Affordable Summer Spree at Bohol Island

At the infamous Chocolate Hills.

For two years now, I've been able to set foot in Bohol during summer time. I've been to quite a number of provinces in the Philippines and this city is one of my personal favorites because it has so much to offer. From the picture perfect Chocolate Hills, scenic falls, and white sand beaches to mouth-watering seafood.

Strolling at Panglao Beach in sneakers.
Yeah, I know, I know!

Thrift Experiences

Transportation

As a budget traveler, my mantra is always to spend less and experience more. As we head out from the airport, barkers offered us a cab for P600. The fare price did not make any sense to me because going to our accommodation will probably take us 5-8 minutes. Had we known how to get to there and had the sun been friendly, we might opt to walk. In the end, we hailed a tricycle for P8 each. What a save!

There a number tour offerings here according to your budget. Tricycle drivers offered us P2500 for a day tour. There are also SUVs who do touring for P1500-P3000 depending on the tour specifications. If you are alone and hiring one could be so pricey, go commute. It is not as hassle as deemed.

Hotels

On my first visit, I stayed at a hotel (I forgot the name) for more or less P1500 per night. The rooms were clean and they have a very relaxing ambiance. I thought that was the most affordable I could get. El Portal Inn is way affordable. It only costs P900 per night. For barkada escapade, they have P1200 room good for 3 persons already. The linens could be a bit shabby looking but were clean and staffs are approachable.

All About That Food

Golden Cowrie's grilled squid, mango salad,
spring rolls and baked tahong.

I am very picky when it comes to food. I always wanted something that is 'lutong-bahay'. On our first day, we had lunch at Golden Cowrie. This restaurant has a wide array of Filipino food to fill my growling tummy. This island really screams teeming seafood. I mean, you can have a baked tahong for more or less P250 that you will get the metro for double or triple price? I am just so amazed! For vegetarians, their adobong talong is love. There is no meat on it but it's hella delicious. Gee, my mouth is watering just the mere thought of it.

Bee Farm's complimentary appetizer, steamed fish,
organic avocado ice cream, halang-halang,
and grilled fish with organic garden salad.

For dinner, we went to Bee Farm. A restaurant that offers organic food. It is a bit pricey for a budget traveler but the food is worth it. No not just worth it. It is hella good too. The serving is very generous. I had grilled fish with organic garden salad on the side. I am not really a salad person but I was curious to try some. For fish lovers, try their steamed fish! For desert, chill yourself with organic ice cream. It comes in avocado, ginger, langka, and malunggay flavour.

Good food with good people.

On our second night, my colleague’s friend, a local there, brought us to Abi's Restaurant. I never imagine buffet dinners could be so affordable. Imagine dining with unlimited grilled fish,  baked tahongs, pork adobo, squid adobo, fresh fruits and many many others for just P250.

Along the Streets of Catbalogan, Samar

   Clockwise: Pasayan (deep fried shrimp with flour); 
Mais con yelo and puto; Locals having street 
foods for merienda; Mango Shake)

Writing about my recent excursions and experiences did not seem to enthrall me these past few months but my mother urged me to it. She said this could be my best repository to the things I did at a certain age. Something to look back 20 to 30 years from now.So let me tell you about my short visit at the quiet city of Catbalogan, Samar. 

I certainly won't forget this place for its food.

This place may not be the as familiar as Palawan, Boracay , Bohol, and other tourist spots but the people and the food here are gems. This laid back city celebrates the feast of St. Bartolome every 24th of August with weeklong anticipation. Colorful street dancing draws attention to both locals and guests. The deafening drum beats and enthusiastic dancers are just too hard to resist.

Days prior the feast day, battle of the bands, beauty pageants, and sports keep the people busy and sweaty. This is culminated by a street party where the local government unit turns streets into an enormous dance floor with high caliber DJs tuning in turning up the night into something unforgettable. Jumping to the remixes here also means getting drenched as water splashes from a firemen’s hose.

If you are a fast food fanatic, then this place might not be for you. As of this writing, the only familiar fast food chain I came across with is Jollibee. Moreover, this is compensated with local carenderias and pizza parlors. At 25-30 pesos you will be enjoying a decent and delicious merienda already. Catbalogan’s street foods are also very good. In Manila, I have enough of kwek2x and balot but here, I committed gluttony for its seafood inspired street foods starting from a fried shrimp mixed with flour, baduya  (made from tahong mixed with flour), shanghai rolls with tahong as fillings. All these dipped with spiced vinegar.

Either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, it is very cool to stroll the streets and sea sides of Catbalogan with a bike.

Holiday Getaway at Sagada, Mt. Province

Christmas is over—looong way over but I guess there’s no need for a solstice or any special

Good morning at Sagada, Homestay. 

occasion to talk about the… teng-ni-neng… infamous Sagada! 

Okay, don’t expect too much activity I did there. The best verdict I can offer is that if you want to sleep real well and lose track of time, go to Sagada, Mt. Province and you’ll get what you fairly need. More than. I should say. Evil smile. 

Spelunking at Lumiang Cave.

Spending Christmas alone somewhere was what I have planned for 2014 but where to? I do not have any idea. I am just a poor lass on a tight budget who can’t afford cheap luxury. Okay, enough publicizing my poverty. But as my mantra goes, ‘You ain’t need to be rich to travel’. And my sincere gratitude to Ate Robs (a former university colleague) who mentioned Sagada accommodation is fairly affordable. A P250-300 per night stay is not bad at all!

Most of the time, I am a solo backpacker who does not believe in itinerary. I don’t want to hurry seeing a museum because another one awaits. Or move from one site to another just for the sake of finishing the must-sees. I take things as they come. I am good spending the whole afternoon sitting while drinking the sight before me.  

I do not celebrate Christmas. I wear it.

Cookies and yogurt of the popular Sagada's Yogurt 
House; Salt and Pepper's heavy heart breakfast of 
brown rice, tapa, longganisa, egg, banan bread, 
and fruits; Dave's Restaurant's soup and chicken 
BBQ.

There are a lot of things to do in Sagada—checking out the hanging coffins, watching sunset at Lake Danum, spelunking, food hopping, blah, blah. I ignored all these on my first day though (and the days to come). In lieu, since I am quite too behind catching up books, I crunched with the very famous series of The Song of Fire and Ice. Game of Thrones is that popular. Glued is an understatement I even failed to tell what time of day is it. Reading is gripping. And sleeping is insatiably awesome at this rugged and cold mountain.

Sagada orange.

I am never a fan of Christmas but this place is very subtle to make you feel the celebration. It’s chilly and simple colorful lights are everywhere. Few restaurants host Christmas Eve buffet dinner at 500 pesos. I am not a foodie and thought it would be practical to order a la carte so I decided to head to Dave’s Restaurant where food is really good. I guess Ryan and I were the only Filipinos dining. Oh, I forgot to mention I got a last minute travel buddy. Ryan whose vacation to Palawan has been cancelled messaged me if he can tag along and I said sure why not! Spending Christmas with a stranger is on my bucket list. He does not fit too much for the criteria of a stranger though because he’s an officemate and good friend but whatever. As long as ‘di maarte’ go rah!

What I find really cool in this place is the bonfire and the beer and the guitar with the missing B-string (courtesy of Homestay). And I would dare not forget the free flowing brewed Sagada coffee.  Staying there for three days is maybe more than enough to see what needs to be seen and do what needs to be done.

Top load off to Bontoc.

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24-Hour Life in Dalaguete, Cebu City

Considered as the Vegetable Basket of Cebu, Dalaguete fervently treats inhabitants and tourists alike with

Ocean Bay Resort and Hotel, Dalaguete, Cebu

the splendour of its sparkling blue waters and majestic uphill vista. The old edifices, the laidback life, the sound of crickets at night… These are worth coming and coming back for.

I just boarded the plane with no certain destination in mind. I should have utilized the more than an hour flight reckoning where to head but I just slept. Dalaguete was just one of the places that came to mind when the steel bird landed to Mactan Airport hence, I headed South.

Transportation:            

Cab from Mactan Airport - South Bus Terminal (more or less P200)

Ceres Bus with Moalboal at the sign board or ask the driver which bus passes through Dalaguete (P95)

                                   

Dating with book, shore, and sunset.

I got off at Ocean Bay Resort. This is haven for both domestic and international tourists for their affordable accommodation, foreign owned restaurant fronting the pristine sea, and scuba diving.  Room rates start at P1, 000 - P3, 000. The 3-hour ride standing in a non-air-conditioned bus was insanely exhausting and starving so indulged with a plush Filipino breakfast or I would say brunch while reading Water for Elephants (book of the day) as the humid breeze drenched me with sweat which I washed with iced cold orange juice.

My tummy was happy but my back was not. My bloodshot eyes needed a rest before frolicking Dalaguete. Intuition said I wasn’t up staying at Ocean Bay so I walked around and ended up at BB’s hideaway. It wasn’t much of a luxurious treat but you'll have access to a pool and an air-conditioned nipa hut for a night at P700. Aside from having a refrigerator where you could store booze (yes, I’m a drunkard), the best bargain I got for my stay was walking down the highway  once in a while  and exchanged ‘Bie’ (‘Good evening’) with the community people amidst the dogs barking and crickets chirping signaling the night is getting deeper. Such a love!

Seashells, Shore and Sun

Late in the afternoon, I decided to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunset while relishing the saltwater.

Mother and child on the shore checking out litub for dinner.

My very intention was just to read somewhere at the shore but I saw a bunch of locals collecting litub, a seashell, so I asked one of them to teach me how to spot one. My back numbed after an hour or two of wading the shallow water for good finds and so I halted to sit, read and just savour the picturesque of the blue sea bathe in sunset’s hue. I was alone on the shore so I shamelessly practiced my vocals singing out loud with Alterbridge, Paramore, Halestorm, Jake bugg, and Cold Play until the last piece of pale orange light.

Laid Back Dinner at Food Lane

I vowed not to dine at fancy restaurants because 1) I am on a budget travel and have to be frugal with my expenses; and 2) I need to be out of my comfort zone and see what is beyond the well-listed menus, cocktails, and sophisticated ambience. Tatay (as I called the caretaker of the inn) told me to go to Food Lane for good food at affordable prices. Going there was such a treat because you’ll passed by the Municipal Office of Dalaguete which very Spanish. It has a plaza before it where teenagers fancy hanging around. Food Lane is situated in front of an old church (indeed, Cebu is full of vintage architecture) and is an eatery chain. You’ll have the karaoke competing with the sea waves ruffling as background. Both residents and tourists obviously love to dine here. It is under development and will surely turn to a boulevard in few years time.

Peeking Osmeña Peak

Call time is 5:30 am but the driver I agreed to bring me at the peak fetched me at 5:00 to ensure I’d be

Osmeña Peak, Dalaguete Cebu.

able to watch the sunrise. I was a bit pissed (because I hate waking before the sun) but I realized it worked for my favour. It was really a freezing climb (that justifies to be called Little Baguio) for it made me realized how incompetent my jacket was. Waaah, I missed my shawl.

Osmeña Peak I guess is the chilliest climb I’ve ever had. As per trekking. Hehe. You’ll just have to walk your way up for 10-20 minutes. Cabbages are abundant here. Residents farm them with spring onions, chili, sayote, and other leafy vegetables.

Since cabbage is a staple here, I asked Lyka, my 13 year-old guide, how they usually cook it.

Ingredients:     Chopped Cabbage, Garlic, Onion, Salt, Oil, Water (Optional: other vegetables and meat )

How To:          Sauté onion, garlic in oil. Put the cabbage. Season with salt, add water and simmer for few minutes.

That simple!  I failed to ask what the dish called but one thing is for sure. It is healthy!

Transport: Hire single motor P250 (advisable to have company to avoid paying double)

Guide: P50 will do  but if you have extra cash, a bonus will be much appreciated of course!

Life Lessons at Obong Spring

Clockwise: Tatay Sally showing me the sahid method of catching fish.
Freshly caught tuyom, Ah! That spiky bad boys!
Two generous men teaching me how to get the meat and eating them for free!
With my newly found gulp sessions pals.

There is no other chilling way to end up my stay in Dalaguete but get drenched at Obong Spring. Yet more than splashing at the freezing water was having the opportunity to learn a fishing method called sahid (where you are to trap small fishes in a net by fencing the net around the rocks where they hide). I’ve watched Tatay Sally do it a couple of times with so much expertise. It’s quite a tedious thing to do because at the end of every trap are just a number of kicking small fishes. The half bag of those fishes was just sold for 50 pesos and I could not imagine how long he did get them.

Realization: I should not waste any single dime. Money is hard-earned. No matter how I tried, I fall victim of unnecessary spending. Now every time, I find myself lavishing, I would think of that 50-buck fish and the hardship it takes to get it.

Life in the sea is pretty much interesting. After the fishing lesson, I met these guys hanging around cleaning tuyom (spiky black sea urchin). I wish I was able to join catching these beautiful, thorny bad yet sumptuous creatures but I was a bit late. The cleaning lesson was more than enough though. It’s quite a feat for me to get the meat, dip it in a spiced vinegar and (uggh,my mouth waters) savour! You could taste the sea, the fat, the … gush I cannot explain it.

Lesson:            That tuyom has one devilish turquoise eye at the center. Darn! They are amazing. Sure thing I’ll learn them from books but discovering them first hand is a totally different thing. Unforgettable!

Residents here are very much willing to farm fish and other sea foods but dishearten by the fact of having no sure buyer for their goods. Should they have one, I guess, they need not have to leave their families to earn a living.

The view, the people, the culture… These are worth coming and coming back for.


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Must Check in Dipolog and Dapitan, Zamboanga Del Norte

Bored waiting for my flight back to Manila so might as well use it storytelling…

Once upon a time… Geez lame! Crap that because I’m still pretty nostalgic on my quickie with Dipolog City. Stayed here for 3 days now and yet there is too little time for leisure. Well after all, I came here for business.

As a budget solo backpacker, I find this place really, really interesting and worth coming back for more. It’s laid back yet teeming with life powered by nature, people, and culture.

Hotels

Dipolog and its nearby city, Dapitan (just 15 mins away) has a lot of budget hotels, inns, and suites to entertain travelers of all sorts.

Mibang Hotel is on my checklist for its pool and food. It is just 12-minute ride from the airport and less half an hour from the port.  It is also affordable.

D’Hotel with their ‘We make people happy’ battlecry really live up to it. In fact D’Hotel is awarded as the No. 1 Hotel in Dipolog City by Trip Advisor for its excellence. Great ambience, service, and food maybe were their tickets in winning the traveler’s heart.

Royal Farm Resort, Gulayon Dipolog City

Royal Farm is a good option if you are up for budget rooms with free swimming pools.  Room rates start at 700-3000 pesos. This is surely a love for kids because they have a clean, wide kiddie pool. Food here is very affordable too though you have to be patient waiting for it as it takes a million years to be served.  

Food & Recreation

If are you are craving for pizza and want to lavish a bit, diss out the usual pizza chains and try UrChoice Bistro Café Restaurant.  They have the best pepperoni pizza that goes best with wine. Ahhh, I can’t resist the cheese sending heaven to my mouth. Don’t miss their buffalo wings and steak boasting imported herbs and spices as well. The owner, a foreigner, is very accommodating and attends to customer first hand. Thanks for bringing Italy in Dapitan man!

Dipolog City Boulevard

Sound Central KTV Lounge, Dipolog City

Now if your appetite demands for street foods, I guess there no other place to go but the Boulevard. The place for loners and lovers and joggers, and eaters (haha), and anyone. Here you can find balut, isaw, betamax, etc, that you can devour while watching the dancing light from homes across the shore. Cafés also abound here. Best of two worlds I would say. Because a few meters away from the mouthwatering grills are coffee shops and restaurants. It’s very cool to jog here to fill your lungs with fresh sea air. And if you are lucky, you can join Zumba sessions to burn the calories of the sumptuous meal you had.

For groups on a budget who want a room for themselves to rip their vocal chords and drink like hell, I would suggest Sound Central KTV Lounge. At 450php in two hours you can have a big place to rock on and get wasted. It is just very close to the Boulevard. Okay here’s what you really want to know. They have thousands to choose from on the songbook (though not really all of the song I fancy is there) and screaming sound system. 

Oopsie! I hope to end here but the most awaited announcement on airports has just been said: “Guest of____ we regret to inform that your flight has been delayed….”

What the!

Others

Best to Enjoy by Day

Fifteen minutes away from Diplog is Dapitan where the Phil National Hero was exiled. Oh! history rant detected. Anyway, for a day visit, a historical tour to Rizal Heritage Site must be on the checklist just like any History classes. Hehe.. It is just cool to catch a glimpse of the past in a confused present…

If Bohol has their river cruise, Dapitan has cruise boating too. Allowing guests to enjoy not only foods that wakes hypertension but the pristine water and breathtaking splendor of the island while the fresh breeze brushed your face.

For island hoppers, skip not Buay Island trips. You will surely be amazed of the corals and the sea life in general. Go snorkeling! Go diving!

Night or day Dakak Beach Resort has made it to tourister’s list since a long time ago.

Best at Night

Gloria de Dapitan is not a strange place in Dapitan. It’s actually one of its main attractions. Fun and spooky rides at Fantasy Land is a love by children and children at heart alike. If you are into art and enjoys theatre presentations Gloria de Dapitan has it as well.

Finally, if you are a coffeeholic like me, then you might also fancy visiting the hub for Italy’s best Coffee, Lavazza!


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Food Hubs to Check Out at Iloilo

My obsession to twiggy models is about to end! They are simply irresistible—I mean the calories. I am no foodie but when I travel the craving button just automatically turns on. Who could mere watch an authentic iced chocolate perspiring coldly in front of you as if waiting to be licked? Wait what!

Fix Gastronomic Issue at Floyd’s BBQ House

Starving and looking for a wallet-friendly place to entertain your gastronomic lasciviousness? Then Floyd’s Famous BBQ should be in your food hub checklist. Located in front of SM Delgado-Iloilo, this humble resto fancies to treat you with barbecued beef, chicken, fish, and pork. At less than P150 you could have the thirst quenching four seasons beverage, Java rice and barbecued bangus with atsara. They are affordable and offer beer buckets so you will see a lot of parokyanos here. Just be careful not to over drink or over eat. Vomit fee is P200. Much costly than your meal J

Coffee Break for a Break

Book. Coffee. Chocolate. Break!

Easy, that’s because as of this writing (aside from being bored), I have gulped one iced cold coffee and devoured two beehive chocolate from Coffee Break. Damn, I just can’t help it. I never missed this when I am in Iloilo. I have this soft spot on cafes. And I could say that over and over again. Coffee Break is a favorite here for aside the warm crew, the goodies are so affordable and darn sumptuous. Don’t get me wrong. I am not paid a single dime to preach the good news about them. I am just a choco-coffee junkie who likes to rant what salivates me. So when you visit Iloilo, don’t cha go home without even a bite of the sweet tooth provoking devils.

Soup Treat at Ted’s La Paz Batchoy

So I was really damn curious why Lucky Me Supreme have to adapt that La Paz Batchoy of Iloilo that I decided to taste the authentic one myself. And where else is their main food hub located but at La Paz.  I am not a noodle fan but might as well try to tell the tale. Turned out it really is tasty. I ate everything except the noodles J

Lakbay Albay: Peak Perfect!

Tale is true. Peak perfect! Mt. Mayon is definitely enchanting casting all the bloody curses I've thrown for the 13-hour eternity-like butt numbing bus ride from Manila to Legaspi City. Above is the view from where I stayed. It only dawned unto me after a couple of minutes staring outside the window. My timing wass a bit unfortunate for as I went closer the fog, clouds, and whatever that is became crazy. But what the heck, I traveled far so why not manage to raise two thumbs up. Ha! Ha!

Anyway don't forget to check out La Piazza Hotel's minced pork with eggplant in hot sauce. Superbly spicy. Awesomely yummy. Well, just try it. Maybe I was just too hungry ending up with a bias review. Yay! As twilight approaches, you could stroll at Embarcadero and have dinner there. It's some sort of a mall fronting the sea with an array of restaurants and food chains. Reminded me of MOA actually.

As the night goes deeper, walk just around the city and alert those gimmick seeking ears. Along the streets are bars fair enough to offer you tequila 3x more expensive from the original price. Just few gulps and I was on the dance floor with the band--headbanging, jumping to the beat, losing myself.

What I Miss About Tagaytay

Tagaytay is fairly cold from Nov-Feb and I had just the privilege to visit last Jan. Boy, it was the quickest getaway from the polluted metro. It is just approximately two hours away from Pasay via public transportation. Boredom brought me here to sip a can of beer while smoking the world away. Famished? Dare not go home without checking out a bowl of hell hot bulalo! But what I really miss about this place is my phone. Lost it in there so watch out of yours!

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The Taste of Iloilo

Iloilo is known for its grand churches but this time food tripping is my mantra. (L-R) Juicy native lechon manok from Mang Tatoy's. The said sea food restaurant is well-known both to the locals and visitors. It is situated quite a distance from the  town proper but the journey is all worth it. They offer a wide array of sumptuous dishes like grilled hito, native chicken curry, chopsuey, cheesy baked tahong, fried crabs and ohh, my mouth waters.  Pork stew with jack fruit. I have tried eating jack fruit cooked in coconut milk but never stewed it was fairly delicious though. Sinigang na baboy. I am never a fan of sour stews but this is a sure hit in my taste. In lieu for  tamarind or calamansi, Ilonggos used batuan for souring.  Batuan or Garcinia binucao is a greenish, yellowish fruit that has firm outer covering that contains acidic pulp and seeds. It made the sourness of the stew just mild while the kadios beans balanced it all. Grilled tangigi. Thumbs up to this splendid bad boy. Fresh from catch. Fresh from grill. That explains the sweet smoky taste of the meat. Molo soup. Noodles from Molo (a place in Iloilo City) bathe in water and chicken flakes. La Paz batchoy is also popular in Iloilo most especially of course at La Paz. Bisocho. Meaning biscuits in Spanish, this baked bread topped with butter and sugar is Iloilo's number pasalubong. Hot spots are hard to find here but in case you need one, I recommend Coffee Break. As a coffeeholic, I could say their coffee is excellent at affordable prices (Like Php80 and up) . You just need a minimum Php100 purchase to avail their wifi.

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