Batanes is located on northernmost part of Philippines. And I am one of the lucky few who had set foot on this beautiful island. It is hard to go here because there are plenty of factors to consider: budget, flight availability and WEATHER. If you are planning to go here, make sure that it is during summer time!

The budget for a round trip ticket normally ranges from Php 10,000-15,000, we were so lucky because we got it for only P4500, this was a promo fare from Zestair when they were still operating. I believe that Zestair had stopped offering flights tp Basco, but I think Seair is still on business.

Here are some shots that I took to give you more reasons to go. More pictures will be posted on my photoblog.

I must admit, I was a fan of Cebu Pacific promo before. Everytime there's a promo, I always wanted to book flights either domestic or international. All I can think of, is to just grab the opportunity and buy cheap tickets. During those days, there are times that we have to rebook our flight or even cancel it so unfortunately I have to undergo on their horrifying refund process, not even sure if they have process at all.

Now I am reading some comments from PinoyTux weblog "Cebu Pacific sucks" (nice title!), and I can understand their anger, I mean I really am. Kung 50 cents nga lang di ka sinuklian ng jeepney driver, nakakainis na e, hehe. There was a point that I really have to go to the Cebu PAcific office and asked for someone in-charge from their refund or accounting department, but it was useless. I can't blame their call centers, I know that it is somehow not their fault, except if they are not good in documenting all incoming refund request. I think the problem is in their accounting department that handles refund, I don't really know what's going on in their office, and I don't feel that all the people who works there especially the managers are doing their job.

One of the most stupid thing they customer service did to my friends is that: they cant refund a flight which was double charged on credit card due to internet error because they said that it was tagged as a promo, they said it because its what their system says. Because of this, I tried to help my friend, called the customer service daily, I took names of all the agents who answered it and asked for a manager. Whew, it is not easy to do that, ive undergone through many many follow-ups until I got hold one of their managers and finally have received their refund.

So..based from my experience, I just wanna share some few pointers When is the best time to call?

When it is your first time to request for a refund process, asked for the name of the agent who took your request and I think now they will provide a reference number to that request so they can track it back when you call back again

When they say 60 working days, start to mark your calendar! Wait for that 60 working days to give time to all those Cebu Pacific employees to do their "very difficult" job. Expect the worst.

While waiting for that 60 working days, pay your credit card bill first, don't expect Cebu Pacific to pay it back so quickly or else you'll regret paying the interest too.

And finally, when that 61st day comes, try to call your bank and ask if there is a refund payment coming from Cebu Pacific. If they say they have not receive it yet, then be prepared by bombarding calls to their customer service hotline. I'm sure that you'll hear hundreds of alibis why it was taking so long. And don't forget to ask for their names before initiating into a conversation, you'll never know if they will hang up on you if you lose your temper. Dont get intimated from those Cebu Pacific customer service, just come to think that they are only local call center agents and you earn So be patient, this is like a stress test, pag pikon ka talo ka, hehe!

Lessons learned: as much as possible, if I am planning any vacation, I would go to Philippine Airlines website first. Cebu Pacific had somehow built its bad reputation about their refund process, no need to prove it, its all over the internet. I hope Gokongwei clan would look into this, bad bad bad for business.

If you're the type of person who sees Holy Week as the best time to spend a summer vacation...where will you be? Sometimes it is very hard to decide if you're group does not have any definite plans. It always depends on time and budget. If you're from Manila and if you don't want to go on very far places, you can either choose Batangas on south area or Subic on north, both are just 2-3 hours drive.

Besides from Boracay, there are other alternative places you can go. You can try Coron Palawan, this is where you can find the cleanest freshwater in the country. Picture shown below is taken from a view deck found in Cayangan Lake. In Coron, the most common location on where you will stay is in the town of Coron, then you will just have to hire a boat to bring you on its best places, you can go to Cayangan and Baracuda lake, Sangat and Black Island for a fine white sand... and Calauit island to get a Safari experience. For more info click here .









Another place to be... is Batanes which can be found at the northern tip of the country, close to Taiwan, you can even get radio signals from Taiwan. I think everyone dreams to be in this place, ever since college, i always wanted to be here. Some folks are scared because of weather conditions, the safest time to be here is just during summer. But for our experience, we went last December, we took our chances... thanks for ZestAir for a cheap ticket price, we bought it for less than P5000.00 because of its promo. It was a fine weather but very windy. The wind was so strong that it can stop you while you are riding a bike, hehe. We stayed in town of Basco, i don't know if you can rent a jeepney to tour you, we brought our own bikes to roam the island, pretty good experience. Place to see is Sabtang island which is famous for stone houses, you can also visit the Honesty store and also the Marlboro country to witness green grass landscape as if you were in Scotland or Ireland (that's what they say) .

You won't survive in China if you don't know how to speak Mandarin, thanks to my friend, Dex, hehe. Here are some of the videos he made, nice edit!


The Best Peking Duck



Explore Beijing



Shanghai 1st Day



Dining out at Shangahai



Just Arrived at Beijing

We spent 2 nights on a train, from Shanghai to Beijing then the other way around.

The train ticket that we got from Shanghai to Beijing is just a seat ticket because all the sleeper tickets are sold out for that day, now I believe that you need to buy train tickets in advance in order to have a sleeper tickets. That's what been said on http://www.seat61.com Seat tickets are cheap ( 228RMB i think ) but not so comfortable ( literally, it was a pain in the ass! ) hehe, so we learned our lessons.

The moment we arrived in Beijing, we bought tickets going back to Shanghai for a soft sleeper tickets in advanced. It was great, nice bed, you have your own room, quite expensive ( 478 RMB for upper deck and 499 RMB for lower deck ) but all worth it. The food was great, an extra rice would only cost 1RMB ( cheaper than the price in Manila, hehe)


Subway is the cheapest and fastest form of transportation in Beijing, it only costs 2RMB, no matter what station you go or you will come from.

Watch our train video made by my friend:

Cebu Pacific flights going to Shanghai from Manila is usually during night time. ( if you have enough budget to take another airlines, please do so, i don't recommend this airline ). Arrival in Shanghai is around midnight, you can't expect to ride in Maglev train going to the city but taxi are always around.Taxi's flat rate is 11 RMB sometimes its 10.
If you plan to go to Beijing by train on next day, there is a small chance for you to buy a sleeper train ticket since tickets are already on sold for 10 days in advance before the day of departure. If you prefer to travel on your own, here is our own itinerary:



Day 1 - Shanghai
9:30PM - Depart from Manila
12:15AM - Arrive in Shanghai
1:00 AM - Stay on our friend's house ( 30 minutes ride from Pudong Airport)
2:00 AM - Party @ Windows Bar in Shanghai
5:30 AM - Breakfast @ City Diner
6:00 AM - Go home to sleep
10:00 AM - Wake Up call, buy tickets going to Beijing
11AM - 5PM - Roam around Shanghai
6:00 PM - Go to Shanghai Railway Station near People'S Square
7:30 PM - Train departs from Shanghai ( 11 hrs of travel going to Beijing) 228RMB for seat train tickets ( sleeper tickets are soldout ). Go to seat61.com to read more of train details.

The rest... spend a night on the train ( pain in the butt! )



Day 2 - Beijing

7:30 AM - Arrive in Beijing, go straight hostel, we stayed at Leo Hostel. Twin bedroom is worth 260 RMB, there are dorm rates that are much cheaper but with shared bathroom.
10:00 AM - Buy tickets going back to Shanghai for the next day ( RMB 499
for the soft sleeper train, this is recommended ) Eat breakfast
11:00 AM - 6PM - You can go to Forbidden City, Shanghai Museum, Beijing Olympic Statdium, walk around Quianmen Road

Entrance Fees:
Forbidden City - 40 RMB
Beijing Olympic Stadium - 50 RMB - its just a ticket to go see the stadium, there arent any games for you to watch.





7PM - Dinner, we tried a Pecking duck worth 90RMB ( single serving only )
9PM - Party at bar, goodluck if you can find english music, hope you'll enjoy.
12AM - Go home. Lights out.


Day 3 - Still in Beijing



6:00 AM - Wake Up Call
7:00 AM - Leave hotel and go on a tour to Great Wall ( 2 hours ride going to Mutianyu )( 260 RMB for the tour which includes transportaion only and no guide, that's the hotel rate, pretty expensive, entrance fee is included )
9:00 AM - Arrive on Great Wall.


9 - 12PM - Walk walk walk on Great Wall ( worth 56 RMB including cable car going up and tobogan slide going down the mountain, pretty fun! )
2:00 PM - Back to hostel.
3PM - 6PM - Watch dvd in hostel, hehe, we watched Borat although ive already seen it.
7PM - Back to Beijing Railway Station. Spend a night again on the train but we have the soft sleeper train, the food is great on the train restaurant.

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Day 4 - Back to Shanghai
7:00 AM - Arrive in Shanghai again
8:00 AM - Check in to the affiliate hostel of Leo Hostel which is Mingtown Etour Youth Hostel,

better room than Leo with same rate on twin room ( 260 RMB a night with private bathroom)
9AM-6PM - Shanghai Zoo to see a panda, walked around the city
8PM - Dinner with friends staying in Shanghai
9PM - Bar hopping ( 2 bars only, hehe ) We went to The Shelter and then back to Window's bar with Filipino waitresses.
4AM - Go home.Lights out.



Day 5: Still in Shanghai


12PM - Check out hostel but we still left our luggage.
12-5PM - walked around the city ( Nanjing Road, Pearl Tower, The Bund Grand Raffles Mall )
6PM - Picked up our luggage in hostel, had rest for a while
730PM - Back to our friend's house. Packed our things.
10PM - Arrived in Pudong Airport, terminal 2 if youre on Cebu Pacific


Day 6: Manila, Philippines
4AM - Back to Manila! whew!

Who's afraid to go to Siquijor? If you are, this pictures might change your mind...

How to go there:

From Manila, take a flight going to Dumaguete.
From Dumaguete airport, take a tricycle (P10 fare each person) going to Pier near Siliman University.

Take ferry going to Siquijor. Schedule of ferry from Dumaguete to Siquijor are 6AM, 10AM and 2PM. The first trip of ferry going back to Dumaguete is 6AM, you can still catch the plane if you have booked a 830AM flight of Cebu Pacific going back to Manila.

You can contact the mobile number of the tricycle driver who helped us find a place: 09276932095.
He took us on a Japanese style resort, we took a 2-storey cottage with terrace, bath tub, hot water, tv worth P3000.00 a night, good for 6 persons but we're 10, it was a very nice resort.



You won't regret the white sand beach ( same quality as you see in Boracay and Palawan). Perfect place to relax but not to party. You can roam the whole island in just one day, you can go to their tourist spots.

LAGO DE ORO is situated 115 kms South West of Manila on the shore of South China Sea and on Zobel highway just 2 hours drive from Makati.


FACILITIES

• 38 Hotel Rooms Restaurant
• Swimming Pool Beach
• Sauna Bath / spa bath Mini Sheep Farm
• Helicopter Landing Pad Oyster Farm
• Cable Ski Park

THINGS TO DO

• Waterskiing / wakeboarding
• Swimming ( Beach or Pool )
• Snorkeling / Diving
• Fishing in the Sea
• Boating or rent floating bamboo
• Billiards / table tennis

TIME TICKETS: ( as of August 2008)

• 1 Hour 485.00
• Morning Session 990.00
• Afternoon Session 990.00
• AM &PM Session 1525.00

LEARN TO SKI

Beginners Ticket 530.00

Prices include Ski Equipment and Life Jackets


Monday to Sunday
9:30 AM to 12:30 noon
1:30 PM to 4:30 PM

EARLY OPENING OR LATE CLOSING
Any guest requesting early opening / late closing can be arranged.


WATER SKI PROMO
Php 2100.00 per person

Includes:

• 1 Night Accomodation
• 1 whole day pr 2 half days ticket skiing
• 3 rice toppings with juice

Please note that they only have 4 hotel rooms per day alloted at this promo.


Telephone: +63917-504-2685
+63926-710-4754




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• March 2005 , PALAWAN

Fed up with your teen whining on a family holiday? Here are some tips:

1. Involve them in the planning. Make sure there are one or two activities that appeal to their age.

2. Give them important tasks, such as mapping the route or researching the local attractions on the net.

3. Pick a destination that caters for all tastes or one that offers a new experience for the whole family.

4. Teens value their independence, so discuss curfews and limits before you leave. It may help clear the air.

5. Bring one of their friends along - if you can afford it.

• Best of Mt. Pinatubo Photos
• December 2005.MT PULAG, BENGUET
• Kota - Kinabalu ITINERARY
• Jan 2006 - MT KINABALU, MALAYSIA and BRUNEI
• March 2005 , PALAWAN

A trek through the Langtang region will take you to 4,700 meters (15,419 feet) with excellent views of both the Annapurna region to the west and the Makalu region to the east. The trek also passes by Buddhist monasteries and a nature reserve renowned for animal viewing.

Perhaps the best thing about the 14-day trek is that it begins near, or even in, Kathmandu. This makes it very easy to organize and is an excellent option for those pressed for time or looking for an easy introduction to trekking in Nepal.




Nestled in the Khumbu region, home to Sherpa and Tibetan Buddhist cultures, there are many reasons to visit this area of Nepal besides getting a glimpse of Chomolungma, as Everest is known to the people who live around her.
Treks in the Khumbu typically range from 17 to 25 days, depending on the route. Though it was once popular to begin treks into the Khumbu from just outside Kathmandu, heavy Maoist activity in these areas has forced most trekkers to fly to Lukla, which sits at 2,680 meters (9,380 feet).

From Lukla, most trekkers head straight for Namche Bazaar and then on to Gorek Shep, a small town that provides unparalleled views of Mt. Everest. Going all the way to Everest base camp or making the route a loop by visiting the Gokyo Lakes (highly recommended) will both add days to the trip.


More Links:

• Best of Mt. Pinatubo Photos
• December 2005.MT PULAG, BENGUET
• Kota - Kinabalu ITINERARY
• Jan 2006 - MT KINABALU, MALAYSIA and BRUNEI
• March 2005 , PALAWAN

The major trek in the west of Nepal is the Annapurna circuit. Reaching a height of 5,300 meters (17,388 feet), the circuit spends traverses the incredible mountains and glaciers of the Annapurna Conservation Area.

The circuit takes between 16 and 20 days from Pokhara, Nepal’s third largest city. Though the elevations are just as high as in Khumbu, the Annapurna Circuit begins near sea level and allows more time for gentle acclimatization.

The Annapurna circuit is popular because it allows trekkers to pass through diverse terrain, from jungle to high alpine, and passes through a region dominated by Tibetan Buddhist culture. At one point, trekkers even have the opportunity to look into the heavily restricted Mustang Region, which extends all the way into Tibet itself.




The Annapurna circuit itself does not actually go to the common base camp of Annapurna. It is the Annapurna Sanctuary trek, which also begins from Pokhara, that leads to the base of this impressive 8,091 meter (26,545 feet) mountain.


The trek takes between eight and ten days, round trip from Pokhara, and can be a real trial for the unacclimatized. The base camp, at 4,157 meters (13,638 feet), can also be reached as an extension from the Annapurna Circuit.

At the edge of the base camp is the memorial to Anatoli Boukreev. Boukreev, one of the world’s great mountaineers, was killed in an avalanche on the peak in 1997. For lovers of mountains and mountain lore, the experience is moving, to say the least.




If you are looking for something a bit more remote and much less traveled, the trek to the base camp of Mt. Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters, 28,169 feet) may be just the thing.

It is best to plan at least 20 days to reach the base camp of the world’s third highest peak and return. Unlike the other treks on this list, the amenities on the Mt. Kangchenjunga route will be basic. While a tent is not required, expect meals of daal (lentils), rice, chapati (an unleavened bread), and the occasional vegetable curry.


Well off the beaten path, the Kanchenjunga Circuit is a great way to spend time with local Nepali people far away from the hordes of other trekkers who flood more popular treks in peak seasons. For more information on the Mt. Kanchenjunga Circuit, check out Andris Bjornson’s excellent guide at Matador Trips.

Author: David DeFranza

The Terracotta Army are the Terracotta Warriors and Horses of Shi Huang Di the First Emperor of China. The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by several local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China near the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor The terracotta figures were manufactured both in workshops by government laborers and also by local craftsmen. The head, arms, legs and torsos were created separately and then assembled. Studies show that eight face moulds were most likely used and then the clay was added to give them individual facial features.Once assembled the intricate features such as facial expressions were added. It is believed that their legs were made in much the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were manufactured at the time. This would make it an assembly line style of production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired as opposed to crafting one solid piece of terracotta and subsequently firing it. In those days, each workshop was required to inscribe its name on items produced so as to ensure quality control; this has aided modern day historians in verifying that workshops that once made tiles and other every day items were commandeered to work on the terracotta army. Upon completion, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits outlined above in precise military formation according to rank and duty.

The terracotta figures are life-like and life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. The colored lacquer finish, individual facial features, and replica weapons and armor used in manufacturing these figures created a realistic appearance. The original weapons were stolen shortly after the creation of the army and the coloring has faded greatly. However, their existence serves as a testament to the amount of labour and skill involved in their construction. It is also a confirmation of the power the First Emperor possessed that enabled him to command such a monumental undertaking as this army's manufacture.The terracotta figures were manufactured both in workshops by government laborers and also by local craftsmen. The head, arms, legs and torsos were created separately and then assembled. Studies show that eight face moulds were most likely used and then the clay was added to give them individual facial features. Once assembled the intricate features such as facial expressions were added. It is believed that their legs were made in much the same way that terracotta drainage pipes were manufactured at the time. This would make it an assembly line style of production, with specific parts manufactured and assembled after being fired as opposed to crafting one solid piece of terracotta and subsequently firing it. In those days, each workshop was required to inscribe its name on items produced so as to ensure quality control; this has aided modern day historians in verifying that workshops that once made tiles and other every day items were commandeered to work on the terracotta army. Upon completion, the terracotta figures were placed in the pits outlined above in precise military formation according to rank and duty.

The terracotta figures are life-like and life-sized. They vary in height, uniform and hairstyle in accordance with rank. The colored lacquer finish, individual facial features, and replica weapons and armor used in manufacturing these figures created a realistic appearance. The original weapons were stolen shortly after the creation of the army and the coloring has faded greatly. However, their existence serves as a testament to the amount of labour and skill involved in their construction. It is also a confirmation of the power the First Emperor possessed that enabled him to command such a monumental undertaking as this army's manufacture.

Source: Wiki

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