Orchids Resort | Boracay Island

This was part of my Solo-Backpacking in Boracay

At first, when I booked my flight last year, during the promo sale, I was hesitant for this trip maybe because I am not so sure about my schedule either my budget.  But, just a week before my trip, I used my facebook account and asked my friends about any cheap resort in Boracay Island. Actually my original plan was to walk along the streets of Kalibo, Aklan, but when my friend gave me her friend's number who works in a resort at Boracay, I changed my original plan, it became backpacking to Boracay.

Orchids Resort is located at Station 3, Boracay Island. From Boracay Port, take a tricycle to station three, drivers are actually accommodating and they will instruct you to what street you'll take, for 100 pesos per trip.  There are part of Station 3 which tricycles are not allowed, so you need to walk going to your chosen resort.  But, in Orchids Resort, you just need to follow these marks, an additional challenge which can make you a strong traveller.  Check the photos below:

Just to give you an idea, this room is only for less than 600 pesos, good for two people. It's an ordinary room, but the resort personnel were really great.  The cold wind actually passes through the window, so the ambiance inside the room was great.  I stayed here for 3 days and 2 nights, I only paid 1,100 pesos.

look! this room is really elegant

The photo above taken while I was eating my Filipino Style breakfast, for FREE.  Want to see my breakfast, click here: Breakfast at Orchids Resort.  While taking my breakfast, the wind was blowing that shells which that creates a relaxing sound.

Few steps from the resort, I captured this gorgeous photo using my mobile phone.  The white sand beach, crystal clear waters, the horizon, white clouds, blue skies and the palm trees were absolutely inviting.  MY STAY IN ORCHIDS RESORT WAS AMAZING AND UNFORGETTABLE, cheap but a GREAT CHOISE. From this resort going to Boracay Port, just walk taking the right street, walk until you reach "QUEEN" Resto, then take the narrow street beside it until you reach the main road which you can take tricycle to Boracay Port for only 20 pesos. More reference here: How to Get to Boracay and How to Get to NAIA.  If you have concerns, please LIKE and PM me here: www.facebook.com/travellingcup

Potipot Island | Zambales

This post is just a continuation of our Candelaria, Zambales escapade.  Potipot Island is a small Island located in Brgy. Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales.  It's the nearest Island in Zambales mainland and just 15-20 minutes boatride from Candelaria shore.  It is composed of white sand beach like what Boracay have in Visayas.

I can give my two thumbs up . . . . for this place, it's really perfect for tanning your skin, but you need to bring SPF 100++ sunblock for skin protection. Visiting this island was an outstanding experience.  I felt that I owned the Island, look at this photo, I was walking alone with my barefoot. While walking on the shore, you can see the green grass, corals, hermit crabs, starfish plus the beautiful sunset in the afternoon.

Look at that wood lying on the sand, before I went to these place, I conducted a research about Potipot Island.  In some blogs, I already saw these tree, still have leaves in every branch, but it's now an additional design on the beach and serves as antique furniture on it.

Cottages are available in the Island, you just need to pay for it for a specific time.  These green trees are so relaxing in my eyes and they also give shade to the tourists.  Kamachile, coconuts and some other trees are there, waiting for other people who will appreciate them.

If you are an individual who loves nature, Potipot Island is the answer.  If you are planning to visit this place next year, try to bring tent and spend time at night with your friends, give yourself a simple life.  Forget the stressful life in the Metro.

Of course, I will not loss the chance to have a perfect pose on the tree.  POTIPOT ISLAND is perfect! 

HOW TO GET HERE: Alta Nina Resort 

Balaw-Balaw Specialty Restaurant | Angono

Balaw-Balaw Restaurant is located in Angono, Rizal, Philippines.  This is the only place that fits my personality.  I love to try exotic foods, frog, kamaru and others.  Today, I was able to taste the Balaw-Balaw has to offer.

Today is my first time to be here, but, the whole experience including the Higantes Festival 2012 was really amazing.  Other people who already tasted exotic foods always say that frog tastes like a chicken meat.  Well, that's also what I think, I always believe to what others are saying, that's if we are talking about foods ONLY.  And that's the main reason why I really want to prove if it's correct. 

When I was young, I have cousins from Bulacan, Philipines visited us in Romblon.  Since our house is just few steps away from the rice fields, so the frogs are living in that wet area.  When my cousins saw those frogs jumping to our garden, at the backyard, they said: " why not grilling that frogs, it tastes good like chicken. "  The first time I heard that, I was shocked, but now in the photos below, I've enjoyed a lot eating frogs.

Look at this Higante or Giants, the one with yellow green scarf, I think he is hiding himself on us.  I don't know the reason why he did that.  Hello, how can he hide himself to that red van, he stands more than 10 feet. 

When we entered this restaurant, we were shocked, because we thought it is just an ordinary resto.  But, inside the Balaw-Balaw, it's like a fine dining resto with gallery.

if you want to play piano and have concert, you can do it here in Balaw-Balaw

the Gallery inside the resto

Pinakbet, I love this dish, I promiss . .  you'll gonna love it too

Crispy Fried Frog - I love this exotic food

ginger rice -  more calories . . I don't care about it . .

Today is not my first time to visit this place, but this is my first time to experience eating in this unique restaurant.  I always read articles online about exotic dishes, then I found this, so it's great to be here and I will visit this place again, for some other exotic dishes.

Mt. Samat | Dambana nang Kagitingan | Bataan

 Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) is located on the summit of Mt. Samat.  This Historical landmark is a 302-ft Memorial Cross that symbolizes  as a fitting memorial to the heroic struggle and sacrifices of those soldiers who fought and died in that historic bastion of freedom - wikipedia.org.

Honestly, the trip to this historical site wasn't planned properly.  Out plan that time was to have a good time at the beach.  Doing some swimming and island hopping wearing our swim suit.   The weather that day wasn't inviting! I promise.  The sky was dark, raining hard during our travel from Manila, the lighting shines brightly like a sun, the thunder was roaring like a lion in the forest.  And so? we don't care about the weather, we felt more excited for those challenges.

This was my second adventure with some Batang Hamog Mountaineers, and I know from the start that I will enjoy everything despite of the bad weather.  We conquered this site after our Bagac, Bataan Adventure.  The people of Bataan are really great, they let us sleep in their own houses even we don't know them.  So thanks a lot!

The stairs up to the entrance of the Museum.

This is the main entrance going to top of the cross.  No need to worry if you don't want to walk hundred steps, there is elevator that can bring you to the top.

gorgeous art work!

top view of the Museum

the bottom shot of the cross

the Entrance

                                         

Enjoy the video, taken at the Shrine of Valor

Visiting this historical landmark was an amazing experience, with the Batang Hamog Mountaineers.  Although we walked on the 8 kilometer road going to the Shrine of Valor, but then it was a remarkable experience.  We experienced heavy rains and destructive  sun rays.  But in total: that was amazing experience!

Bahay Bakasyunan | Tanay

Among my travel locations, Bahay Bakasyunan is one of the most beautiful and amazing place I visited.  The unique architectural plan few meters above the sea level was properly created.  The ambiance while standing beside the pool, wearing just my swimming trunks was absolutely remarkable.  The cold wind breezes the entire resort, that gives an enjoyable feeling to every tourist. 

Well, the pool is not just the only one which everyone can enjoy.  Bahay Bakasyunan is also offering different activities which will measure your physical strengths.  All the activities were created perfectly for Team Building and other purposes that can enhance everyone's physical and mental capabilities.  I enjoyed the perfect view of the mountain rages, well, it's few kilometers away. The blue sky and fresh air unites while I was lying on the green green grass of the resort.

 

Here in Bahay Bakasyunan you can find the relaxing pool on top of the Mountain

 

 

Here are the photos captured during the Extreme Activities:

That was a tiring and busy day, but no problem about it, at least we were able to experience the true beauty of nature.  While inside the jeepney going back to Manila, we didn't care about who were beside us.  The most important was, we need a nap to energize ourselves.  Given another chance to be here, for FREE, of course, it's a YES, why NOT!

Fort Santiago | Intramuros | Manila

Fort Santiago is a fortress which is a part of the structures of Intramuros walls.  This historical structure was first built by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi for the newly founded city of Manila, Philippines. This fort is the most important historical sites in Manila as Dr. Jose Rizal was imprisoned here before he was executed in 1896. 

At the early years, Fort Santiago was a part of the side of a stake wall of Raja Sulaiman, a Muslim chieftain.  It was destroyed by Martin de Goiti (maestre de campo or master of camp) from Cebu on 1570. 

Then the Spaniards started building this Fort after the city of Manila was established and made it as the capital of the Philippines under Spanish colonization on June 24, 1571.  

The first fort was a structure of palm logs and earth but it was destroyed during the Chinese invasion led by Limahong.  Then Martin de Goiti was killed during the fight.  The name itself, came from Saint James the Great (or Santiago in Spanish) the patron saint of Spain, where his image can be found in the facade of the main entrance.  Fort Santiago was made from the volcanic stones from Guadalupe, together with the walls of Intramuros in 1590 and was finished in 1593 during Gomez Perez Dasmarinas reign.

The gate of Fort Santiago was erected in 1714 with some military bases.  Due to an earthquakes in the year 1880, the city of Manila was destroyed including the structure resulting in changing the character due to damage.

During the American rule in August 13, 1898, their flag was raised in this fort, which means the start of their rule in the Philippines.  It also served as the headquarters of the US Army, who made several changes to the fort.  In World War 2, Fort Santiago was captured by the Japanese Imperial Army and used the prisons, dungeons and cells for the prisoners who were killed near the end of the war.

Final steps of Dr. Jose Rizal before the execution.

Today, at the entrance of Fort Santiago, you can find the bronze foot marks on the ground representing  the final walk of Dr. Jose Rizal from his cell to the location of his actual execution.  This historical structure embraces the heroism of all the Filipino's who fought and gave their lives for the Philippines.  Information taken from wikipedia.org.