling are just a hop, skip, and jump away.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Ifugaos, contrary to the stereotypes
Much has been written about the Ifugaos -their culture, their society, their literature. But who really are they now? Are they still the g-stringed uncivilized Cordillerans we usually see portrayed on television's travel programs and on travel magazines?
Though the Ifugaos are whom we call the liberty-loving Filipinos who resisted colonization of the Spaniards in the early 19th century, they did not remain isolated with the rest of the people. Despite the rugged and steep terrains, gradual improvements in the society did not leave them untouched. And when these changes occur, how are their traditional values and practices affected?
However, before we touch deeper on this ...let us first have a short overview of their culture, history and literature so we can have a full grasp of how much changes they embraced for three centuries now.
The Ifugao province is at the heart of the Cordillera, and is composed of several enthnolinguistic groups which are commonly grouped into three --Western, Eastern and Central. Tuwali, Ayangan and Kalanguya are the official spoken languages in each respective group. According to Lourdes Dulawan, a full-blooded Ifugao, in her book "Ifugao Culture and History," the early Ifugaos called themselves Ipugo, which literally means "from the hills." When the Spanish colonizers came, they changed it to Ifugaw, and it was the Americans who changed the spelling to Ifugao.
The structure of the early Ifugao society was based on the kindship system, and their ancestors play the most important role in the system. Their ancestors are involved in all types of rituals because for them rites are family affairs.
One of these rites is the baki or rites for man and for rice culture. The baki rites are the core of Ifugao's tribal religion. These rites, performed by the native priest called mumbaki, are done at the start of every man's life and every stage of rice agriculture. The mumbaki invokes the ancestors to act as mediators to the gods.
The Ifugaos have a lengthy hierarchy of gods which includes bagol (the superior gods), maknongan (gods to whom sacrifice are due), kabunyan (god of the skyworld), dalom (god of the underworld), lagud (god of the east), and daya (god of the west).
For every rite performed, a god or set of concerned gods are invoked and offered sacrifices with, depending on the purpose of the rite or the type of favor being sought.
The kindship system is also very important in solving conflicts. Whenever there's a disagreement between members of a clan, a member not concerned with the dispute will settle the rift amicably. However, if it concerns two different clans the general rule is clan against clan. It is where "vendetta" enters -when a member of a clan is murdered, the victim's family or clan shall avenge the death to preserve the clan's social prestige. If vendetta is not sought, the family and the whole clan will be scorned by the community.
The Ifugao's traditional society is divided into three classes -the wealthy, called kadangan; the common, tagu; and the poor, referred as nawotwot. Their wealth includes rice fields, granaries, golds, beads, heirlooms and animals. However, possession of such materials doesn't automatically include the family in the class of the wealthy, rather they are expected to perform the customary prestige feasts like the uyauy (the wedding feast) and the hagibi (the ultimate prestige feast).
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