The fact that it erupted fairly recently and that you can hike right up to the crater is too tempting to resist. Even more so, the sight that greets you at the end of the trek is enough to entice anyone – even those who wouldn’t normally go hiking. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

That’s my first view of the crater. The eruption created this gorgeous lake, the depth of which is currently undetermined. I had seen pictures of this view so many times before but nothing prepared me for the real thing.

Yes, you can go swimming in the lake. The water is perfect! At first it may seem too cold but the sun is hot enough to keep you warm.

There are different routes you can take to the crater – we chose the easiest one. We drove all the way to Capas, Tarlac, where the famed Pinatubo Spa is located. We met our guide there, who took us near the crater on a 4×4. That ride lasted about an hour (rough road all the way!), while the trek lasted about 30 minutes. According to the sign below, we’re way older than senior citizens!

I say who cares? The experience was worth everything!

You see, the countless hotels in Saigon offer good rates – anywhere from USD15 to USD40. The really big names, like Sheraton and Continental, are out of my league. I would have loved to stay at the Sheraton but it was just too much. Anyway, we ended up staying at Blue River Hotel for the first two nights, and then moved to Blue Diamond for the last three nights.

We chose Blue River Hotel 2 (there IS a Blue River Hotel 1) because it was very cheap – USD30 for a family room (good for at least 4 people). They have WiFi (free), hot water, cable TV, a bathtub (for this particular room). The only problem I had with the hotel is its location – about 10 minutes of walking to the bars and Ben Thanh Market (more about this in another post). There’s nothing to complain about regarding the staff – they are amazing!

Entrance to the alley going to the hotel.

Entrance to the hotel.
Blue Diamond Hotel is a bit more upscale, and it opened about two months ago. It is very very new and for $40 a night, it is very much worth it. It’s located just behind the Ben Thanh Market, making it ideal for tourists.

Their breakfast buffet.

With all the choices available to visitors, picking out a single hotel can be confusing. If you’re heading to Saigon anytime soon, I suggest checking these two hotels out. You really won’t regret doing so.

So why am I itching to see Saigon (now called Ho Chi Minh City – HCMC for short – by the way)? As I said, Vietnamese food is to die for. Fresh spring rolls, the famous pho (noodle soup), and banh mi (French baguette with all sorts of stuffing). I am fairly new to their cuisine, so we’ll see what else I will discover! Oh yeah, I shall let Anthony Bourdain’s Vietnam feature guide me for a week.

I also read this article in the New York Times about “following the beer trail in Vietnam.” I didn’t know it, but Vietnam has quite a good selection of beers, many of them local! I wouldn’t call myself a beer connoisseur but I can appreciate a good brew anytime! Now I have printed out the article and will go around HCMC looking for some of the best beer in the city.

Of course, there is shopping. From what I hear, I can find tons of shawls, bags, and other apparel for dirt cheap.

I seriously am beside myself with excitement now.

So anyway, the news is that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – that’s the name of the theme park – is set to open its gates on the 28th of May. That’s about 3 months away from now – more than enough time to gather together enough money to afford the cost of entering Harry Potter’s world.

Universal has announced the first travel package for the theme park. It’s a 4-night deal which will cost an adult $258 and a child (between age 3 and 9) $130. For a family of four (two parents and two kids), the package amounts to $829.

What’s included in the package?

• Accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel (mid-range)
• Early Admission to the theme park
• Park ticket (3 days)
• Breakfast at The Three Broomsticks.

Harry Potter fans better start saving up now!

There are two main groups of islands that are usually visited by tourists – one to the south and one to the north. The southern islands are farther, but a whole lot more beautiful. Manlawi, which I wrote about in the previous post, is located in this area. Another island in this area is Cotivas. It is also beautiful, but smaller than Manlawi. When we got there, there were a small group of people lunching under the shade of a small tree. It was so serene!

Sabitang Laya is also a must visit. The beach is much smaller, but the rock formations are astoundingly beautiful! There is a small cove – if you can call it that – with more rock formations. I could spend a whole afternoon there just breathing it all in!


Islands in the northern part worth visiting are Lahus Island and Matukad Island. Lahus has a relatively long beach in the middle of two groups of rocks.

Matukad is smaller, but has some interesting plants. There is also a lagoon which is accessible by climbing a steep “cliff.” There is supposed to be a “guardian fish” in the lagoon, which cannot be caught by anyone.


Isn’t this place just magical?

Where we are going, there aren’t too many fancy restaurants. What I am really looking forward to are the small “eateries” where you can taste the local food in all its authentic glory. The best part is that everyone says it’s cheap!

Perhaps the most popular dish from this region is Bicol Express. This dish is available almost anywhere in the Philippines, but I am sure that what I will find in Caramoan is nothing like anything else I have ever tried. Bicol Express is a pork dish with lots of chili peppers (of course), shrimp paste, and coconut milk (of course). They say that every Bicolano family has its own version but at the end of the day, you won’t forget the creamy coconut milk flavor and the fiery peppers.

Another dish that I want to try is laing. This dish features dried out taro leaves. Again, coconut milk and chili peppers are thrown into the mix. Some versions include shrimp paste, while others have dried fish. Perfect for vegetarians!

Pinangat seems to be a combination of the first two dishes: taro leaves with minced pork. Now that sounds like heaven to me! I know that I will be going on a food trip next week!

The main thing for me, really, is the beach. I will probably spend most of my time just relaxing and swimming. I already have books and some TV shows lined up. Just give me food and drinks and I’ll be fine. Of course, I cannot pass up on the famed island hopping tours. Caramoan supposedly has 7 islands – all of which have to be discovered by the visitor. From other travelers’ experiences, a tour will take at least a day. Boats can be rented for PHP1,500 to PHP1,800 (about $30), and they can accommodate about 5 people. Not bad!

Spelunking or caving is also a popular activity in this part of the world. I am not sure I will try this as I have an aversion to dark enclosed places, but it sounds interesting. They say that you can hire guides for less than PHP500 ($10) to take you to Omang Cave. We’ll see how I feel when I get there.

Fishing – now this is something I would LOVE to do! My dad’s an avid fisherman and I guess he passed that on to me. Imagine having fresh fish for lunch – something you caught yourself. As long as I don’t have to clean it, I’ll be good!

Photo courtesy of caramoan-paradise.blogspot.com

How to get to Caramoan Islands
First you need to get to the Philippines, which I assume is easy enough for those who are in other countries. From Manila (other cities may have flights to Bicol but Manila is your best bet), you can take a Cebu Pacific flight to Naga City. This is one of the major cities in the Bicol Region.

From Naga City, you need to go to either Sabang Port. The trip will take about an hour and the cost will depend on the mode of transportation. Public transportation such as buses and jeepneys are available; the cost anywhere from PHP 65 to PHP85 (less than USD2).

From Sabang Port, you need to go to Guijalo Port. Travel is by boat and it takes about 2 hours. This will cost around PHP120. From there, you can get to Gota Village or wherever you are staying.

Here’s the better alternative for those who do not want to worry about all the transfers. Just make sure you get a flight to Naga City and let your resort handle all the transfers! Both Gota Village and La Playa will gladly do this for you for a reasonable price.

Up Next: What to bring

This group of islands is located in the southern part of the main island, Luzon, in the Bicol Region. It only became popular in the recent years, especially after the French version of Survivor was held there. Indeed, not much is known about the area, hence the moniker “Secret Paradise.”

From what I have been hearing from people who’ve been there, there are only a handful of resorts in the area. The main one is Gota Village – the exact site of the French Survivor. Naturally, the rates are quite high, although still affordable for some. My travelmates have decided to stay at another place (yeah, I was outvoted) – La Playa Resort. It’s more of a laidback place, so I am not expecting much BUT all I really need is the sun, the sand, and the sea!

So why should anyone go to Caramoan? The pictures I’ve seen – both from people I know and others who have written about the place online – are just gorgeous. The main thing is that there aren’t many people there – peak season it may be, but it shouldn’t be crowded.

Obviously, I have no pictures of my own to show you yet, but by the first week of January, I shall be writing more about this new destination.

For more info on Caramoan, check out these sites:
http://caramoanislands.com/
http://caramoan-paradise.blogspot.com/

The idea is not that novel. After all, a lot of people have embarked on their own journeys to experience Dan Brown’s stories for themselves. The Da Vinci Code started it all, and the subsequent stories added more destinations for fans to visit. Now, it’s Twilight’s turn. In spite of the fact that Halloween is over, the idea of visiting the setting of the story enchants fans.

Forks, Washington is the center of all the attention, for it is the place where Bella and the Cullens reside. Forks is in the northwestern part of the state, and is known for high levels of rainfall. This remote town is taking advantage of the attention, and even has a Twilight Lounge where events are held. A couple is also planning on opening a restaurant called Volterra, a city in the novels, by next year.

If you’re into cruises, you could join next year’s Twilight Cruise, which will be joined by Ashley Greene, Alex Meraz, and Michael Welch. It sails from Seattle on the 8th of August next year. By the looks of it, the cruise will soon be fully booked so you should get your tickets as early as you can.

Twilight fans, have you ever visited a place that is Twilight-related? Would you like to visit one in the near future? Tell us about it!

Photo courtesy of LA Times

Fall is one of the best times to travel and visit destinations bursting with color. Unfortunately for those living in tropical countries, this season is not part of our daily lives. Then again, all the more reason to go pack one’s bags and discover the beauty of fall! So, where to go?

For those in Asia, Japan could very well be the best place to go in fall. The cherry blossoms in spring may be more popular, but there is no denying that fall offers a spectacular sight. The temples, shrines, and castles which are already amazing in normal color seem to be even grander when the foliage around them seem to be on fire.

In the United States, you can go practically anywhere to experience the best of fall, but a lot of people agree that New Hampshire is one of the best places to visit in this season. The fiery colors add to the beauty of the landscape, which includes river gorges, waterfalls, and covered bridges.

Crossing the ocean to Europe, you can also experience fall at its best. In Bavaria, in the southeastern part of Germany, visitors can gaze at the wonderful countryside – complete with castles – ablaze with fall colors. Of course, the fact that the world famous Oktoberfest is held during this season is a MAJOR plus.

Then there is France, which boasts of the best wines in the world (though some argue this point). Visit the French wine country and you just might see the most beautiful sights ever. A glass – or bottle – of wine will make it even better!

Last week, the country experienced a natural disaster of immense magnitude. Typhoon Ketsana (Typhoon Ondoy) hit Luzon, the northernmost island, and left billions worth of damage behind. Countless people were affected: hundreds lost their lives, more lost their homes and their belongings. Even today, there are still areas which are waist deep (or even deeper) in water.

Bottom line: the people of the Philippines welcome your aid. They are some of the most hospitable people in the world, and this time, it is them that need care. The Philippine Red Cross has set up a PayPal account to receive donations. Click below if you feel the desire to help out.

And don’t believe warnings that the Philippines is not suitable as a travel destination these days. The typhoon wreaked havoc and damage, but it is only temporary. Trust me, we will be back on our feet before you know it.

On another note, I saw a promotional video create by Apl De Ap of Black Eyed Peas – you might not have known it but he is Filipino. Here is the video.

That’s the Filipino spirit.

Contrary to what you might expect, there are actually good deals to be found during this season. More often than not, you would expect hotels to jack up their prices during peak season, right? The good news is that many hotels in the country are actually offering lower prices, especially for package deals. The Hindu Business Online reports:

“Average room rates have declined by approximately 30 per cent. However, the decline at leisure hotels has not been that significant,” said a spokesperson for Oberoi Group of Hotels.

On the occupancies, the leisure hotels are expected to see a 15-20 per cent increase over Dussera last year. “More so, this year with Dussera falling on a Friday, there is the advantage of a long weekend,” she added.

To capture the festive mood at luxury properties of Oberoi you could head for a 2-night stay at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur priced at Rs 35,000 exclusive of taxes. The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra and The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur would cost Rs 36,500. The offer will be valid till September 30. Some offers extend up to December 31 too.

Perhaps the reason for this is that the travel industry has been hit by the recession as well. Hotels and airlines have been forced to adjust to the difficult times and offer more attractive rates than they did before. Whatever the reason, here’s something that travelers can take advantage of!

I remember meeting a French woman who used her vacation time to visit every single place mentioned in the Da Vinci Code. The Louvre was, of course, easy for her to visit, but she also went out of her way to travel to Scotland and the United States, just to see for herself what the places were actually like. Statistics also show that visitors to the UK have grown exponentially due to Harry Potter fans who want to get a glimpse of the world of their favorite wizard. Of course, the real deal is probably not the same as what the stories portray, but the sense of adventure and a little imagination is what matters – these can get you a long, long way.

Dan Brown’s new novel, The Lost Symbol, is also set to increase the number of visitors to Washington, DC. This is especially true now that they have set up a web site detailing the places of interest that people can visit in real life.

Have you ever planned a vacation based on a novel?

Let’s take a look at the United States, McNeil identified 8 locations that every American should visit. Can you guess what they are?

1. Sears Tower (Willis Tower) – yeah, it has a new name, and it seems no one is used to it yet, but the fact that it’s the country’s tallest tower has not changed. This Chicago landmark is a must visit for every American.

2. Gettysburg – every American child learns about Gettysburg in school. It is the site of one of the worst Civil War battles, as well as one of the most famous speeches of Abraham Lincoln. Definitely an essential part of American history.

3. Yellowstone – nature lovers have to visit this park at least once – and even that wouldn’t be enough with 10,000 hot springs, 300 geysers, and countless species of wildlife.

4. New York Harbor – another historical site, this is where immigrants entered the country many many decades ago.

5. Monticello – owned by the man who penned the Declaration of Independence, the Monticello is another must visit.

6. Graceland – Elvis fan or not, a visit to Graceland is something one will not forget.

7. Pearl Harbor – pay homage to the people who lost their lives in World War II. Pearl Harbor is where it all first started for the U.S.

8. Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church – you may not know about this church, but this is where Martin Luther King Jr. was baptized; in effect, the origins of the fight for racial equality.

How many of these places have you visited?

According to a study done by USA Today, however, some of the most popular travel destinations in the United States have “poorly performing” hospitals. And how do they define “poorly performing?” How about having some of the worst death rates in the United States? To quote the report:

“…from the Central Valley in California to the East Coast, from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to the Florida beaches. Hospitals with high death rates for heart attack, heart failure or pneumonia can be found in big cities, such as Las Vegas, Dallas and San Diego, and near treasured landmarks, such as Zion National Park.”

Some figures to support this statement:

“…University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, where the heart attack death rate of 21.1% tops the U.S. average of 16.6%. In the San Diego area, four hospitals from La Mesa to Oceanside have high death rates for heart failure or pneumonia.”

Now, there may be other factors as to why the death rates are high in these hospitals BUT the numbers still mean something, don’t they? Not to be an alarmist, but I suggest checking out Hospital Compare (a government site) if you are planning on traveling and you have a medical condition.

If there are two figures most attached to Cuba (aside from Fidel Castro), they are Che and Hemingway. Do as they did! Go to the Castillo de Farnes and have a beer or two, just as Che and Castro drank to the success of the revolution. You can also visit La Bodeguita del Medio, which was Hemingway’s old haunt.

Of course, you cannot miss out on a cigar experience when in Cuba. Visit various cigar factories and try your hand at authentic cigar rolling. Perhaps the most famous of these factories is Real Fábrica de Tabacos Partagás in Havana. You can also visit other factories in Pinar del Rio and Trinidad.

If you want to get a taste of the local life, you might want to take a walk along the Malecon. This is actually an old sea wall that connects Old Havana and Vedado. Locals – couples, fishermen, and families – like spending some leisurely time there.

Mountain lovers should go on a trek up the Sierra Maestra. Of the mountains in these ranges, the highest is Pico Turquino. Alternatively, you can explore the Zapata Peninsula, which is rich with wildlife.

The museum at Playa Giron is definitely a must, especially for Americans. This museum is located on the site where the Bay of Pigs invasion happened in 1961. Be prepared to get all emotional during your visit, though.

In any case, I have been doing my homework and looking at tips for traveling to Cuba. I found a very informative site called Go Cuba. It provides tips from packing to legal issues to getting around the country.

From what I read, when it comes to attire, you do not have to worry about being too formal. Casual attire is what’s in, especially during the day although if you like going to the theatre and other somewhat formal events at night, then you should bring along a dress or two. Cuba is a tropical island so make sure you bring light clothing that will let the breeze in.

If you’re planning on bringing your iPod and mobile phone with you, you would want to know that the electricity in Cuba is 110volts, 60Hz. Major hotels do have 220volt-sockets, though.

How about transportation? Cuba has 11 international airports and eight local ones. It is also easy to find cabs, rent cars, vans, and motorcycles. There are also tour buses which will take you to the most popular attractions.

In the next post, I shall write about what to do and see in Cuba. I have to do more research on this topic.

Of course, this news means something else as well – travel to Cuba is in the horizon! Actually, I have been hearing about a lot of developments with regard to the travel sector in the US preparing for the opening of the doors, so to speak. Leisurely travel to Cuba may not be a reality right now, but apparently, travel agencies are already doing the groundwork.

Peter Greenberg reports that every single cruise line that operates in the US has already charted possible harbors in Cuba. This makes sense as Cuba is easily accessible by water and cruise operators need not worry about hotels and the like. Indeed, a cruise line executive anonymously declared that “There is such pent-up demand to see Cuba, that we have contingency plans that the minute the travel ban is lifted, we would actually turn some of our ships around mid-cruise and head for Cuba. The plans are already in place, just waiting.”

Isn’t that just exciting? If I knew that I could head on over to Cuba the moment the travel ban is lifted, I would be making my travel plans right now!

Next: More on Cuba!

Now, the city government and the Baguio Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVB) are working in tandem to promote the city as a new adventure destination. The Philippine Information Agency reports:

“We will be promoting Baguio, not as the usual tourist destination, but as a place where people (tourists) has a lot other things to do, where adventure begins,” De Leon said.

In the forum, BCVB Executive Director Amboy Guevara, presented the new tourism map they have designed and the pavilion that they will be creating for the PTM. He also presented the new adventure destination and packages that BCVB will be promoting.

The adventure packages involve rapelling, rock climbing, river surfing, airsoft fun games, fishing kayaking, All Terrain Vehicle (ATV), cave tours, Balatoc Mines tour and trekking, among others.

For the adventure package destinations, it includes Ambuclao and Binga Dam, the Ambongdolan cluster of caves in Tublay, Mt Pulag and the Bulalakao Lake of Kabayan and Mt Sto Tomas in Tuba.

Traveling in the Philippines may not be as easy as it is in European and American cities but buses, airplanes, and car rentals make Baguio a very accessible destination from the capital, Manila. If you’re looking for something different, check out what Baguio has to offer.