How do I describe El Nido, Palawan? To put it simply, it is a very small beach front town (walkable from one end to the other in 20 minutes) with limestone karsts jutting out of the water, very laid back locals, hammocks (even the airport has them!) and tons of snorkeling and island hopping a few minutes away. It's very similar to the Krabi province in Thailand but there's only about 50 tourists on the main town strip and everyone else are locals! It's also 2 times cheaper than Thailand. I love that!
It's been heaven for me....life here is made up of eating, island hopping, snorkeling, eating, snorkeling, eating, drinking, relaxing on the beach front hammock and sleeping. This is what I call paradise!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Cebu Pacific wins 'worst airline title'
I never thought in my life that I would resort to sleeping in an airport's Muslim Prayer Room. Well, I did courtesy of Cebu Pacific's unorganized state of business.
My flight was officially cancelled from Bangkok to Manila except no one seemed to know at Bangkok's Suvarbhumi airport until about 4AM. After a very, very long day/night, I'm very happy to be in Manila.
Manila is a lot cleaner from what I remember in 2004 or perhaps I was only in the less developed areas of the city in 2004. The people, no matter how difficult their everyday struggle is, are incredibly generous. Anyhow, having a great time so far in my first home city...mabuhay!
My flight was officially cancelled from Bangkok to Manila except no one seemed to know at Bangkok's Suvarbhumi airport until about 4AM. After a very, very long day/night, I'm very happy to be in Manila.
Manila is a lot cleaner from what I remember in 2004 or perhaps I was only in the less developed areas of the city in 2004. The people, no matter how difficult their everyday struggle is, are incredibly generous. Anyhow, having a great time so far in my first home city...mabuhay!
Friday, April 04, 2008
Scam Artists in Bangkok
I made it safely to Bangkok, Thailand after a very lenghty plane ride made up of a layover in Taipei and Kuala Lumpur. Of course, my original itinerary left out the Taipei layover so I was slightly irked but the very helpful Malaysians brightened the experience at the KL airport when they made sure I made my connecting flight.
Bangkok airport greeted me with an army of people offering highly inflated cab rides to my hostel. It was definitely a nice welcoming party to all the other scam artists that ensued today. I must admit they are talented in steering you away from your destination and afterwards trying to convince you to a way too cheap tuk-tuk ride that will eventually take you on a half-day unwanted shopping trip. Even some of the cab drivers were part of it too!
As a city, parts of Bangkok reminded me of a cleaner, calmer, more developed and more organized Manila. So far, I've enjoyed using the modes of transport ranging from a light rail system to water taxis on the river. That was a pretty neat experience.
Tomorrow afternoon I head off to the southern part of Thailand called Krabi province.
Bangkok airport greeted me with an army of people offering highly inflated cab rides to my hostel. It was definitely a nice welcoming party to all the other scam artists that ensued today. I must admit they are talented in steering you away from your destination and afterwards trying to convince you to a way too cheap tuk-tuk ride that will eventually take you on a half-day unwanted shopping trip. Even some of the cab drivers were part of it too!
As a city, parts of Bangkok reminded me of a cleaner, calmer, more developed and more organized Manila. So far, I've enjoyed using the modes of transport ranging from a light rail system to water taxis on the river. That was a pretty neat experience.
Tomorrow afternoon I head off to the southern part of Thailand called Krabi province.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A Teaser to Thailand and the Philippines
41 days left before I board the plane, with my beloved backpack, to Thailand and the Philippines. WOW! I am really, really excited!!
So, why Thailand and the Philippines for 2008? Well, I've heard so much hype about Thailand that I finally decided to see it for myself firsthand. Unfortunately, I will only have eight short days to get a taste of the country. I'll spend those short days in Bangkok and around the Krabi area.
What about the Philippines? This one is easy- I was inspired after realizing very few backpackers venture out to that part of Southeast Asia and well, it really bothered me when I couldn't really tell my very own friends what the Philippines had to offer versus other countries like Cambodia and Vietnam.
While planning for my Philippines trip I came to smell the roses and learned very quickly how expensive going to semi-remote islands was going to be...geez...no wonder backpackers don't come out here! It is definitely beyond your average backpacker budget unless you have lots of time and patience for semi-reliable overnight ferry trips. Nevertheless, I see a better picture now but I hope to shed more light on this less traveled part of Southeast Asia...of course, unless you're Filipino or related to one.
So, why Thailand and the Philippines for 2008? Well, I've heard so much hype about Thailand that I finally decided to see it for myself firsthand. Unfortunately, I will only have eight short days to get a taste of the country. I'll spend those short days in Bangkok and around the Krabi area.
What about the Philippines? This one is easy- I was inspired after realizing very few backpackers venture out to that part of Southeast Asia and well, it really bothered me when I couldn't really tell my very own friends what the Philippines had to offer versus other countries like Cambodia and Vietnam.
While planning for my Philippines trip I came to smell the roses and learned very quickly how expensive going to semi-remote islands was going to be...geez...no wonder backpackers don't come out here! It is definitely beyond your average backpacker budget unless you have lots of time and patience for semi-reliable overnight ferry trips. Nevertheless, I see a better picture now but I hope to shed more light on this less traveled part of Southeast Asia...of course, unless you're Filipino or related to one.
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