Travellers Guide: How to Organize Your Own Trip Overseas

A passport: a major requirement for travelling abroad. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

First-time and frequent travellers alike usually opt for package tours in order to avoid the hassle of organizing a trip such as searching for cheap flights, finding affordable accommodation, and choosing tour routes. However, I believe that there should come a time when one should break-away from package tours and be more independent, exploring, and adventurous.

Package tours have some sort of advantage and comfort because they provide almost everything that travellers need. The tours are organized and they have definite time schedule and routes that need to be followed.  Flexibility can be an issue though.

Flexibility and independence are the very reasons why I decided to try organizing trips on my own. So how to organize a trip? What are the benefits? And what should be remembered when organizing a trip?

1. Choose a Country

           

            If it is your first time to travel on your own, choose a country that requires no visa. For Filipinos, start with any country in South East Asia, Macau or Hong Kong. They're the nearest the provide visa-free access for Pinoys. 

Travelling by plane these days are made affordable by budget airlines. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

2. Check the Airlines

           

            Travellers want to save; let’s accept it. Choose the airline offering the cheapest fare to your country of choice and the country with the cheapest airfare. There are so many budget airlines these days. Check daily for promos.

3. Research for Activities and Places to Visit in your Chosen Country

            If you want to make your trip hassle-free and truly organized, you have to make sure that you know already the places that catch your interest and those that you want to visit. Determine their location in relation to your chosen hotel.

           

Hotel confirmation from a booking site. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

4. Book a Hotel

            When you book your hotel, choose the most affordable that is nearest to the city-center. If possible, choose the one with “free cancelation” as this will allow you to change your booking when you come across a much cheaper hotel. There are a lot of reliable booking sites online to choose from. You will surely find cheap ones, but make sure you check their location – are they near the city-center or to the public transport system such as bus or train station.

Tourist map showing points of interests and public transport system. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

5. Explore the Public Transportation System

            Part of your adventure and learning in organizing your trip is experiencing the public transport system in your chosen destination. It will not only save much of your pocket money, it will also provide you with that feeling of authentic experience of the culture in the city. 

Pudong Airport in traditional Chinese writing. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

6. Learn Some Basic Language

            This becomes an issue if you’re travelling in a non-English speaking country. It can be frustrating and fascinating at the same time. To avoid the frustration, make sure you learn basic greetings or phrases in that country. Prepare ready phrases or questions on your phone which you can show to the taxi drivers about your destination.

Local and temperature in key cities. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

7. Check Local Weather

            You wanna dress appropriately during your trip. Should you take jackets, umbrella, shades? Also, you can save a lot on space and luggage weight if you would only take the necessary clothes and items for your trip. 

8. Study Local Customs

      Part of dressing appropriately during your trip is your observance of the local customs. You don't wanna offend local people and their customs by dressing or acting inappropriately.  Know the dos and don'ts in your country of destination. 

Shopping for unique and affordable souvenir items can be fun. (Photo  by Gregg Manalo)

9. Be Ready to Explore

            You will enjoy more our travels if you explore. It means trying something different, having an open mind, and not being judgmental.  

The Unique and Cultural Town of Calaca – Home of the Best Atchara

View of Mt. Batulao from Cahil. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Calaca is a municipality in Batangas which is located some 90 kilometers south of Manila. Its name is derived from the traditional roof of houses that is made from halved bamboos. The over-all appearance of this roof resembles more or less the traditional East Asian roofing that we often see on temples or old native houses. Sadly, it’s now rare to see such kind of roofing in Calaca.

Old Hispanic houses abound in town centre. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Calaca used to be a tourist destination because of its beach resorts until the early 1990s. The construction of the coal plants and the popularity of other beach resorts in nearby towns could have caused the gradual decrease in popularity of beaches here. However, the town has other attractions that visitors might find interesting.

Museum beside the Parish Church. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

1. The Town Proper

The town center or Poblacion houses the Parish Church which was built during the Spanish occupation. This Romanesque architecture has survived many natural calamities and was a silent witness to the atrocities of the Japanese occupation. Just beside the church is a museum which houses some of the historical artifacts of the church.

The majestic St. Raphael Church. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) 

2. Sceneries

The barrios of Cahil and Matipok offer the best view of the famous Mt. Batulao. These barrios (villages) are easily reached by cars from Tagaytay. Traversing the newly-cemented roads from Tagaytay to these villages not only gives you the breath-taking view of Mt. Batulao, but it will also a panoramic view of its pristine country-side. These roads will take you easily all the way to the town center.

Tapat River in Barrio Cahil. 

3. Pristine Rivers

       Unspoiled rivers can be found and visited in Calaca. The entire river could have several names depending on the barrio where the section is located. 

Local buchi (cassava-filled). (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

4. Local Food

            Calaca has many local food that could satiate curious palates. There’s Bagoong Camastilisan, buchi, kalamay, and of course the famous Calaca atchara. Calaqueños have high regard for this food that the town fiesta every 24^th day of October has been called Calacatchara Festival.

Local tourists and their authentic Calacatchara pasalubong. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

4. Unique Culture and Custom

            The people of Calaca have this unique accent which also differs from their other Batangueño cousins.

Fiestas are a gathering of family members, relatives, friends, and strangers. Houses become open for every body and the dining tables are open to anyone who wishes to partake in the bountiful celebration of thanksgiving to the Patron Saint. No wonder, house owners are grateful and pleased to see the tens of cooking pots and huge pans empty when the day ends. It simple means, the house had so many visitors that owners can be proud of.

Wedding celebration and the cultural aspects associated to it makes this event something very special and a spectacle to see and attend to.  It starts from bulungan or engagement to lipat (transfer) where the wife will be transferred to the husband’s house and custody. Wedding celebration is not only the affair of the families involved; it becomes an affair of the entire village especially of the relatives, friends, and acquaintances of the groom’s family. They shell out or contribute whatever they can in order to help and be part of the celebration.

          In May, Alay is held in every barangay. It is a nightly event where parishioners pray, sing, and symbolically offer flowers in adoration to the Virgin Mary. There is usually one person assigned each night for a month who will offer adoration in the form of flowers to the Virgin Mary. That person will also be responsible for the flowers, fireworks, and food for the parishioners. The event usually lasts for 1-2 hours. 

How to Get to Calaca

        Calaca can be reached by bus or vans. 

1. From Buendia Terminal, take a bus going to Lemery and then a jeepney from Lemery going to Balayan. Tell the jeepney driver to drop you off in Calaca. 

2. At Pasay Rotonda, take a van (Php180.00/person) going to Balayan. From Balayan take a jeepney (Php 10.00) going to Lemery. Tell the driver to drop you off in Calaca. 

3. Private car is the best to use if you want to traverse the road in Barrio Cahil or Barrio Matipok. From Tagaytay take the National Highway leading to Batangas and turn left at the junction of Batangas and Cavite. This road will lead you to Barrio Matipok. The other road via Barrio Cahil is through Evercrest which is just right after Batangas-Cavite junction.    

Guide for First-Time Travellers to Shanghai, China

View of Shanghai Business District from The Bund. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

China is undeniably one of the most enigmatic countries in the world. The vastness of its land area, the almost a billion people who live in it, its cultural heritage, and its rich history create an interesting landscape that every curious traveller would like to explore and experience.

Here are some important reminders that every traveller must consider before going to this country:

1. Visa requirement

            Filipinos and other nationalities are not exempted in this requirement.  You can seek help from travel agencies in processing your visa for a fee. You may visit the embassy website for details: http://ph.china-embassy.org/eng/lsfw/visas/t960523.htm. 

However, if you want to do it personally, here are the requirements

-       Passport

-       Visa Application Form

-       Photo

-       Information about finances, employment, studies

For other citizens, check if Chinese visa is required to the citizens in your country to gain entry to China.

2. Language Barrier

            Language barrier can be an issue while in China. Very very few locals speak English, so it would be very helpful if you know some Chinese phrases or if your smartphone has an application which will allow you to translate from English to Chinese and vice-versa. To avoid the hassle of getting a taxi at the airport or anywhere, make sure have a written name (in Chinese character)of your hotel or airport and show this to the driver.  

Local name and address of hotel to be shown to the driver. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

3. Transportation

            Our first visit to China was in Shanghai. There are several means of commuting in Shanghai; there are buses, metro, taxis, and of course Maglev trains. Before going to China, take photos or write the names of your hotel and your destination and their addresses in the local language. This is what you will show to the taxi drivers or to locals so they can help and understand you more easily.

3. Internet access

            Internet access in China is not impressive unlike in other Asian countries, say South Korea. I can say that Internet access in the Philippines is even better. There are areas even in big cities such as Shanghai with very poor mobile Internet services, so be very cautious when using the so-called flat rate roaming services from your mobile provider. Chances are, you will not really make use of it; you will be paying for a service that you cannot actually use. Just don’t.

            There are also hotels whose Internet services, although advertised as available, are not working well. Read the hotel reviews well and judge based on what customers say about their experiences.

            Facebook and other social networking sites are blocked in China. You want to use them to update your status and post your latest pics, right? To do this, you must have a VPN application on your smartphone. The one that I used which was also recommended to me was Betternet. It is for free and really very easy to use.

Colonial building along The Bund. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

4. Attractions in Shanghai

            Shanghai is a modern city. Its skyline is dominated by skyscrapers which are considered one of the tallest in the world. It is also one of THE attractions here.

a. The Bund

b. Nanjing Road

c. People’s Park

d. Old Shanghai Street

Affordable traditional Chinese food. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

5. Food

            I like authentic Chinese food and I mean noodles and dimsum. Noodles in all shapes and prepared in various ways are what you will see on menus in restaurants here. For those who can not eat noodles all the time, there are also American fast food chains around which serve burgers and other familiar food items.

City Sightseeing bus. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

6. Activities

a. Sightseeing by Big Bus

b. River Cruise

c. Shopping: high-end and bargain

d. Temple visitation

e. City exploration by foot 

f.  Food tasting adventure 

THE EASIEST AND HASSLE-FREE WAY TO THE CRATER OF TAAL VOLCANO

Crater of Taal Volcano (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

The view of Taal Lake and Volcano is indeed very picturesque. Seeing this small volcano floating on a lake from Tagaytay Ridge is one thing, but being face-to-face with this natural beauty is another thing. There are two options curious hikers may choose to explore Taal Volcano: the caldera or its crater.

The hike to the caldera is the more popular one because it is shorter and easier. You can find my impression about this hike here.

The less frequently visited trek which is the content of this blog is the one which will take you to the very crater of the volcano.

Sulfur-rich water in the crater. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Fast Facts About Taal Volcano

1.  It is considered to be one of the smallest active volcanoes in the world.

2. It is the second most active volcano in the Philippines. 

3. The crater lake is the largest lake on an island in the world.

4. The volcano and lake is featured as a backdraft in the music video of Katy Perry’s song, Roar. 

The Trek

The trek is a 15-minute boat ride from Taal Yacht Club to the eastern side of the  volcano. From that point, it is another 30-40 hour ascend to the caldera  where you can stop and rest before descending to the crater. There is a concrete structure where you will be rewarded with a 360 view of the volcano and the lake. In the summer, the area is teeming with tasty camachile fruits (monkey pod) which you can pick to satiate your need for sugar.

The descent is another 30-40 minute trek. It can be slippery so a pair of shoes with good grip will make this trip less difficult.

Preparation Before the Trek

There are day trips to Taal Volcano which are usually organized by hotels or travel agencies, but they are rather pricey. Getting a boat ride and trek to Taal from Tagaytay will also rip you off. The most affordable and most reliable trip that I have experienced so far is through Taal Yacht Club. I always contact The Club provides banca and tourist guides at a minimal price. Please visit their website (http://www.tlyc.com/the-tlyc-volcano-tour/) for details of the prices and discounts.

Reminder: To avail of discounts, decide whether you will do the caldera or the crater trip before scheduled trip. Discounts aren’t applicable when you pay at the Club. Read very well the conditions on their website.

TLYC Contact Info: 0917-838-3726

How to Get to Taal Volcano

There are two ways to get to Taal Volcano: via Tagaytay or via Tanauan City, Batangas. I find the way via Tanauan City much easier, faster, and hassle-free.

1.  Go to Buendia Bus station and take a one-hour bus ride going  to Batangas Pier. To be sure, do not forget to ask the driver or bus conductor if the bus will go through Tanauan City. Once on the bus, ask the conductor to drop you off at Tanauan City. He will be very happy to assist. (Fare = 100 pesos/passenger)

2.  From the bus stop, take a tricycle to the jeepney station going to Talisay. Ask the locals there or the tricycle driver for the jeepney station to Talisay. (Fare = 30 pesos)

3. Take the jeepney to Talisay. Ask the driver to drop you off at the tricycle station which will take you to Taal Yacht Club. Remind the driver of the tricycle station after 30 minutes.  (Fare = 26 pesos per passenger)

4. Get a tricycle to Taal Yacht Club. ( Fare : 40 pesos)

Activities at the Crater

1.  Swimming

2. Picnicking

3. Exploring the periphery of the crater

View of Mt. Maculot (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Travel Guide: Revisiting Baguio City

View of the mountains from Good Shepherd. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Brief Information About the City

Baguio City or the “City of Pines” has always been a favorite all-year-round destination of local and foreign tourists in the Philippines. Located some 250 km north of Manila, it is a highly urbanized city in mountainous province of Benguet. Its location, 1,540 meters (5,050 feet) above sea level, creates a favorable cool weather all year round. Hence it is also dubbed as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”.

Those garlands speak of Baguio City. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

Activities in Baguio City

            The increased accessibility and urbanization of Baguio City have caused this city to become even more popular to tourists. It is safe to assume that this popularity has led the local government and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to rehabilitate and reorganize the existing attractions and infrastructure and for businessmen to open more shops, leisure parks, and restaurants.

Baguio Cathedral (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

            From the last time I was here, I noticed huge improvements in the city and additional activities that tourists from all walks of life will enjoy.

1. Native Handicraft and Souvenir Shopping

2. Biking at Burnham Park

3. Boating in Burnham Park Lagoon

4. Picking Strawberry and Harvesting Vegetables at Strawberry Farm

5. City Tour 
    a. Lourdes Grotto 
    b. Easter Weaving 
    c. Chinese Temple 
    d. Strawberry Farm 
    e. Botanical Garden 
    f. Wright Park 
    g. Mansion House
    h. Mines View Park 
    i. PMA
    j. Crystal Cave
    k. Burnham Park
    l. Baguio Silver Shop

6. Spelunking

7. Ukay-ukay Shopping on Harrison Road

8. Tree Top Adventure at Camp John Hay

9. Horse Back Riding

10. Just Enjoying the Cool Weather

Highly Recommended to Try

Best tasting strawberry sorbet. (Photo by Gregg Manalo) 

1. Strawberry Sorbet 

The best-tasting strawberry sorbet I have ever tasted. You can get this mouth-watering sorbet from local vendors.

Taho made even tastier. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

2. Strawberry Taho

The abundance of strawberry in the area has probably given birth to this version of the well-loved Filipino snack food. One serving costs Php 30.00.

Night Market on Harrison Road (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

3. Ukay-ukay Shopping on Harrison Road

I would say a local and simpler version of South Korea’s Myeongdong area. The entire stretch of Harrison Road near Burnham Park transforms into a huge night market where you can enjoy ukay-ukay shopping from 21:00 – 2:00. Who knows, you might spot an authentic vintage LV there?  

Getting Around Baguio City

1. Taxis

            Taxis are probably the most convenient way of getting around Baguio City. The flag down rate (as of writing) is 30 pesos and I would that all of them are very honest and reliable. If you’re a group of 4 or 5, your total taxi fare divided by the number of passengers would be comparable to a jeepney fare. So I could say that taxis are really affordable here.

2. Jeepneys

            Jeepneys like in all places in the Philippines have specific routes and your destination might be off track. However, most tourist spots in the city can be reached by jeepneys.

Look for this signage when you get off the jeepney. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

How to Get to Strawberry Farm from Baguio City

            Strawberry Farm should not be missed when you visit Baguio City. Though this is located in the provincial capital of La Trinidad, it is just a jeepney ride from Baguio. This farm has gone a complete transformation for the better. It is greener, more presentable, more organized and more enticing for the visiting tourists to pick strawberries and harvest vegetables.

Luscious strawberries. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

To get there, proceed to Magsaysay Terminal. Take a jeepney going to Tomay (refer to the signboard or ask the driver). Tell the driver to get you off at Demshang where the Strawberry Farm is located. The fare is Php11.25. The driver will normally remind you, but if it may help, the landmark is Benguet State University. 

A more organised and greener strawberry farm. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

On your way back, you may want to drop by at Bell Church or Chinese Temple. It is located at the boundary of La Trinidad and Baguio City. The landmark is the boundary/welcome arch. The entrance is free, but it is closed to public from 11:30 – 13:30.

Drop by this scenic Bell Church on your way to/back from Strawberry Farm. (Photo by Gregg Manalo)

How to Get to Baguio City from Manila

Most transients and hotels follow the 12:00 noon check-in time. Keeping this in mind, you may want to have an early trip to make the most of your stay. Several bus companies offer daily and hourly trips to Baguio. Additionally, there are also 3-hour and 6-hour trips to the City of Pines. Students enjoy discounts on bus fares, so do not forget to take tour school IDs with you when you book your tickets. Verify with the following bus companies of their trips to Baguio City:

Joy Bus

            Avenida (Manila) – (02) 733-8622

            Cubao – (02) 421-1314; (02) 421- 1322; (02) 421- 1325; 
                         (02) 709-0803

            Pasay – (02) 853-3115

Victory Liner

    Caloocan - (02) 361-1506; (02) 361-4665 to 66       

            Cubao - (02) 727-4688; (02) 410-8986; (02) 727-4534

            Kamias - (02) 920-7396

            Manila - (02) 559-7735

            Pasay - (02) 833-4403; (02) 833-5019 to 20