Our room had everything we needed ; complete bed and bath linen set up, flat screen cable TV,IDD/NDD phone lines, coffee and tea making facility,mini bar, lighted closets with hangers, luggage rack, in-room safety box,bathrooms amenities, hot and cold water and 24 hour room service except free Wi-Fi, as you have to pay for it to be able to avail of it in your room. But you can also get wireless internet in the lobby.  The hotel is also equipped with swimming pool and waterfall, a spa, fitness center and a business center.

Dining is one of the most gratifying experience in Widus Resort.  The Salt Coffee Shop features a wide variety of delectable Asian, Western and local cuisine.  We only had breakfast here though which is part of the complimentary breakfast buffet when you stay in the hotel.

But oh boy, the food choices were superb! The hotel’s dedication to decent food was more than evident, and left us wanting for more. We experienced nothing but warmth during our whole idle stay. As we ate in the lively, refreshing surroundings of Salt Coffee Shop, we congratulated ourselves on having such a wonderful and welcoming corner in Clark, Pampanga.

How to Get to Widus Resort (Hotel Vida):

Hotel Vida is an hour and a half away drive from Metro Manila via the North Luzon Expressway and a 40-minute drive to Subic via the Subic-Clark-Tarlac-Expressway. The hotel is strategically located within 5 minutes away from the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, 5 minutes from the the Mimosa Golf and Country Club, and 3 minutes from the Duty Free Shops within the area.

Widus Resort / Hotel Vida

5414 Manuel A. Roxas Highway

Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga

For Inquiries and Reservations:

Phone: +45-4991000 or + 2 5844091

For Widus Resort / Hotel Vida room rates, check out:

Widus Resort website: http://widus.com

* During our last night for Lakbay Norte 3, we stayed at this pleasant deluxe hotel.  Lakbay Norte 3 is an eight day media familiarization tour of Northern Luzon Philippines organized by North Philippine Visitors Bureau in cooperation with Manila North Tollways Corporation, Victory Liner, Mc Donalds, Petron and Universal Robina Corporation.

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You’ve probably heard of couchsurfing, bed and breakfast, hostel, guesthouse, tourist inn,  and homesytay ayt?  How about  ”peer-to-peer rentals” , “vacation rentals” , “villa holidays”or “short-term rental”?  Let me introduce to you the latest accommodation craze  to hit the Philippines and South East Asia called ROOMORAMA!  When I first heard about it, I thought they’re just like any other  websites for hotels and hostels.  So I checked their page, and browsed a little.  And my initial reaction was “Are you serious? Is this true!?  A lovely room for rent this cheap!?

Clearly, I had no idea about short-term accommodation and short-term rentals.  It’s something new to the  Filipino or Asian travel culture but it’s actually a popular accommodation option in Europe and UK, Canada and in the US.  So to get a clear idea of what I have recently discovered, let me share some details here.

What is ROOMORAMA?

Roomorama allows anyone to rent out their property (apartment, condominium, villa,  house, etc) to travelers – (tourists, students, business travelers, etc.)  looking for short-term stays – a few days, or weeks or months maybe.  Hosts can manage their properties and collect payment with ease through Roomorama’s secure payment system and at the same time, travelers can quickly find and book their home away from home – without the hotel price.  Hosts can upload photos, manage inquiries and reservations, and collect payment through the site.  It is the perfect way to make some rent money while you are on vacation yourself.

ROOMORAMA room types:

Bedroom

Apartment/Condominium/Villa

House

Why use ROOMORAMA?

Roomorama is a cheaper alternative to travelers looking for accommodations in expensive cities like in Singapore, Japan,  Australia, Paris, Italy, London, New York, etc.  By reading reviews of a host and checking out their profiles, guests can decide for themselves whom they’d like to rent from.  This convenient categorizing of available apartments and rooms means there is no need for sifting through hundreds of individual posts on classified sites!  Best of all, transactions are done through Roomorama’s streamlined and secure transactions.  This means fewer no-shows, fewer scams, and a safer, stress-free way to rent. And oh, do check out the ROOMORAMA Perks!

How does ROOMORAMA works?

Once you have found an accommodation that meets your needs, click the “Contact Host” button on the property details page. The inquiry is then sent to the host for confirmation of availability.

When availability is confirmed by the host, the green “Book” button will appear on the inquiry ticket and you will then be able to pay and secure your stay (If the host has not clicked on Confirm on his/her end, you won’t see the option to book).

Is it free to list my properties?

Good question!  Listing your apartment, suite, house, villas, condominium, etc in ROOMORAMA is totally free!

Does Roomorama have a referral program for friends I invite?

Great news!  Oh boy, ROOMORAMA knows how to give back to loyal consumers!

Here’s how:

1.Invite yoour friends through email, Facebook, Twitter or simply by sharing your invite link.

2. Receive 10% of  free (Usually $10) for every booking your friends complete and every stay they host for a year.

3. Get paid directly to your Paypal account at the end of each month for all completed stays.

So hurry and  sign up now at roomorama.com!

Is Roomorama secure?

One of the concerns of booking online is security, and with Roomarama they value security.  They don’t store your credit card information. And as I mentioned above, transactions are done through Roomorama’s streamlined and secure transactions.

I understand that another concern of  some travelers when booking online is SNAD: significantly not as described.  This involves a property that looks like paradise in the photos but looks otherwise upon arrival, this also happens even in hostels and hotels.   So to answer this concern, Roomarama don’t release payment to your host until you check in and hand over the 6-digit payment code.  Make sure you also read your hosts cancellation policy. Furthermore, each host has a profile which will show reviews from previous stays, so you can have a better idea of who you’re dealing with.

******

Roomorama is the new name in finding comfortable and posh short-term accommodations while staying in a budget. While some perceived cons of vacation rentals can include being unfamiliar with the property, lack of on-site staff, and concerns about quality or cleanliness, these are most often resolved by dealing directly with the host, who can address these concerns.  Roomorama has an in-house customer service team available around the clock

Roomorama and short term rentals in general is a good choice for long term travelers, those would like to stay in one province or city say for a few weeks or  months. With Roomarama, you’d get to stay in a place and still get that homey feeling, living in a neighborhood instead of  living in a hostels in the busy and chaotic city center. Short term rentals are also ideal for honeymooners or couples, who wants to savor their vacation in posh villas for a cheaper price, most properties listed in Roomarama have have fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, private hot tubs,  and even pools!

For family vacations, trips with your friends or company outings and team buildings why not consider looking into renting villas, condominiums  or house for rent in Roomorama.  Most properties offers more space like multiple bedrooms and bathrooms not to mention convenient locations near the beach,  city centers in real neighborhoods  and greater privacy than a hotel, not to mention that many hosts give travelers the option of  inhabiting real neighborhoods in their destination and living like the locals.

Sign up at Roomarama website : roomorama.com

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We were welcomed warmly by the hotel staff and the hotel manager -Mr. Norman, with the classic seashell necklace  and the unforgettable buko juice (coconut juice), the best I’ve tasted so far.  I was in fact addicted to the buko juice that I ended up lounging comfortably in the receiving area pretending to read the lifestyle magazines while the rest of the group is outside the garden for some photo-op.

Puerto del Sol Bolinao photo

Puerto del Sol (Bolinao) hotel is all about dramatic design in a  jaw dropping setting, an ultimate retreat that offers peace and privacy and some pampering.  En route to our hotel room,  we found ourselves walking in a meticulously manicured lush green garden adorned with iconic religious statues and grandiose image of Mother Mary in shades of  blue creating a Mexican culture atmosphere.  The indulgent pool is nestled right in the middle of the villas surrounded by the garden and lined with loungers and parasols.  It is adjacent to the seductive jacuzzi and intimate spa.  The hotel actually offers a wide array of  massages and spa, we haven’t tried it though so I’m not able to share a review about it.

We were finally introduced to our Casitas rooms (family suites), the boys secured  the 2nd-storey rooms while  ours is located on the  other end of the villas.  A simple yet stylishly designed room with its glorious  orange painted walls that  glow in the sunlight.  The bed is adorned by clean white fish themed sheets to complement the  headboard and constant golden sunlight pouring into the window.  The sliding glass door  is decorated with plain white curtains where you can peep into the garden with lovely vines  hanging  and flowers in bloom or  simply chill in the veranda enjoying nature’s luxuries.

We we’re toured around to see the other types of rooms, the rustic appeal of  the bahay kubo (native hut styled room) facing the beach side makes it my personal favorite.  The other rooms on the 2nd floor looks just like our room except for some fittings, and fixtures, and unlike our room, it’s gifted with the view of the entire villas and the vast sea.

To complete your tropical fantasy, the hotel resort  boasts an enticing restaurant. We had our lunch at La Playa, a rustic cabana set along the shore overlooking the serene beach.

It was our new found friend’s birthday, Josh, a guy that could be mistaken as the son of  a Chinese business tycoon.  Aside from serving as a retreat to weary tourists, this stylish resort is also an ideal choice for celebrating special events like birthdays, weddings, special family gatherings and romantic  dates.

Although the table was set for us that night  outside the plush restaurant, we still went inside because we we’re hopelessly trying to photograph the foods before they are served on our own candle lit dinner.  I like the cozy atmosphere of of the restaurant, the yellow wall is adorned with  China wares mingled with wooden boat paddles.  The ceiling is decorated with blue and yellow sheets.  What more is, the hotel manager Sir Alfred suddenly transformed into a guitar man playing the most romantic songs on each table while the guests are dining.   The restaurant offers dishes made of fresh local produce and since one of  Pangasinan’s  specialty is bangus (milk fish), we we’re served with bangus cordon bleu.

To end the day, we dipped in the inviting pool and intimate jacuzzi matched with both sensible and funny conversations.  The tropical open air bar is perched above the pool serving bloody mary, champagne, luscious blend of vodka and other signature cocktails.

Part of our bond as a group was developed in Pangasinan. Like what Mica said, when we embarked on our Pangasinan trip, we weren’t really close friends, some of us doesn’t even know each other.  Puerto del Sol is a witness to the beginning of that great and lifelong friendship.

Team West Pangasinan (photo by Ada Lajara of adaphobic.com)

Luxurious Puerto del Sol is undoubtedly the stylish way to do Bolinao.  Though sparse on technology, each suites and villas blends tropical design touches to create a tranquil hide away amid verdant gardens.   Maybe for many  tourists Puerto Del Sol is  ”Gate to the Sun”,  but  for me, this luxe resort will forever be remembered as the “Gate to Happy Times” , I find it brighter than sunshine.

*This is part of my Pangasinan escapade series.

for more info, pls visit : http://www.puertodelsol.com.ph/

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Upon arriving in Probolinggo, we we’re gathered for a quick briefing, then we we’re transferred to another van to head to our hotel in Cemoro Lawang, a small town in the top of a hill to the north-east of the Mount Bromo (East Java), Indonesia. Because I am a Filipino, I was asked to sit in front again, “VIP treatment” as they call it. In case you missed my previous posts, Indonesians have high respect for Filipinos because of Maribeth Bichara and Christian Bautista,  famous singers in Indonesia (add the now  famous Philippine  football/soccer team Azkals to the  list).  I am the only Asian on that tour group, the rest are Europeans, so for the rest of my trip in Bromo, everyone’s speaking in French.

I wanted to refuse the “VIP sit” but I’m freakin’ tired to even say a word so I just sat there like a behaved kid.  Indonesian drivers just love to overtake, and for that entire trip, I’m about to have a heart attack, seriously!  I remember the backpacker guy from Denmark  (whom I was with during our Prambanan tour) warned me not to take the front sit if I’m to take a small van, “It’s better to take that big public bus, ” he said while browsing through his Lonely Planet  book.  His book is right of course, but I booked a tour with Simple Tours  for less hassle. Besides, I didn’t research much for my Indonesia trip so I guess it was a practical move.  Maybe I should use a guide book next time.  I know I said before in an interview not to dwell too much on guidebooks because you’ll end up with cookie-cutter trips just like the rest of the backpackers or tourists out there but somehow I think it’s also helpful just  avoid being too dependent on it , it’s not a bible.

It was a mere 1 hour drive through the mountains, the van passed through a series of  forest with towering huge trees.  During the course of the trip, I was curious how that route looks like with the view of the surrounding lush green mountains in the morning.

“Yoschi Hotel?”, the driver asked me, I hurriedly looked into my receipt. We we’re divided into 2 groups, I was going to stay with the basic guesthouse -Yoschi Hotel.  But like I said, I booked with Simple tours because they gave me a discount, all the tours will ask you to pay for  price of 2 for the rooms if you’re alone, but Simple tours didn’t. “You’re a Filipino, I’ll charge you for 1 person only”, I was smiling while I recount that line by the tour operator.

I was lucky to pay Php250 (USD5) for my room when in fact, the normal rate is Php800(16USD) for the standard room!  For that rate, I expected my room to be a basic one with shared bath, I’m used to that anyway, surprisingly, though it was indeed modest,  it is cozy inside and looks eclectic  and artsy outside.  It reminds me of those  typical wood houses in Benguet and Sagada built from pine trees.  It has 3 quaint rooms, the room below is the owner’s, the other room is shared by 2 female European backpackers, and the cozy room with small living room is mine.

Geez! For Php 250, I have my own small living room, a veranda overlooking the mountains and a queen size bed!  Though my room is modest, Balinese & Java arts and crafts  is omnipresent in the  architecture and interiors of the hotel.  The incredible variety of colors, motifs , wooden & stone carvings, textiles, masks, carved furniture, and puppets is simply mind-boggling.  They all show the excellent craftsmanship of their artists, but all carry deep symbolism at their place of origin.  It felt like walking in a garden full of  Indonesian surprises!

I was dead tired, and it was dark and drizzling but I still managed to take a photo of the compound, the hotel and the restaurant.   The  foods looks tempting and I could smell the happiness of the tourists ( a group of old European folks),  there’s a live band sporting their local outfit and playing local songs with Javanese gamelan, everyone was just having fun in the cold night.  And I was there starving and tempted to buy dinner, but my cash is just enough for my fare back to Jakarta. I can’t use my money left in Philippine currency because they don’t exchange it in remote places in Indonesia, the only money changer I know that accepts it is the one on the airport( even the money changers in Gambir station and Yogyakarta don’t accept Philippine peso).  Good thing I still have some chips and instant foods left  from  the Philippines (yeah, I carried it all the way to Java from Manila! haha) so that’s what I ate for dinner, poor me!  So if you plan to hit Bromo, make sure you have enough cash with you or  at least change your local currency to US dollars, there’s no ATM in the highlands.

It was almost 10pm when I went to bed, in the next 4 hours we have to wake up to catch the sunrise and trek to Bromo, one of  the active volcanoes in Indonesia.  Now problem is, I don’t have a winter jacket, nor a thick  sweater, and worse, I don’t have trekking shoes, just my cheap flip flops, the hotel doesn’t allow the thick blankets to be taken out and I don’t even have enough cash to rent a winter jacket .

I tell you, sometimes, it’s stupid and hard to be a lazy unprepared old school (no gadget) traveler.  I swear, I’m trying to change.
*This is part of my Indonesia series , read here  for more posts–>Indonesia

Yoschi Hotel- Bar and Restuarant website:

http://yoschi.bromosurrounding.com/

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Just a few hours drive away from Manila, you’ll be rewarded with breath taking views of  Laguna de Bay, sunset against the shadow of the mountains in the afternoon and the Manila skyline at night time.

Surrounded by a lush green manicured greenery, you can take a plunge into the show-off aqua blue infinity pool or take a dip into the  inviting jacuzzi.

In addition to the magnificent picture-perfect landscape, Thunderbird Resort Rizal‘s 41- suite hotel offers sumptuous  meals courtesy of  Koi Restaurant, Pool Bar and the Cabana Bar found inside the rich and famous Fiesta Casino.

Indulge in the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere of the simple yet elegant white rooms equipped with modern facilities and world class service. You can choose to stay in your dreamy bed all day with tempting foods and drinks in your personal refrigerator and get a soothing 15-minute free massage or chill up in your veranda enjoying the sunset and the relaxing view of the lush surroundings. Surprisingly, despite all these luxuries, our deluxe room where Chyng and I stayed is quite affordable compared to other posh hotels.

The only thing I noticed in the resort is the lack of gym and activity center and the lack of  door that leads directly to Koi Restaurant.  Because if you have kids, you don’t want your kids to witness the gaming or breath the smoke inside the casino when you pass by to head to the well-designed restaurant. To answer the need for an activity center, as part of it’s development plan, Thunderbird Resort Rizal is in the works of building the first state-of-the-art Event center in Rizal,so better watch out for that!

And what’s the best thing I like about Thunderbird Resort- Rizal?  The resort is focused on protecting the environment by establishing best sustainable environmental practices, both within resort operations and through promotion of these principles. They have those Re-use cards  that guests place in their bed  to save water and energy.  I noticed even the lighting is also economical. The resort also initiated an environmental program dubbed as “Thunderbird resorts Efforts on Emvironment Sustainability”(TREES), that aims to cultivate a green culture to it’s employees, their practices, their guests and to the community.

Outside those white-washed walls, lose yourself in the charming art capital of the Philippines, Binangonan. Explore a rich cultural patina of art houses, studios, galleries, exotic Filipino dish, museums, heritage sites, and the Angono Petroglyphs found at the foothill of  the resort.

All in all, with the good customer service, the picture-perfect landscape, the relaxing atmosphere, comfortable bed and room, the delectable food, the continued efforts to preserve nature makes Thunderbird Resort Rizal an ideal stop-over and a relaxing escape to the savvy traveler.

*Thunderbird Rizal Day Tour is P850/weekday and P950/weekend. That includes use of swimming pool and P500 food consumable.

How to commute to Thunderbird  Resort Rizal:

for more information  and how to catch the shuttle services at various pick-up points.  You may call (02) 651.6888 to ask for the schedule.

Thunderbird Resorts – Rizal

Telephone No.: +(632) 6516888
Fax No.: +(632) 651-3893

http://www.thunderbirdresorts.com/

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The recent expansion of the well-known thompson holidays has led to them offering a huge variety of holidays to destinations worldwide. Check out the selection and your next holiday should be unforgettable.

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From the main entrance of the train station, you can turn right and cross the railroad towards Jalan Malioboro.  After one block later, to your right is Jalan Sosrowijayan. Along Jalan Sosrowijayan, you will see Gang I and II to your right.  Gang II is in front of  Malioboro Inn and right beside  Malioboro Minimarket. Check out the map below.

Yogyakarta map from Cecko trans

Gang II is in front of Malioboro Inn

When I got off the cab, a couple of locals greeted me at the gate of Gang II, one of them even followed me until I got to the end of the street.  That guy turned out to be a relative of a tour operator in Yogyakarta (pronounced as Jogjakarta).  I am no fan of  tour packages, actually this is my 1st time to avail of  a tour package because in Indonesia it is better to take a tour package than do DIY (do-it-yourself) tour.   No wonder it’s not really a famous destination for backpackers, because touring Indonesia can be a bit expensive compared to the other South East Asia countries.

Anda Losmen - my hostel in Yogyakarta (fronting Ceck Tours) in Gang II

The travel agency is called Cecko trans and is fronting my guesthouse Anda Losmen, they guy is nice, and they offer cheap tours, one of the cheapest in Gang II actually (I shopped around for the cheapest tour), only problem is they leave as  early as 5am  for the Borobudur temple and Prambanan tour to avoid traffic, and it’s already 7am at that time.  They wanted me to take it the next day, the guy even called the owner of the travel agency to refer me, I can’t decide that time so I told him I’ll get back to them.  I really felt guilty because I wasn’t able to take the tour with them because I had to travel to Surabaya the next day.

I unpacked my things and checked my room, the bed, the room and the comfort room is basic.  I think my room is just fairly priced for Rp 50,000 (Php 300/USD6) per day.  As much as I wanted to sleep, I had to scout around for a cheap tour to Borobudur temple and Prambanan tour and take the tour the same day.

I walked  around Gang II, unfortunately most of the travel agency we’re still closed so I went outside until I found Great Tours just  along Jalan Sosrowijayan.  Great Tours is a bit expensive compared to other travel agencies found around Gang I and Gang II, but they have good customer service, the tour guide is a nice lady and their van is big and new.  Their Borobudur temple and Prambanan tour started at 9am, so I decided to join them.

For the Gunung Bromo (Sunrise Tour), I decided to take it at Simple Tours, they offered me the cheapest tours plus they have been kind to me and only quoted me the price for 1 person for the hostel because they learned I am a Filipino.  The annoying thing about touring solo to Bromo is that you have to pay for the price of 2  persons for the room, since all rooms are designed for 2 people.

Simple Tours has internet cafe, mountain bikes and motorbikes for rent and rooms for rents (refer to the photos below of Simple Tours).  Once again, thanks to Maribeth and Christian Bautista who are famous in Indonesian, because of them Filipinos receive special treatment in Indonesia!

This is part of my Yogyakarta  and Indonesia Travel  Series.

Recommended Travel Agents in Yogyakarta :

*SIMPLE TOURS*

for rates and other info visit their website: http//www.yogyaholiday.com

Office: Sosrowijayan GT I/63 (Gang II) Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Phone/Fax:0274-582617,563513,7151303/0816 6888839

*GREAT  TOURS*

website: http://greattoursjogja.com, http://yogyes.com/great-tour

JL. Sosrowijayan 29 Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Tel./Fax: (0274)583221

*CECKO TRANS*

website:http://www.bedhots.com

Gang II, Sosorowijayan Wetan, GT i/58 A, Yogyakarta, Indonesia 55271

Phone: 0274-560966  Fax: 0274-512452

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On our second day, it was past 6pm and I’m still  napping on my chiropractic bed in Microtel Boracay, my roommates Brenna and Gervic woke me up for dinner at Zuzuni boutique hostel & restaurant. Our dinner was set at theground floor of  the  cozy restaurant.

The wall is painted in posh red accented by vintage-inspired mirrors of  diverse designs and Greek-inspired lamps hanging on the ceiling. A long softy sofa is fixed on the wall making the whole dining experience relaxing and comfortable. The  yellow light and candles lit up on the table adds up to the romantic setting.  Although I’d prefer it if  the place would’ve been a bit more spacious for easier mobility, and the internet shop & store beside it compliments the image of  the Mediterranean-inspired resto because it sorta ruined the image of  the structure but oh well, I’m sure that store slash internet shop is pretty helpful to the tourists.

Zuzuni also offer the rooftop bar for intimate gatherings and functions and has tables and lounge chairs as well on the beach front. Yes, it’s facing the famed White Beach in Boracay! At Zuzuni, you have a variety of dining options to choose from.  Zuzuni boasts of 4 eclectic rooms with wi-fi, cable TV, air conditioning and mini bar for deluxe rooms. I couldn’t make a review though of their rooms since we didn’t stay there so I’ll just share to you the Greek foods that were served to us.

Tirokafteri is a traditional cheese spread from Greece and surrounding Balkan countries.  There is a wide variety of cheeses made in various regions across  Greece by the way, some of them are unnamed.  The preparation of the dish may vary from region to region, but ingredients most commonly include feta cheese (sometimes combined with one or more other types of soft, white cheeses), hot peppers (such as red cherry pepper), roasted peppers, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, yogurt, or oregano. Variants are  Tzatziki, with yoghurt, garlic, olive oil, cucumber and a bit of vinegar.  (Php155), and Melitzanosalata (smoked eggplant dip (Php145).  They are commonly eaten as part of a mezze platter, or by itself, with slices of warm pita bread.  The dish has a spicy, salty taste, with mellow undertones of olive oil. They are perfect compliment to grilled meats and vegetables and is also used as a condiment for Souvlaki.

Souvlaki is a well known treat for Greeks, it can be a  chicken, pork, lamb, shrimp or swordfish grilled on a skewer and marinated in oil, salt, pepper, oregano and lemon. The pita bread souvlaki contain, apart from the meat, fresh tomatoes and onions, French fries which are optional and tzatziki.  If  in Greece, souvlaki is usually sold like shawarma or kebab,  in Zuzuni, we had chicken souvlaki (Php270) which is served without pita bread but like a barbecue, so you have to order tzatziki separately.

And oh, we had the Greek summer salad made up of  tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, parsley, oregano, tossed in olive oil and red wine vinaigrette, topped with fata cheese (Php260). I didn’t taste it though coz I was waiting for the full meal, I was starving! haha

But of course, they don’t have rice,so we had pasta! Garides Saganaki pasta consists of sauteed prawns in tomato pomodoro sauce with feta cheese. Garides saganaki is one of the most famous meze in Greek or Middle Eastern cuisine often served with an aperitif. but in Zuzuni they tossed it with spaghetti pasta. With each bite you’ll taste the sweetness of the shrimp and tomatoes, some heat from the hot peppers, and a slight tartness from feta cheese. I’d recommend you order this once you’re in Zuzuni, it’s a bit expensive though, will cost you Php 450 for that one plate!

Moussaka is a baked layers of eggplant, ground beef and ground pork, with bechamel topped with creamy cheese (Php290).   For me, this is one of the best served dish in this restaurant, it’s practically a crime not to finish it! If you’re on a limited budget, and you want to just practically order 2 dish. I’d say you try Moussaka and Mati Chocolate Sin!

A dish can make or break a restaurant, and Mati Chocolate Sin hath made Zuzuni! In fact, Zuzuni’s tag line is: home of Boracay’s must-have dessert, the Chocolate sin, and more..The term chocolate sin was perhaps derived from the infamous ecclesiastical debate when chocolate fell under religious scrutiny. During the 16th and 17th Centuries, a heated public debate arose among Catholic theologians focusing on the question of whether consuming the chocolate, constituted breaking the ecclesiastical fast. Oh well, all I can say is there are sins you just have to commit!

*This is a sponsored post.

Zuzuni is open daily from 7am until 11pm. Located at station 1 (beachfront), Boracay Island

tel#: +63.36.288.4477

Zuzuni website: http://www.zuzuni.net/

SEAIR offers 35 minute flights to Boracay from Manila to Caticlan.

website: http://www.flyseair.com

For that “healthy-for-the-back” chiropractic beds stay at : Microtel Boracay

email: sales@microtel.ph

website: www.microtel-boracay.com

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Gael Hilotin

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The Microtel concept involves offering the traveling public accommodations of  high quality and value, while reducing the cost but not the quality of the development.When you mention Microtel Boracay, to me, it depicts an image of a typical house with a pool in a well-maintained village downtown, the over all architecture of this hotel is  pretty simple. Walking on it’s lobby is like walking inside a Mediterranean-inspired abode where I was surrounded by white walls with dome-shaped tiny windows where colored empty bottles and obsolete gas lamps on display.   The simple interior, homey design and  minimal fixtures is  a typical  character of  the hotel chain, thereby offering consistent expectation and experience for the guests.  Microtel Boracay like their other hotel chains is efficiently designed to reduce development cost and offer a 1st class hotel at rates competitive with vulnerable budget hotels.

After our quick flight courtesy of  SEAIR to Caticlan, the Microtel Boracay shuttle transferred us to the hotel, we we’re greeted with welcome drinks and cold towels. I shared the room with Brenna and Gervic. Our rooms interior is designed purely for comfort.  Like I said,  I learned that this is typical of  Microtel hotels because of their drive for low development costs rather than passing these costs to the guest, they’d rather ensure that their hotels are all 100% newly constructed from the ground up and are completely consistent with regards to cleanliness, safety, comfort and value for money.  I noticed that there are less furniture, only the inevitable  ones like a bed, a dresser and a cabinet and on top of  it is a cable TV.  No fridge on a typical twin share bedroom, only on  suite rooms. I believe it would be more convenient though for the guests if  they put a  fridge for twin sharing room especially that there’s no restaurant or store nearby at night so hungry guests could grab a midnight snack or meal in the wee hours of the morning or late at night.

The window is designed for seating so visitors can relax, and on it’s top is an individually-controlled air conditioning unit. The rooms have wireless internet access too so you could still get updates on your Facebook and Twitter while on vacation! However the connection is a little slow  inside the room, but they do have a port somewhere on the dresser so you can attach that wire thingy to your laptop to get a connection or better yet, go to the lobby where the connection is faster. More importantly, the rooms have a fully automated fire safety alarm.  The bathroom is pretty clean and and  it’s  just right in size,  there’s hot and cold water too.  Our room has another door leading to another room of  Mica, Medalla and  Gracee. This room type is best suited for barkada or group travelers or families who wanna have an escape to Boracay.

The best bed I've ever slept on ! All it's rooms are equipped with "healthy-for-the-back" chiropractic beds!

Microtel Boracay is an ideal resort for a relaxing family destination. What sets this hotel apart from other resorts in the are are the activities in store for children. These activities are both fun and build skills that are important in developing their talents in a way that is fun for them.  There is also a movie screening of well-loved cartoon classics.  Not only that, baby crib is available upon request and children under 12 years old (maximum of 2) sharing room with adults and utilizing the existing beds are free of charge!

On our 1st night, the lobby was actually transformed into a meeting room, so I guess small meetings, and regional meetings can be held there too. In the lobby you can also make your own coffee or tea for free.

Adjacent to the hotel is Mama’s Fish House, yes, the famed restaurant is not only found in Hawaii but also in Diniwid Beach, Boracay! This is where we had our 1st dinner which was initially set up by the beach but too bad the rain poured so we had to transfer. Once you stay in Microtel Boracay, you’ll have  complimentary breakfast at Mama’s Fish House.

When it comes to service, I’d say they have one of the best.  The staff are ever smiling and helpful.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, I lost my memory card so I had to take photos again and at 4am I was still awake and bugged the poor staff to open the lights for me at the pool so I can take a night shot of it and he never complained. The guy didn’t know that I’m one of the bloggers on tour by the way, which means, this is how special they really treat their guests!

on the other side of the the beach is the luxury hotel of Shangri-la

What about the location?  Microtel Boracay is located in Diniwid Beach, the quite part of  Boracay.  For me, it’s an ideal destination if you wanna relax in Boracay far from the maddening crowd and noise of the bustling White Beach.

And at the same time, if  it’s your 1st time in Boracay and  wanna experience White beach‘s night life or it’s tropical feel during daylight, there’s a free shuttle that’ll drive you to and fro the famed White Beach. At Microtel Boracay, you’d get to experience and explore both worlds of the famed Boracay paradise!

*This is a sponsored trip*

Microtel is an international chain of hotels under Wyndham Wolrdwide with 300+ properties located in US, Canada, Argentina, Honduras, Mexico and Philippines. In the Philippines, Microtel is located in key destinations such as Baguio, Batangas, Boracay, Cabanatuan Cavite, Davao, Palawan, Tarlac and the newest hotel in Mall of Asia. All Microtels in the Philippines are managed by Microtel Development Corp., the hospitality arm of the Phinma Group.

For reservations and inquiries, please call (02)899-717, (032)288-4311, 0917-888-1800

email: sales@microtel.ph

website: www.microtel-boracay.com

SEAIR flies direct to Caticlan. Visit: www.flyseair.com

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Gael Hilotin

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Around 6am, I met up with fellow bloggers at Half  Moon Restaurant in Tomas Morato, QC where we had our breakfast before we head to Baguio. 
The trip on a private car took around 5hours only because we took the short cut,  I enjoyed the ride with Ms. Judy of  JMaret Publicity, Audrey, Mee-i, Arvin, and Melody

fellow bloggers at Half Moon Cafe in T. Morato

Although I’ve been to Baguio for the nth time, I haven’t passed by Kennon Road yet since buses to Baguio ply the route of  McKinley road. So when we stopped at the famed Lion’s head, like the rest of the bloggers, I was excited for the photo op.

After a few minutes, along the quiet stretch of road surrounded by  towering pine trees and a majestic view of the  mines and the Cordillera mountains, the car stopped at a Mediterranean inspired-villa.

Mines View Park Hotel

The lobby, the dine area, the and the function hall is separated from the villa where the rooms are located.  I like the cozy ambience of the receiving area, some influence of a usual Baguio country house is highly evident.  I shared the room with 2 fab mommies, Iris and Jen.

After checking in our luggage, we went to the function hall for lunch and mini press con. Sumptuous foods were served courtesy of  the fine dining outlet Zenz Restaurant, which offers Western, Asian and Continental entrees that makes use of  Baguio’s fresh produce such as crisp vegetables, newly-picked fruits and one of the chef’s own gastronomic innovation: the strawberry sinigang which was served to us on our last day in at the hotel.

strawberry sinigang

Mines View Park Hotel’s function hall offers a spacious venue that can accommodate 100-150 guests for both personal or business conventions. It is equipped with a white screen and projector for audiovisual presentations, a sound and PA system, and basic lighting equipment.

After our hefty lunch, we then toured the hotel.  The hotel offers utmost comfort and luxury inside it’s well-appointed rooms. The 29 rooms take from the coziness of an Alpine chalet outfitted with the most modern amenities.

I like it that most of the rooms open to private balconies that offer a view of the Cordillera Mountain and pine forests. Indeed, the refreshing stillness and relaxing atmosphere are the main attractions of the Mines View  Park Hotel. The rooms are also equipped with flat-screen TV with cable and the hotel is conveniently Wi-Fi connected.

The hotel has a gym where one can work out while enjoying a panoramic view of mountain and forest.    They also partnered with Asian Spa, to provide such therapies as the Cordillera massage, which is a tribal technique practiced by Igorot healers for centuries.

Too bad we didn’t get to try it but after the quick tour of the hotel, we headed back to the lobby for Fortune telling, I didn’t try it since the Yoga session is about to begin.  It’s my 1st time to try out yoga and I really enjoyed it, it was led by Elmer of the fitness center at the 3rd floor of SM Baguio.

The Baguio bloggers tour was full of activities, tiring yet fun. I like best the Bibincrepe Making, which is the exclusive offering of the Half Moon Restaurant.  Bibingcrepe is a fluffy bibingka rolled out into a crepe with a slight flavor of caramel. I don’t cook, so it’s an achievement for me to make one. 

After a quick rest, we had our dinner in the diner at the patio entrance. The food was great plus the guest band performer, who are actually students from Baguio wearing Igorot customes performing Igorot dance.  I was too tired and immediately fell asleep after, while some bloggers enjoyed the videoke session. Zenz Bar actually opens from 6pm-12midnight to offer a relaxing hub for cocktails or after-dinner drinks.

The next day, I woke up to a cold, fog-filled morning. It would’ve been best to enjoy coffee or a superb meal at the Garden Veranda but too bad it’s drizzling. The setting under the shade of the overgrown eucalyptus and pine trees is an idyllic venue for a hearty breakfast. 

As much as I wanna stay in our room though, we also have to explore Baguio, and that is one of the advantage of  staying at Mines View Park is it’s proximity to some of the city’s attractions like Mines View  park and Good Shepherd which is just a walking distance from the hotel. But if you really want to take a stroll down at Session Road,  visit the Baguio Cathedral, OMG cafe, shop for ukay-ukay, savor the relaxing view of the city at one of the verandas in SM Baguio, or visit the  Strawberry farm in La Trinidad, Benguet or ask the driver to drop you off at the Bell church, the huge Taoist temple sitting on the hill at the boundary of  Baguio and La Trinidad,  you can avail of the hotel’s shuttle service which drops and picks up guests at strategic locations within the city limits.  Or if you want to commute, just walk down the gate and hail a cab on the road.

Quoting the hotel president Mr. Dick Balajadia, “ Mines  View Park Hotel has the advantage of being situated in a quiet part of  Baguio.  It’s tranquility, it’s proximity to nature, and the beautiful view of the mountain set it apart from other hotels in the city, which are built close to the commercial centers.”

True enough, before, whenever I want to escape from the madding  crowd  and bustles of  Baguio, I go to Benguet.  Now,  I’ve discovered a haven where I can come home-to where  nature’s beauty and serenity work together to renew the spirit, refresh the mind and energize the body to rediscover the pleasures of  Baguio City.

*This is a sponsored trip.

Thank you Azrael and fellow bloggers!  Thank you for the memories!

Thank you:

Mines View Park Hotel

1Apostol St. corner Outlook Dr

Mines View Park, Baguio City

Baguio office:

telefax: (6374) 442-1559

tel. # : (6374) 424-1088

cell#:+63922 888 6392

email: infor@minesviewparkhotel.com

website: www.minesviewparkhotel.com

Manila office:

telefax: (632) 372 3984 to 89 loc. 133

some excerpts from Jmaret Publicity

#57-A Mayor Gil Fernando Ave

Brgy. san Roque, Marikina City

telefax:933-8107 or 996-0533

email: jmaret_publicty@yahoo.com

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Gael Hilotin

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Zambales is well-known for its beaches, especially Subic,but not most Pinoy probably know Pundaquit. It is a small  fishing village facing the South China Sea in San Antonio, Zambales. Pundaquit is a famous jump off point to Camara Island, Capones Island, Anawangin Cove and Nagsasa Cove.

How to Get to Anawangin Cove, Capones Island and Camara Island:

By Land:

Manila to Zambales:

take a Victory Liner bus bound to Iba, Zambales in Kalookan. You can also take a bus off to Olongapo in Pasay or Cubao,then you can take a bus bound to Iba, Zambales in Olongapo. Aske the driver to drop you off to San Antonio town.  From there, you can take a tricycle (Php 50 if your solo or Php 25 per person) to Pundaquit. Travel time is about 4-5 hours depending on traffic. Fare is more or less Php250.

Victory Liner website : http://www.victoryliner.com/

From Pundaquit to Capones Island, Anawangin  Coveand Camara Island:

The island  is  accessible by a  15-20 minute boat ride from Pundaquit, San Antonio, Zambales . For Anawangin, another route is by a 4-6 hour trek through open trails thru the Pundaquit mountain range where you can also hire a guide at the jump off point.

Boat for Island hopping:

You may try contact Ate Fe @ 09176601068 or 09176675374 .

Php 1,500 for the small boat which can accommodate 6 people and Php300 each person for a larger boat which can accommodate 20 people.

Pundakit/Pundaquit Accomodations:

If you’re not planning to camp in any of the islands, Ate Fe and his family also owns cheap rooms for rent in Pundaquit. Kindly contact her for the rates.

Hotels/Inns in Pundakit/Pundaquit:

* Wildrose Beach Inn- contact#: 0910 661 5613 — JR or Engr. Doria

website: http://wildrosebeachinn.com/

*MEGAN’S BEACH RESORT: Tel. No.: (0063) 47-6030232/ 47-6030233

Cell#:: (0063) 9194808520/ 9217936797

email: virgieh@mail.com

Website: http://www.megansresort.net/

*NORA’S BEACH RESORT: contact#: 0918 278 8188 or 0919 637 4917

website:http://norasbeachresort.zambalesphilippines.com/

PUNDAQUIT LUXURY RESORT: contact#: + 63 917 512 2307 or + 63 919 354 7999

website: http://www.pundaquitluxuryresort.com/

*Punta de Uian (luxury resort)

contact #:0918-808-8426 or 0918-800-8426 Mr.Gio Aquino
Email: gda.puntadeuian@gmail.com

website: http://www.puntadeuian.net/

BEACH ACTIVITIES:
—>Island hopping: Capones Island, Camara Island, Anawangin cove (rate is normally Php1500(roughly US$34) for a small boat that can accommodate 6 people whereas for large boats (max 20 persons) rate is normally at Php 300 (roughly US $7) per pax  or Php 2,500 (roughly US$56) (rates may vary depending on the boatman and boat you hire). Nagsasa Cove is 1 hour from Brgy. Pundaquit (the jump off point), so this is normally a separate activity which will cost you another boat fare for Php 1,500 (roughly US $34).
—->Trekking Mt. Pundaquit – another route to Anawangin, for the adventurous souls this is recommended, may take 4-6 hours
—-> Trekking the lighthouse in Capones

—->Swimming – take note of the warnings for the sudden deep spots in Anawangin, while in Capones, the waves can be a bit huge sometimes.

—->Skimboarding- most locals find the beach ideal for skim boarding even the beach at the jump off point in Brgy.Pundaquit
—->Surfing- no equipments for rent so bring your own but Crystal beach a neighboring beach has surf equipments for rent, but the beach is not really the ideal surfing spot as the waves are flat and the current is strong.

—->Diving- (for Capones and Camara) but you may be disappointed because most corals are dead due to dynamite fishing.
—->Photography – the ruggedness of the terrains, the breathtaking sunset and sunrise and the starry sky at night makes it ideal for photography enthusiasts.

Travel tips:

* There’s no electricity, no mobile network signal nor hotels in Anawangin, your only option is to camp  if you intend to stay overnight so bring camping gears and tent  and drinks and food.

*Always wear your life vest while you are at the sea , the waters to the islands  can be rough sometimes. I recommend that you arrive early in Pundaquit while the water is still calm.

* Pasay and Kalookan Victory Liner  serves buses to Iba, Zambales  (none in Cubao). Last trip is at 11pm, arrive early so you can reserve seats as it gets fully loaded especially on weekends. The last trip is the best time to get to Pundaquit if you don’t intend to stay there overnight, you may just drop off at Olongapo and stay in a convenience stor or 24hour fastfood chain till around 5pm before you head to Pundaquit.  There are several buses bound to Iba, Zambales in Olongapo, mostly non-airconditioned buses, just ask the driver to drop you off in San Antonio, Zambales.

*If you plan to stay longer  in the island, bring extra water and food with you and remember to put on your sunscreen.

* Never leave your trash behind. Plastic bags or wrappers that flow out to the sea are mistakenly eaten by marine life.

Save our shores! THEpinaysolobackpacker supports responsible and sustainable tourism.

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