Happy Tripper

Manila to the U.S. from only US$575 with Northwest Airlines!

Posted by Carambs

There is no better time to plan a getaway to the U.S. Take off on Northwest Airlines^® to glamorous L.A. for only US$575 or to the bright lights of New York for only US$675! Seats are limited, so plan in advance to secure the best deal. Book your tickets and depart before December 22, 2007. Return travel must be completed within 90 days.

Roundtrip Travel from Manila to	Economy Class Fares*
Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland (OR)	US$575
New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Orlando and other U.S. East Coast cities	US$675

*Fares do not include fuel surcharges, passenger facility charges or any applicable taxes.

Hurry, seats are limited. For more savings, book now at nwa.com/ph!

CEBU PACIFIC offers P1 fare to all domestic destinations!

Posted by Carambs

Hang on to your seats because Cebu Pacific is offering ONE PESO one-way fares on all domestic destinations for travel from January 1 to March 12, 2008!

This is our year-end bonus to you and our way of thanking you for a good year.

We have more than 100,000 seats up for grabs! The year-end seat sale will run from November 28 to December 2 only or until seats are sold out. So, hurry and buy your tickets fast.

Start 2008 right, start it with a well-deserved holiday!

The one-way fare is non-refundable and exclusive of fuel and insurance surcharges.

Hurry, book now at www.cebupacificair.com!

Vigan Heritage Mansion

Posted by Carambs

During our last roadtrip with Vigan as our destination, I wanted to be sure that our chosen hotel wasn’t “spooky”. You see, I’m a scaredy cat. And most of Vigan’s hotels are actually preserved old houses. I researched online, and came across several hotels. We ended up choosing Vigan Heritage Mansion because of 2 reasons - its location, and its supposedly “modern” feel even if it’s a restored, antique mansion.

Location - Vigan Heritage Mansion is literally 10 steps away from Calle Crisologo, the most popular street in Vigan. It is lined with stores that sell Vigan goods such as woven blankets and bags. It’s a short street, so you can easily walk from the hotel to the end of the street and back. But it’s still advisable to ride the kalesa going back, even just for the experience.

Modern Feel - The Vigan Heritage Mansion is an old, antique house built in 1885 and restored in 2003. The paint is new and colorful, but the doors, chairs and other furniture are antique. It is not “spooky”, as with other old houses. The owners were able to achieve a balance of making the hotel accommodating while retaining the things that showed Vigan’s rich culture and history.

We paid P1,500 per night - I think this was a promo rate. This includes breakfast - longganisa or tocino, scrambled eggs, and rice. Unfortunately, the rates listed in their website shows 2005 rates. To inquire, you may contact them through email (inquiry@viganheritage.com) or by calling them in Vigan (+6377) 722-6495 or their Manila office (+632) 410-7955 and (+632) 371-0831.

Asus Eee PC

Posted by Carambs

The first time I heard about the Asus Eee PC, I thought that it was an amazing idea, and I couldn’t wait for it to come out. Imagine, a basic laptop for $200 (Php9,000)! What an awesome idea! Well, the Asus Eee PC is now out, and even if it ended up being $400 (P18,000), it’s still an awesome little thing! I know I don’t need it, but I just had to have one. And lucky me, hubby gave it to me as a Christmas gift. A little early yes, but he was worried that I was going to go buy myself one so he made sure he gave it to me right away.

This device is so amazing, you won’t know what to focus on the first time you hold one. It’s so small! Oh and how light! And it’s cute! It’s just 7 inches in length. You read that right. 7 inches. And it’s only 2 pounds. You read that right again. 2 pounds! You don’t need a laptop bag for it - you can just place it in your handbag! Plus, the Asus Eee PC uses Linux, and therefore, it is FAST! You hardly wait while booting up. There’s Wifi, a built-in webcam, microphone and speakers, so you can communicate with your friends as long as there’s Wifi connection in the area.

Why am I writing about this in my travel blog, you ask. Because it’s the perfect travel companion! You can go online and check out your favorite websites, and you can stay connected with friends.

Don’t expect this to replace your PC or your laptop. I think it’s intended to be a second laptop/PC which you can bring around anywhere you go. It’s the perfect travel companion!

I am absolutely loving this gadget!

(Photo from the Asus Eee PC website.)

Subic Attraction Promos

Posted by ordnacin

Greetings from the 20th Ad Congress here in Subic!

Though I’ve been involved in a lot of business and tech events this has been my first participation in a marketing related event. And I got to say you can really tell what kind of event you are in based on the crowd’s appearance. Business related events usually have a lot of older people in suits and barong while Tech event participants are in loose, informal clothing skews younger often already wearing glasses. Meanwhile here at the 20th Philippine Ad Congress you’ve got an eclectic mix of people also in loose/informal but stylish clothing (lots of people wearing shorts with high heels). I also notice there’s a higher ratio of gay to straight men heh ;-).

Anyway if you’re planning on going here in Subic this weekend do drop by the Ad Congress (Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center) as there are several promos to Subic attractions here - entrance is free anyway.

Zoobic Safari - The Only Tiger Safari in the Philippines has a 15% discount off the entrance fee plus free shuttle service if you book at the Ad Congress. Shuttle service is from Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) to Zoobic Safari.

Tropical Ritz Spa supposedly the only five star spa in Subic is offering a free 5 minute on the spot massage, and 10% discount on all their other services.

Ocean Adventure meanwhile is offering 20% discount off the entrance fee.

Note: The discounts are technically for delegates only but the exhibitors will still give you the discount even if you’re not one, which makes sense - why should they turn down business ?

Tripper 5: Amazing Photos of the Philippines

Posted by Carambs

Well, I’m choosing from among my photos, so these may not necessarily be the best of the best out there. But they’re pretty good photos of the Philippines. I’ve been posting them to different Flickr groups so other people may see how beautiful our country is.

1) Bohol - This photo was taken during our island hopping tour after snorkeling near the Balicasag island. This is a photo of a small, uninhabited island which was somewhere in between Panglao and the snorkeling site. Bohol is a beautiful, beautiful place - if I were rich enough I would buy property there so I can just go back anytime. It’s relatively quiet, the beaches are not yet commercialized, there were so many dolphins to watch it was amazing, and the people were genuinely nice. Bohol is one place I always recommend to business associates and other acquaintances when they ask about interesting destinations in the Philippines.

2) Kadayawan - Experiencing the different fiestas or festivals in the Philippines is awesome. Kadayawan, which is celebrated during the third week of August by Davaoenos, is one of the more popular fiestas in the country. Participants go all out with their costumes, props, and presentations - which end up being truly awesome! Here you can see some very happy participants, still smiling even if they were very tired. Other popular Philippine fiestas are: Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Aklan (third week of January), Sinulog in Cebu (third week of January), Dinagyang in Iloilo (fourth week of January), Panagbenga in Baguio (fourth week of February), Pahiyas in Quezon (second week of May), and Masskara in Bacolod (third week of October).

3) Vigan -This is a photo of Calle Crisologo, the most popular street in Vigan. Cars are not allowed here, so you will either see people walking or riding the kalesa. The street is lined with stores that sell Vigan products such as woven blankets, placemats, and bags. The houses are well-preserved, and they give us a glimpse of what it was like in the past. At night, the lamps are lit, and you will feel that you’ve travelled through time.

4) Antulang Resort - Antulang is located south of Dumaguete City. It’s around 45 minutes from the airport. I recommend this for couples or divers, not so much barkadas who just want to go to a resort. It’s a bit isolated, and there’s not much to do. But it’s a beautiful place - great for taking pictures, and just to relax. This photo was taken from the cliff. Watching the sunset was awesome! The people are very friendly and pleasant. I will try to dedicate one post just for Antulang sometime in the future.

5) Baguio - This is the view from the window of Little John’s in Camp John Hay. Baguio is a good place to get away from Manila mainly because of its cool climate. It’s somewhat crowded, but still a destination of choice for many. For the activities, you can choose from shopping at Ukay-Ukay stores, buying Good Shepherd products, shopping for blankets and walis, eating at Rose Bowl and Cafe By The Ruins, bike around Burnham Park, or ride horses in Camp John Hay. This is our default destination when we can’t think of a new place to go to, and we usually stay in Hotel Veniz.

Tripper Tip: Packing and Shopping

Posted by Carambs

Pack light if you’re traveling to a place where you’re planning to shop, such as the US, Singapore, Hongkong, or Bangkok. For the US, you don’t have to bring a lot of clothes because you can wear the clothes you will shop for there. For Singapore, Hongkong, and Bangkok, even if you will only be there for a few days, bring medium-sized luggage. Don’t worry if it’s not full - it WILL be full on your way back.

Just a warning though - make sure you know the baggage limitations of your airline, to avoid surprise fees during check in.

Photography and Travel

Posted by Carambs

These 2 go well together. Beautiful places and interesting cultures are definitely good photography subjects. It is awesome to be able to capture and document your new experiences in other places. However, I just recently learned that it’s not as easy as I thought.

I started to take photos of the places I traveled to 3 years ago. I used my trustworthy Sony DSC-P92 camera back then. And I was able to take some good pictures then! Though it was just a point and shoot, the colors came out well. It was pretty easy because the camera was relatively small and light. Early this year I bought my Canon EOS 400D, so I started to bring it with me during trips. I could handle it, but I already felt the difference - the camera was heavier. And then I went to Europe.

Naturally, I brought my Canon SLR. Europe! Photos! Man, it was tough. In Barcelona and Paris, lugging around the camera was such as hassle because of so many reasons! It was heavy, and it was around my neck all the time. Imagine having the camera around my neck, my bag hanging from my shoulder, and the shopping bags hanging from my arms. There was a time when I thought I lost the lens cap - thank God I found it in my bag. Aside from the camera, I had to make sure my bag was secure, since many friends warned me about pickpockets and snatchers - so many things to think about!

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Philippines Photobook at the Lonely Planet Flickr Group

Posted by Carambs

The moderator of the group, Aaron, asked for suggestions on photobook subjects and I naturally volunteered the Philippines. Third world country or not and politics aside, this is a beautiful country with beautiful people. He was very interested and started the Photobook: Philippines thread right away. Check it out and if you have photos, feel free to post them!

Tripper Tips: How to Prepare for a Travel Emergency

Posted by ordnacin

I’ve been lucky enough to have worked for a multinational company which has allowed me to experience the joys of traveling. Over the past years I’ve encountered problems and emergencies during different trips, though most of these are out of our control we can prepare ourselves so that when they do happen we are ready for the consequences, minimize the impact and more importantly remain a Happy Tripper.

Tripper Tip #1: Make a copy of important ID’s

You never know when you might lose your bag or wallet and along with it your ID’s. Worse still you could get robbed or get your wallet picked. Being stranded in a foreign country without any means of identification is definitely no fun.

I usually bring with me photocopies of my passport, visa, license, credit cards, company ID, business card and even my birth certificate. I place them in a separate location from where I keep my ID’s usually at the hotel safe. I suggest you also scan them and keep a copy online, Flickr and Picasa are good options as they offer free accounts with generous storage allocation.

Tripper Tip #2: Keep an extra set of clothes with your carry in luggage

They say in life two things are certain, death and taxes. Well in travel it’s delayed flights and lost luggage.

Make sure you have a spare set of clothes and toiletries with your carry in luggage. Or if your bag is too bulky already at least have a complete set of underwear and a fresh shirt. That way if your luggage is late/lost or if your flight is delayed by a significant amount of time you still have fresh clothes you can wear for one more day. This is becomes more important if you have a meeting right after your flight in. Looking haggard and wearing crumpled clothes isn’t the best way to make an impression during a meeting.

One time during a trip to New Zealand our luggage didn’t make it to our connecting flight so they had to ship it in the succeeding flight. Ironically enough we were rooting for our luggage to be late for at least 12 hours as we found out that Qantas had a policy wherein they would give you money to buy clothes if the delivery of your luggage was late by 12 hours.

Tripper Tip #3: Make a list of important contact numbers

My HSBC Visa card has a nice though often irritating security feature. If someone were to use it abroad the card is disabled to safeguard against fraudulent transactions, unfortunately that someone is almost always me. The first time this happened was when I was about to checkout at a hotel. Imagine my surprise (and embarassment) when I was told my transaction got rejected. I had to make an international call to the Philippines just to clear up the problem. Needless to say I was pissed when my phone bill came in.

To avoid similar situations in the future I list down all the important contact numbers I might need - Hotlines for ATM & Credit Cards, travel agent, the consulate or embassy and the hotel I’m staying at.

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