RSSMar|05|2010
Itching To Discover Saigon
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Cities, Destinations, Travelogger
In less than an hour, I shall be on my way to a country that I have never been to before. I have always wanted to visit Vietnam, if only for their food. Friends who have been there have said nothing but nice things as well. And, apparently, this is one place where I can be a millionaire – at least for a day or two. There aren’t many places where the Philippine Peso has a strong purchasing power, and Vietnam is one of them! For a mere PHP10,000, one call himself a Vietnamese millionaire!
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), …
Feb|22|2010
Spend Your Holidays At Hogwarts
Posted by Noemi as Destinations, Family, Features, United States
I never really got into Harry Potter that much – I thought it too juvenile – but I have to admit that I read the first several books. Juvenile the series may be, but I simply cannot resist the idea of magic and all that. So when I heard about Universal in Orlando unveiling its very own Harry Potter theme park, I got quite interested. Walking through the halls of Hogwarts; strolling through the village of Hogsmeade; and sitting on a barstool at The Three Broomsticks – the thought of being able to do these (even if it’s really just all pretend if you think about it) is enough to excite any fantasy-loving person, don’t you think?
So anyway, the news is that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – that’s the name of the theme park …
Jan|05|2010
More Island Hopping In Caramoan
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Features, Islands, Travelogger
Island hopping is the main reason one should go to Caramoan. I was really quite disappointed with the beach front at the resort we stayed in. The sand was brown and looked dirty. Dried seaweed littered the beach. I thought I would not enjoy myself, but I was proven wrong. Two days of island hopping showed me just what this place has to offer.
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 …
Dec|22|2009
Food In Caramoan: Bicolano Dishes
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Food and Drink, Islands
Aside from the white sand beaches and wonderful water, there is one other thing that I am looking forward to when I go to Caramoan: the food. The Bicol Region is known for excellent food, and the dishes almost always are HOT and SPICY and mixed with coconut milk. Chili peppers and coconut milk are staples in this part of the country.
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 …
Dec|21|2009
Things To Do And See In Caramoan
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Islands, Travelogger
This time and day next week, I should be lounging at the beach – soaking in the sun! For now, I have to deal with work for three more days. That does not mean that I cannot keep thinking about what I will be doing for the five days that I’ll be in Caramoan.
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 …
Dec|15|2009
Caramoan Islands: How To Get There
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Islands, Travelogger
I may not have been to the place yet, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been making plans. Well, technically, it’s not me who has been planning the whole thing, but I do know what is going on. In case, you do get enticed to pay this neck of the woods a visit, here is some useful information.
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 …
Dec|14|2009
Destination: Caramoan Islands
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Features, Islands, Travelogger
The Philippines boasts of 7,107 islands, but not all of them are well known tourist spots. The beauty of this archipelago is that there are so many places that you can discover if you only look, and in two weeks, I will be out there discovering Caramoan Islands.
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 …
Nov|01|2009
Living In The World Of Twilight
Posted by Noemi as Destinations, Trends, United States
I never became a fan of Stephanie Meyer’s popular series, Twilight. I cannot pinpoint the reason – I did try to read the first book but I didn’t particularly care for it. I am sure that countless people around the world – people of all ages – will vehemently disagree with me. In fact, “Twilight tourism” is fast becoming a buzz word in travel circles these days.
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 …
Oct|09|2009
Best Fall Destinations
Posted by Zahir as Around The World, Destinations, Nature
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 …
Oct|05|2009
Take Me To The Philippines
Posted by Noemi as Asia, Destinations, Features
The Philippines is one of the most popular travel destinations in Southeast Asia. It has some of the best beaches in the world. If it’s mountains that you’re looking for, they offer some of the best trekking experiences. They also have lakes, nature preserves, and other natural experiences. Of course, the rich culture of the nation cannot be overlooked. And then there’s Filipino food. Last, but not the least, they say you’ve never really experienced real hospitality until you encounter Filipinos.
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 …
