Hundred Islands Weekend Trip

The weekend trip to Hundred Islands is a much awaited team building for our team.

Hundred Islands is in Pangasinan, almost 5-6 hours from Manila by van. We had one stop over along the way.

The tour package is actually a discounted one I got from an online deals site. It includes the overnight stay, the tour and daily breakfast. The staff in the hotel were very nice. There is even a videoke if you fancy singing your heart out.

Anyhow, I'll just let the pictures tell how beautiful the islands were.

In Marcos Island, there was cave where you can do a short cliff jump. I have no pictures but I did a short jump into the water. It was scary but really liberating when finally shoot up the water! Oh yeah, I'm still alive!

On our way back to Manila, we decided to take our lunch in Isdaan Floating Restaurant. Our experience wasn't too good as the food was so late but we enjoyed the chicken which is their specialty.

We also made our way on the Tacsiyapo Wall. It was hilarious because the person will announce where you hit the wall.

I even had a quick photo op with the First Lady, Michelle Obama! *wink*

The Paradise Island of Camiguin

I was really excited that I'm finally going to Camiguin. As this is my first time to travel to Mindanao, I'm glad that I'll be seeing a lot of new places in just one go!

We left in the morning to make way to Camiguin. We took a ferry to the port and I think the travel is just less than an hour.

We arrived in Camiguin in time for lunch.

We then headed for the White Island! All smiles before leaving the port.

On our second day, we went to the Sunken Cementery and Katibawasan Falls.

On the evening of our first night we went to have dinner at Rooftop resto and found this nice quote.

Cagayan De Oro and the Majestic Falls

I missed my blog. It's been a while since I last made a post. I know, I've been too busy with work and other stuff. But today, I just felt I need to get back to my blogging and write about the places I've been to last year. There's a few more backlogs waiting to be published - CDO trip, Hundred Islands, Taiwan and Cebu in 2012 and then my first outing this year at Pagbilao, Quezon this February 2013.

Anyhow, I'm glad to have this time to post once more. Now, I'll be writing about my exciting trip to CDO last August of 2012.

This trip is one of the most enjoyable trips of 2012. I went with my friends from Couchsurfing. Trips with them never get boring, you know!

I wish I could have noted the expenses but it was too long ago! And because I wasn't the one who mainly organised this trip, it was one of my friends who arranged the accommodations, transportation and stuff. I was happy to just get along with the plan.

The thing about this trip is that, I was almost about to back out due to it was scheduled same day as our team building in Hundred Islands. I had to re-book my ticket a few times because I wasn't too sure that time.  Fortunately, the team building was moved to October.

Day 1

The rest of the group went ahead of me the day before. I traveled on my own to CDO the next day. I met them on Saturday morning at the hotel.

The plan on the first day is to go to Maria Cristina Falls. First we had breakfast near the hotel (forgot the name of our hotel!).

If I remember, we took a jeepney and then took a motorbike to take us to the entrance of NPC Park. From the entrance of the park, you have to pay an entrance fee. And then they have a shuttle that takes you to the Falls and back to the entrance. The shuttle first took us to the botanical garden.

It was so awesome to see the Maria Cristina Falls. I could only remember seeing it in my Social Science books as it was always the example given for the Falls in the Philippines! It is so majestic (for loss of the appropriate word) that we can't help but take so many pictures with it.

After the Maria Cristina Falls, we made our way to another Falls i.e. Tinago Falls. We had to take a motor bike going there. Funny is, we are actually 4 in that motorbike! It was hilarious and a once in a life experience. Oh my gosh, did I say it also hurts the butt!

Tinago in Filipino literally means "hidden", and it was. But we were able to find it with the help our guides! haha

What is amazing about this falls is that you can make way to the falls itself with the help of a bamboo raft being pulled by the locals. There is an additional fee though. I didn't try it but my adventurous CS friends did. I knew they enjoyed it a lot by the looks of their face.

We were all tired and hungry after that. We went to a bbq place known for their roasted chicken. It was a good meal and we are really stuffed! We can't wait to go home and rest. The next day, we are leaving early for Camiguin. Let's go!

Travel Plans for 2013

Hey there! Guess what, I'm again on house arrest today. Well my own choice since I have a bad back pain and even if I want to do something worthwhile, it seems that I just can't! This weekend is again put to waste. But hey, I still managed to write something in my blog at least.

November is almost done and one more week we are approaching the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas. Although, I no longer have any serious travel plans until the end of the year, December will still be capped off with a trip to Cebu for my college classmate's wedding, we might as well drop by some nice beach in Mactan or my bucket list to get up to the Crowne Plaza hotel for the sky walk.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/4837692103_c0cd1cc746.jpg

So the year is about to close and we're off to a new year - 2013. My main plans for 2013 is to go to India for the Holi Festival and see the Taj Mahal. It's probably one of the many wonders of the world that I really wanted to see.

http://www.energyenhancement.org/Taj-Mahal-india.jpg

http://www.onthegotours.com/repository/repository/Holi-Festival-India-141401306250015_crop_flip_538_259_f2f2f2_center-center.jpg

And then if luck comes to me, I'll visit the Schengen countries as well. Still hoping that my budget would really fit in. If not, I will probably take the path to New Zealand late 2013.

http://www.murrells.co.nz/images/Milford-Sound.jpg

I'm really looking forward to visiting more countries outside Asia this time. I'm really excited to push myself and indulge into some serious adventures and really get out of my comfort zone.

Anyway, please wish me luck as I need it! :-)

Off to the Sunshine State

After a week's time in Sydney, working...and enjoying the limited time to go around...meet friends...

Big Buddha! After a team dinner

Work! During my training

Bowling with my team

Breaded Pork Steak and Chips

Lemon Lime Bitters

Skyscrapers and the OZ Tower

Queen Victoria Building

Mornings are made perfect with Coffee! Here's at a coffee shop in North Sydney

Apple Store in Sydney CBD

I decided, I'll take the opportunity to head outside New South Wales!

Queensland, the Sunshine State, was my next destination.

I was very excited, not only because it's my first trip outside NSW, but it is also my first time after a long time, to meet my Godmother and her family.

I left my Chatswood apartment really early as I'm flying out of Sydney at around 6:30am. I took the first train from Chatswood to the Domestic Airport Terminal in Mascot. Would you believe that one of the train persons were also a Filipino and had a quick chat with him and wished me a great vacation in Brisbane.

Early morning at Chatswood Station

I reached the terminal on time. The check in counter is self serviced and really impressed at how quick it took me to check in and get my boarding tickets. I had a few minutes to spare while waiting for my flight.

And then finally is time to take-off. I flew with Jet StarAirlines. It was smallish but I didn't mind because my excitement is taking over. haha

And then, I'm in Brisbane! Woohoo! I met my ninang, my uncle and my cousin, Sharlyn. It was a lovely morning. We first dropped by McDonald's to get some breakfast and then head to their home to rest for a while.

The plan for the day is to go to South Bank and the city!

Applying for Taiwan Tourist Visa

This October, I'm set to visit another wonderful country. Taiwan, Formosa as it was formerly called, is my second overseas trip this year!

Photo Credits: http://images.matt-gibson.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/swallows-grotto-taroko-gorge-taiwan.jpg

Of course, before anything else, the visa is an important document to prepare before going. So I wanted to share to you to the process of how I went through it.

It is highly advised that you consult the official Taiwan Embassy Page as this post is just to account my own experience in applying for the Visitor's Visa.

In my case, I have prepared the following:

1. An online Visa Application Form (please access https://visawebapp.boca.gov.tw to fill up the Form and print them out) *when you print it out you just need to sign it on the last page, no other hand written details are to be entered on the form

2. Two (2) passport size photos 1.5”x2” with white background (taken w/in the last three (3) months)

3. Passport valid for at least six months and old passport showing previous travels

4. Birth Certificate issued by NSO

5. Supporting documents related to the purpose of VISIT such as :

A. Confirmed round trip Air ticket or Booking Certificate

B. Certificate of Employment and Letter of permission to leave from the employer

C. Financial statements of the applicant such as:

(1) Income Tax Return

(2) Bank Book or Bank Statements

Make sure all documents submitted should be Original and with 1 photocopy. Don't forget to also photocopy the first page of your passport.

Important information:

Visa Fee: P2,400.00 (Single entry)/ P4,800.00 (Multiple entry)

(NON-REFUNDABLE) payable upon filing of application

Processing Time : 3 Working days * but you can expedite as well

Filing Time : Monday to Friday 8:45AM to 11:45 AM

Releasing Time : Monday to Friday 1: 45PM to 4:45PM

On the day of filing our visa, I went to their office in RCBC Plaza. The reception doesn't open before 8:30. So I waited until the reception accepted us. The lady had us sign the log and directed us to wait outside for our names to be called and then a number be given to us. I got number 15.

After getting the number, head back to the reception inside the Tower 1 building and leave your ID. If it's not the acceptable ID, you will need to deposit 1,000 pesos.

So I went up to 41st floor and waited for my number to be called. I was called but the lady informed me to photocopy the first page of my passport! And that wasn't even indicated in the requirements. I went downstairs to get it photocopied. As me and my other CS friends entered the office, the security guard noticed that one of my friends online form is not the updated form. Therefore we decided to go back the next day.

On the next day, I was really early as I had to get back to office immediately. This time I got number 7. Once my number is called the documents were checked. The lady returned some copies of my bank statements and Employment Certificate. She also asked me if it's regular or expedite. So I opted for the regular.

Next step is for the payment. I had to wait until may name is called and then paid 2,400 for the fee. After that I was given a receipt with the claim date 3 days after.

Claiming of Visa:

After three days of lodging, we finally got our passports back with the visa sticker on it! The process is almost the same, get number, surrender an ID and wait til number is called. Easy! However, there were too many people in the afternoon claiming their passports so it almost took as 2 hours waiting for our number to be called.

Anyway, all's good and we are now set to go to Taiwan for four days!

More Sydney Sidetrips

We headed to Darling Harbour after dropping by Circular Quay and met our colleague. We took another train from Circular Quay to Town Hall Station.

Town Hall station is only a walking distance from the Darling Harbour.

We met our friend and she gladly toured us at their office building found within the Darling Quarters. It's a new building if I may say.

The CommBank Place is a one of a kind, really spacious, hip and nothing I've have seen before in terms of the design and interiors. It really looks like a nice place to work in.

I really liked the very wide space within the building. There are spaces for hot desks where you can just sit and plug your laptop and voila work there.
We went up to one of the floors and saw more interesting sights within the building. I'm really enjoying it.

Loved the interiors and the mix of colours. Even I would think it doesn't look like an office!

There's a pool table too! How wonderful is that!

And this is me, enjoying a nice afternoon outside and with the view of Darling Harbour!

More dining area. Really funky seats!

I have to thank my good friend Nors, for taking time to tour us around. It was a really nice work place by the looks of it!