Hongkong

Hongkong

Posted by the thick key on January 11, 2018 in hongkong preparations, hongkong travel, travel abroad,

"Pangarap ko'ng mag abroad, hindi para mag trabaho kun'di para mag lakwatsa!"

Here's my Hongkong travel story.

As an average wage earner like me in the Philippines, traveling out of the country (especially to a first world city like Hongkong) is some how a luxurious thing to do. The plane ticket alone is expensive, especially from someone who lives in a city where there are no international flights available. You'd have to purchase 2 round trip tickets, round trip ticket to the big city, and another one abroad. The cost of living in another country is higher than to where I live in (at least to most countries). A lot of saving and preparations need to be done.

To travel abroad was the main goal I set for myself before I get 30. When I turned 29, I realized that time was running out and I had to work on it ASAP. The first thing that I had to prepare was my passport. I have turned down a lot of out-of-the-country travel invitations and opportunities just because I didn't have a passport. Well this time, I had to get one.

at Tai O Fishing Village

View from Dragon's Back trail in 

Getting a Passport

Getting a passport was so easy. Here's how I did it. First, I went to www.passport.gov.ph to set an appointment date for your passport application, filled-up and printed the application form their website, secured all necessary requirements then showed myself at DFA on the scheduled date. Please don't forget to bring the printed form from the DFA website you printed. They wont entertain you without that document event if you have signed up and set an appointment online. All the detailed instructions and requirements are indicated in that website. Do it now!

The passport application cost me 950 pesos. After 2 weeks from the scheduled appointment, I received a text message from DFA saying that my passport is ready for pick up. I picked it up at DFA. So easy! I was happy. Passport done!

The second thing that I had to secure was the plane ticket; and the only way that I could get one is through a promo fare in Cebu Pacific. International regular ticket prices are impossible for me to purchase. So I patiently waited for promo fares and subscribed to all pages and groups in Facebook to notify me all seat sale alerts. Promo tickets usually are scheduled at least 6 months before from the flight date so I'd have the time to prepare for the itinerary and budget. My patience was rewarded when I was able to book a round trip ticket from Manila to Hongkong for 3k php only. If I had been more diligent enough, I could have gotten a cheaper deal. But 3k for a round trip ticket is good enough. I was able to get a round trip ticket from Zamboanga to Manila too for 2k only. So, 5k for plane ticket all-in-all! 👍 Tickets, solved!

Now that I have secured my ticket and passport, the next time to prepare us my itinerary in full details with budgeting and all.

Booking for a place to stay

So far, this was the easiest part of planning the trip because there are lots of booking services just right at your fingertips. I installed Airbnb, Agoda, Taveloka apps in my smartphone and used these services to book our hotel. It did not take more than an hour to choose our hotel because there are lots of cheap options to choose from. Plus the reviews and testimonials are so helpful. So the winner went to Park Hostel in Mirador Mansion in Tsim Sha Tsui. It only cost us 3896 pesos for 3 nights. Since there are 2 to us, we spent 649 pesos each per night. Great deal!

Bonus: Our accommodation offers free water. There is a water dispenser with paper glass just right at the hostel's hallway. All you need to have is a water container for you to refill. That saved us bucks :)

Itinerary

Next part of the planning was our itinerary and places to visit. Most of my friends who went to Hongkong recommended me to avail Klook's offering. They have, so far, the best prices for Hongkong tours. I installed klook app in my smartphone and browsed for their offerings. Here's what I have a availed from them.

Ngong Ping 360/ standard cabin one way 1506 pesos

Airport express / MTR travel pass for 3 days 3154

Here's our itinerary and expenses

Travel Tax= P 1620.00

Day 1 (TST Parks tour, The Peak)
Total Day 1 expenses: 96 HKD 
-Arrival
Claimed our Klook Vouchers
Took Airport Express train to our hotel at TST) FREE via Klook
-Arrived at the Hotel at TST then strolled along Kowloon Park, Mosque, Comic Strip, Mira Place and Market Street - FREE
-Lunch at Yuen Kwee - 38 HKD/ head
-Mrt from TST to Central Station - FREE via Klook
-Bus to Victoria's Peak 10 HKD
-Victoria Peak
-Bus to Central 10HKD
-Dinner 38 HKD
-MTR from Central to TST (FREE)
-REST

Day 2 (Ngong Ping, Big Buddha, Tai O, Victoria Harbour)
Total Day 2 Expenses: 160 HKD
-Breakfast - 40 HKD
-Train from TST to Tung Chung (FREE via Klook)
-Cable car from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping
-Lunch at Subway 38HKD
-Bus from Ngong Ping to Tai O - 10 HKD
-Bus Tai O to Mui Wo - 10 HKD
-Ferry from Mui Wo to Central - 32 HKD
-Train Central to TST - FREE
-Walk to Victoria Harbour
- Dinner at 7-11 - 30 HKD

Day 3 (Hike to Dragon's Back, Nan Lian Garden)
Total Day 3 Expenses: 100 HKD
-Breakfast - 30 USD
-Train from TST to Shau Kei Wan station FREE
-Minibus No. 9 to To Tei Wan - 10 HKD
-Trek to Shek O beach 
- Bus from Shek O to MTR - 10 HKD
-MTR to Dianond Hill Station - FREE
-Bought food at 7-11 - 27 HKD
-Walk to Nan Lian Garden
-Train Back to TST 
Dinner - 23 HKD


DAY 4 (MACAU - Senado Square, Venetian Macau,

Ruins of St. Paul's)

Macau Itinerary will be posted on another blog post. Keep updated :)

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Buluan Island Family Trip

Buluan Island Family Trip

Posted by the thick key on January 06, 2018 in buluan island, family travel, zamboanga, zamboanga sibugay,

It was the first day of 2018. I woke up on a beautiful morning on a New year holiday. I was feeling bloated by last night’s pig-out session. I was feeling so lazy and just wanted to sleep the whole day and waited for the undigested food to exit out of my body so I can pig out again. Then, I heard my mom calling me, asking me to get ready for a beach trip. I could not believe my mom, who is not really into travel, inviting the whole family for an outdoor trip. I hopped out of my bed and got ready. This is going to be fun!

We packed our stuffs. Got ready. Gas-ed the car and we were on our way to Buluan Island in Ipil Zambonaga Sibugay which is 3 hours from Zamboanga city.

ready for a trip

mom, thea and me

dad, our driver

As we passed along MCLL Highway, we made some stops on scenic views to take pictures (and to take a leak, too). First stop was on Brgy Muti. We just got off the car and took photos of the lush green grassland just at the right beside the road. I took my SJCAM M20 camera for a wider angle of view. The view was beautiful. Second stop was on another scenic view somewhere in Brgy Curuan, a few kilometers after Brgy Muti. Here, you’ll see an overlooking view of green hills and the sea. The views are so breathtaking that not taking a photo and selfie is a crime.

first stop

the amazing Muti grassland

selfie!

second stop

Amazing backdrop view

After an hour of driving, we finally arrived in Brgy Buluan in Ipil. We parked our car and we headed to boat’s docking station. As we got closer to the boat’s terminal, we noticed there are many people, which was so unusual for this place. Turns out that these people are also heading to the island and waiting for the boat to fetch them. Then we are informed that The Islands if swarmed with people, hundreds of them. We couldn’t ride immediately, we had to wait for the queue. While waiting, we took pictures with the cool bamboo-made wharf.

photo ops at the bamboo wharf

The second boat came and it was our time to take a ride to the island. We hopped on to the boat. We were charged 50 pesos per head.

We arrived at the island and boy it was infested with humans!!! There were so many people that it was hard to imagine Buluan the way I knew. Trash are scattered everywhere on the sand. Drunkards are partying and bottles of beer were everywhere. Plastics! all over the place. And the worst of all, big boats were docked on the swimming area. The smell of diesel was so strong, it made me felt like I was swimming on fuel. I pity on the Island.

Despite the condition, we took a dip in the water and tried to enjoy it as much as we could. We left the island and still it was a fun day!

HERE'S THE VLOG

Thea, scared of the water haha

       

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11 Island Panubigan, Zamboanga City

11 Island Panubigan, Zamboanga City

Posted by the thick key on December 31, 2017 in 11 islands, 11 islands zamboanga city, island hopping in Zamboanga, zamboanga beach,

They say love is sweeter the second time around. In deed it is.

It was my second time visiting the 11 Islands in Panubigan, Zamboanga City and it definitely was sweeter than the first time. I fell in love with this place on the first time and I fell in love even more this time. The weather was perfect. The water was clearer. And most of all, it was a DIY (do-it-yourself) adventure which is my thing.

Check out the vlog here: 

The 11 Islands in Panubigan is now an emerging tourist destination in Zamboanga and other nearby cities. More and more people are getting aware of this hidden gem that has been unknown for quite some time. With the rise of social media popularity, photos and stories are easily shared and propagated. That's how this secret gem was disclosed. Also, the improved security of the local government has made this place easy and safe to visit. These islands used to be infested by pirates. Now it is swarmed by tourists.

For this trip, we hopped first on Bisaya-bisaya Island. Bisaya-bisaya island is endowed a beautiful white sand beach and majestic rock formations. Once you get on to the island, the first thing you'll be amazed about is its white sand beach with fine sand and clear water. It will temp you to dip yourself in the water and swim. However, you also see the rock formations that entice you to discover itself. So you tell yourself to do the swimming later and explore the rock formations first. You get your camera and start taking selfies and groupies with the boulders and sea as the background. You walk further through and you discover more rock formations with colors ranging from brown to green to orange. You have the rocks on the right side and sea on the left. As you keep on exploring, you would not expect that you already circumnavigate the whole Bisaya-bisaya island.

Unfortunately, many are still hesitant to visit this place. But with proper coordination with the local government of Panubigan, there's nothing to worry about safety. The Brgy. council of Panubigan provides escorts for security to ensure the safety of every tourists. They provide AFP personnel, all buffed to ensure your safety. However, you'll need to coordinate with the Brgy. Panubigan at least a week before so they'll have a time to prepare for a escorts. Visit them in their Barangay Hall to schedule a trip. 

How to get there?

Good news! We finally got the contact number for you to coordinate with the Brgy council of Panubigan.
If you're interested in visiting 11 Islands, you may reach.

MHOY BUAH or TARIH ASMAJIN
0906-855-2497

A Big thanks to Dave Fabian Gramatica for making this trip smoother for us

How to get there? 

For commuters, from Zamboanga City
1. Take a curuan-bound van from the van terminal in Tomas Claudio, Zamboanga City (near Gateway Mall) 70 pesos
2. Drop-off at Brgy Panubigan and take the Habal-Habal to Panubigan Brgy Hall. 20Php
3. Look for the Brgy Official you coordinated with at the Brgy Hall, he will lead you to the boat ride to Bisaya Island which is just few meters away. Boat Ride to Bisaya-Bisaya Island = 150 round trip.

If you have your own wheels, drive straight to Panubigan Brgy Hall and find the coordinator. :)

How we got there (the best way) IMO

Since there was 11 of us visiting the island, we rented an entire van to bring us straight into Panubigan's Brgy Hall where the boat's docking station is. The van operators normally charges 2500 pesos for the van service to-from Panubigan. However, depending on your haggling skills, you might get a cheaper deal. Luck us, we were able to close the deal at 180 pesos pero pax. That's 1980 pesos for the 11 of us. Good deal!

Our expenses breakdown (per Pax)

Van to boat ride = 180 pesos

Boat to Bisaya Island = 150php

Food and water= 100 (there is no food and potable water for sale in the island, you need to bring your own)

ENJOY 👍👍👍

MORE PHOTOS HERE

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