RANDOM THINGS YOU HATE: GIVE A HAND TO EXPLAIN PLEASE

Hey, hey! I know you are brilliant, hon! That’s why I want to pick up your brain understanding these people and situations that creep at the core to irate my day. These might sound really petty but I tell you, they are annoying.

Igan D' Bayan Collection. Art Fair Philippines 2015, Makati City.

Those people who like to cram at the bus’ door. Like it’s the end of the world! Giving no space for those who also want to go home. I do not understand why they have to jam pack in one place when the rear screams, ‘Hey, I’m vacant here!’ Mabuti pa ang sardinas di nagsisiksikan sa lata! I heard and noticed that passengers do it so they could get off easily. Isn’t it lame my friend? Drivers stop if you tell them to do so. Or you could ask the bus conductor for a halt and walk your way. Think of others sometimes!

Now let’s go to the mall where security guards check your bags. And I am referring to those who just dip their stick inside bags with eyes wandering somewhere or mouth busy chatting. Then something happened and they all go back to that full alert thingy! Huli na po ang lahat...

Those selfish creature at the street. I am talking here of those people who cross the street even if the traffic light says stop with the traffic enforcer raising his hand for the same signal. I find this really insulting to the enforcer. Kaya di umuunlad ang Pilipinas eh, simpleng bagay di makuha.

Opinions on opinion. I admire people who express their thoughts on certain subjects. I do not understand though those people who have to say nasty opinion on an opinion. I just don’t understand why you need to say something and argue like hell if the premise does not agree with yours. C’mon it is your responsibility to filter what to take and leave so shut up! Okay, this might sound like breaching your freedom of expression but just saying it is annoying (and I know you don’t care).

Like to be liked. You checked your Twitter or Instagram and received a lot of likes. You feel flattered then it dawned unto you that half of them are just making their way to you to find your way to them. You realize that when you check the account and find they are selling something that is not even related to your post. There are also those who flatter you with ‘Awesome shot!’ even if you know it’s not. Here’s the deal baby, if you like it, then like it. Thank you very much. But liking it for me to like and follow? Spare me.

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

My Top 10 Travel Essentials

Travelling light and easy.

A hand-carry bag, a backpack, and a pouch—you could see me balancing all the baggage whenever I travel even just overnight. I have this disease of bringing my entire wardrobe for a two-day affair or drag a stroller if it takes three days or a week. Traveling light is an art and for me it took time to learn. Now, whenever I pack, I ask the basic question, “Do I really need this?” For a week of travel, I am now proud to say I can survive with putting all my stuff in a middle sized backpack. Here are my top 10 travel essentials.

1.    Backpack. A comfortable and durable one with a laptop compartment. My Swiss backpack has served me well for years. I choose one with a laptop compartment as it is convenient and safe for me. It spares me the hassle of hanging my laptop bag separately.

2.   Flexible pair of shoes. I choose a pair of leather booties when I travel for trainings and any others. It is always ready to go and can carry different looks. Pair it with a long sleeve and jeans and you’ll have a semi formal look. Pair it with shorts and  sleeveless and you are ready to go for an afternoon stroll.

3.   Wardrobe essentials.  Clothes made from light materials like cotton are preferable as they are fold-able to the minimum size without the dire need for pressing. Jeans, jogging pants, shorts, t-shirt, a dress, one nighties, and lots of undies.

4.   Toiletries.  In a mini handbag, I see to it that all of my basic stuff like toothbrush, toothpaste, bath soap, shampoo, mouthwash, lotions, etc., are all in. I keep a mini size of all those to save space.

5.   Water. This has not been on top of my list until lately. Unexpected things might happen along the way and water is the safest stuff you could take to keep you alive.

6.   Headset. As a music fanatic, a headset is not a want but a need. Duhh, imagine a 24-hour bus ride or a delayed flight without anything that is preferable to you playing.

7.   Book. Sure, there are ebooks ubiquitously available with the invention of Android phones or you can read them straight from the desktop. But I am an orthodox lass who likes to flip pages once in a while and who is obsessed of book scent.

8.   Scarf. It is always multi-purpose. Scarves can serve as your blanket or towel, if needed. It is also a great way to travel in style without bringing too much.

9.   Good sunnies. The heat of the sun and wind might irritate your eyes. With neuralgia striking once in a while which makes me abhor glares, I could say sunglasses are functional fashion.

10. Slippers. I have a pair tucked on the side pocket of my backpack just in case I need them.


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Benefits of Travelling/Strolling Solo

Got no one to take your pic?
Set timer, go for selfies or ask people around!
They are more than willing to do so. And who knows it might spark
new friendship.

I am a bit hesitant if solo backpackers could not relate how enthralling it is to travel alone. Even just going to nearby coffee shops or malls, doing it with me, myself and I,  is more than exciting. I am obsessed maybe for the following reasons:

      1. Knowing yourself better. Being in a throng of strangers in an unknown place makes one realize it is important to be tough and open-minded to any possible circumstances. Travelling all by yourself unlocks characters you yourself never figured out have.

Eat whatever you want.
Wherever you want.

2.       No other interest to consider. Travelling alone means you have no other person/people bugging where to check-in, what to eat, when to hop from one place to another, etc. I am also up for group activities but what really made me fall in love with solo backpacking is doing things at my own pace.  I really have low tolerance with snail speed company much as those who cannot make do of any situations.

These people taught me how to
eat see urchins' meat.
Then we had few shots of Emperador.

3.       Meet new people. The thought of any possible seatmate on the tricycle, bus, and plane fuels my solo backpacking interest. That person sitting next to you has unquestionably unique experiences of the world and engaging a conversation with him/her is such an encounter you can’t read on books. Some of the folks you encounter understand you are alone and offer a hand to take shot of yourself with the panoramic scene you are in so photo memento is could never be a problem. In case it' a big deal. There are even those who are really kind and would willingly introduce you to people around and take care of you.

  

4.       Challenge resourcefulness. What more can I say? When you are in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people and dilemmas arise, you have not much of a choice but turn on your 'resourcefulness' button.

5.       Independence. I grew up trained to stand on my own feet and travelling alone drifts me back to those days while adding wisdom to my half full experience with the realities of life.


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