kathangisip travelogue » beaches

Subic Bay

japanesecake — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:33:12 +0000

Subic seas during summer

How to go to Subic Bay, Olongapo

One of the beach hubs we Manilenyo’s can easily get to is Subic Bay, Zambales. It is only three hours away from Manila, and most provincial bus operators has a route going there. In our case my boyfriend and I, took Victory liner’s daily trip to Subic, which costs around 350 each at that time(2007).

What to See – Tourist Spots in Subic

Subic bay, was one of the saltiest sea I have ever tasted. Despite that, and that the sand is pretty coarse and grayish. It still offers a view one can enjoy. When it comes to its look and feel, it is comparable to Batangas beaches. There are lots of resorts and cottages near the bay, and of course, foreigners. Lots and lots of foreigners.

We had no actual itinerary coming to Subic. Upon arriving at the bus terminal at Subic, I asked around where can we get a jeepney going to the beach areas of Subic. There is an area where jeepneys wait for passengers going to Subic bay itself. Jeepney’s there are color coded by route.

The cheap hotel we stayed in at Subic

Where to Stay – Hotels in Subic

So while the jeepney was moving, Jeff and I would look around the resorts near the bay to see what looks good. Finally we just decided to get off the jeep and checkout this one hotel: Arizona hotel. At the time, their fee was 1500 a day and we were looking for something cheaper. Jeff and I decided to get a tricycle so we can ask around the resorts. After getting on a trike, and asking at least two other hotels. We decided to go back to Arizona, they have better rooms at a reasonable rate other than the other hotels we looked at.

Contact Info of Arizona Hotel in Subic

Phone : 047 224 4557 or 4559
Cell phone : 063 09172577012
Email : arizona@visitsubic.com
Website : http://www.arizonasubic.com/

Things to do in Subic - Budget Mode

Jeff and I spent three days and two nights at Subic. The first day was spent playing in the beach. There are water activities offered in the area, but it was out of our budget, so we just played with the waves in the water. hehe

The next day, we went to town to see the zoo in Subic, only to find out that is super duper expensive just to go there, not including entrance and other fees. The FX driver we asked said that the standard fee is 450 one way going there, and the trip would be more than 3 hours. So we ditched that plan, and just asked Manong FX driver to take us anywhere inside the Subic Bay free port. Manong FX driver took us to Jest Training Camp…

Jest camp Survival training guide

Jest camp is a survival training camp. Inside are insectariums, and other activities normally for camping. There’s also a spot where you can see some parts of Subic, and this weird huge containers…

Plant of some sort

Fees and Fares in Subic

Bus Fare: about 350.00 (year 2007)

Cost of room in Arizona Hotel : P1500.00 (year 2007, Summer)

More pictures of Subic bay here:

(click on the picture to view the album)

Siquijor is no place for ‘aswangs’

japanesecake — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:51:10 +0000

Siquijor's Cambugahay falls

Coming to Siquijor, some of my friend’s family were a bit worried that we are going there. They were afraid because of Siquijor’s reputation. In the Philippines, Siquijor is known for having mambabarangs, mangkukulam (witches) and aswangs(monsters)

That connotation is really funny, because Siquijor is no scary place at all. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve been into. Plus the people are really nice, and they didn’t eat us! haha.

One of the things we were warned was if some Siquijor local taps us in the back or in any area, we have to tap them back. Because a single tap means that we have been cursed. What’s next? require every people we see to put saliva in our forehead to prevent us from getting “usog” haha.

Maybe aswangs and witches is what caused Siquijor to be so beautiful. Most tourist are scared of it.

Getting There – Siquijor

Our itinerary started from Dipolog, Dakak, Dapitan and then Dumaguete. We didnt catch the daily 4 pm ferry from Dapitan port. (Due to some annoying people we ran into in Dipolog)

Because of this, we opt to ride from Dapitan, then Dumaguete then Siquijor. So thats two ferry rides from two ports.

Things to do in Siquijor

The only thing we did in Siquijor was to tour. We (four of us) rented a tricycle to do the tour for us.

We went to Cambugahay falls, the biggest Balete tree, Lazi convent, and Lazi church.

Lazi Convent

Lazi convent was pretty amazing, it’s huge! I googled just right now, and it’s actually the biggest convent… in the whole of asia!!!!! hahaha. It used to be a convent for friars and nuns during the 18th century. Right now it’s just a tourist spot having a mini museum, which lies on the second floor. Entrance to the museum is 20 pesos. Of course like any other museum pictures are not allowed. They also sell t-shirts there, in case you’re interested. Speaking of t-shirts, we were told that one good souvenir to take from Siquijor are t-shirts with aswang illustrations in it. But none of the locals know where to get it. So in case you get lucky, please tell us where you bought one. hehe.

Biggest Balete Tree

Okay so to add to the spookiness of Siquijor, it’s also home to the biggest Balete tree (wait I just need to google which area). Okay it’s only biggest Balete tree in Siquijor, I thought it would’ve been categorized in the ‘whole of asia!!!!’ category. Its really big, and pretty annoying actually, they commercialized the area by putting some stupid man-made no-water pool in front of it. But they didnt say it’s the prettiest Balete tree, it’s just the biggest.

Cambugahay Falls

Whenever we would tour, Falls are always on our itinerary, it’s kinda getting old and boring. Good thing Cambugahay was really nice. Though you have to make a good 20 minute trek down it, I’d say its worth it, cause the place is really beautiful, and the water is clear and cool. But again we ony dipped are legs in it, cause we were off to another tourist spot, and getting there wet is not cool.

For more entries on Siquijor. Check out our categories page on the sidebar

More pictures of Siquijor here:

(Click on the picture to view the album)

Dakak Park Beach Resort, as seen from the commercial

japanesecake — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:08:45 +0000

Dakak beach resort

How to go to Dakak

Cebu Pacific and Philippine airlines have regular flights going to Dipolog. From Dipolog there are vans waiting in the area to take you anywhere you want to go. In our case, it was the Dakak Park Beach Resort that took us to Dakak, as part of the promo ‘Barkada Package’ we availed from them.

What to See

Yes we all have seen this place in the commercial during eat bulaga when we were little. Well it definitely and still looks like what it is in the commercial, but boy was this place boring. hehe. The place is more-of for people that wants to have a relax vacation. And since all of us wants to get moving all the time, this place was a dissapointment.

It’s so…peaceful and calm it feels like Dakak wants you to sleep all day. The only great thing here is that it’s clean, its huge and the ammenities are pretty cheap. The amenities which included bowling, videoke machine, and billiard tables only costs 35 per game, or 35 per hour for the billiard and videoke. Actually that was the only thing we enjoyed in there.

Also one thing that (I think) we enjoyed are the frogs, hehe. During our Mindanao tour, Dipolog, Dakak, Dapitan, Dumaguete and Siquijor were swarmed with frogs. Big disgusting yet really cool frogs. haha. I’ve never seen so many frogs in my life, and that many. Ewww. And since having poor eyesight, I actually thought some huge fallen leaves were frogs. Yes they were really huge, and some of them even takes a swim at the pool. That’s why we didnt swim on some of the pool.

Going there

We have reserved our stay to Dakak prior to the trip. We availed of the Barkada package which is 2800 pesos. I’m not sure if how many people includes the barkada package, there were four of us. It includes a two bedroom room, no breakfast, and a free pick up from airport and a free drop off to airport, or any way going to airport. So going there, we were picked up by the Dakak people so I cant give you a detail on commuting. Plus they give you orchid necklaces once you arrive at the airport, so why not avail that instead. hehe.

Things to do in Dakak

1. Take the 300-steps step

Dakak has a 300-steps stairs going atop one of the hills near it, where you can see the whole Dakak and some other islands. This is also where the cell site of the area is, but dont worry. All Mobile networks are working fine in Dakak.

2. Swimming

Dakak has a nice clean boring sea water. It has no waves at all, well we went in February so I don’t know about some other time. It also has two adult size swimming pools and one kiddie pool, and a jacuzi. The jacuzi is switched off after 6 so we weren’t able to enjoy that.

The cool thing about here is that we were able to go sea swimming in the night. There were spotlights lighting the beach area, so you’d still be able to swim around the place. And also some frogs swim the pool by night. haha.

3. Bowling, billiard, videoke

Like mentioned, the amenities is cheap. 35 pesos for each of this activity. Videoke is free.

4. Snorkeling, Diving, Jet skiing, kayaking

Since we’re on a budget, we didnt do these things, but Dakak offers these activities. (No wonder why we didnt enjoy the place. hehe)

Also, the place is owned by the Jalosjos clan, in case you have a political thing going on. And in case you dont want to ran into Romeo Jalosjos now that he’s free. haha.

Fees and Fares of this tour

Dakak Barkada package - P2800 (4 people)

More pictures of Dakak here:

(Click the picture to view the album)