Vacation Spot: Anawangin, Zambales

Summer is here once again! And if you're looking for a quick, low-budget, ultra nature trip, then Anawangin is the best spot for you. There are three main reasons why I love this place.

First, it's cheap. You'd only need to spend for the transportation to and from Pundaquit, Zambales. If you're with a group, it's better to rent a van because it's much cheaper. The next expense would be for the banka ride. You need to rent transport services using small boats from the mainland to Anawangin cove. You can also negotiate with the banka owner to tour you around the nearby islands (Capones and Camara). Be warned, though. You'll be riding really small boats, and the waves can sometimes be too strong. I advice you to put all the items that you want to remain dry in a plastic bag before putting them inside your bag. Your bags might get wet with the water splashes. Also don't forget the island entrance fee.

The biggest expense you'll have would be the food. There aren't any restaurants there (although there's a small sari-sari store now), so you would need to bring your own food, or cook your food there. Either way, you have to carefully plan this out. Make sure you use sealed containers because the ants will flock your tents.

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Second, it's camping. Just bring your tents, camping gear, and you'll do fine. Also there's no electricity there, so make sure all your batteries are fully charged (even better if you have spares). Cellphone signals are also very weak, so your phones are practically useless. In other words, when you're in Anawangin, you should be tech-free. Well, maybe except for cameras. :)

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There are public comfort rooms for taking a shower or taking a dump. There's also a common area for washing dishes. This is probably what the entrance fee is for. :)

Finally, it's simply enchanting. A close encounter with nature. The perfect life of a bum: Beach, sand, sun, hammocks, and a good old book to keep you relaxed. Stars shine more brightly at night. It's the perfect place to forget all your worries and problems.

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A couple of things you also need to bring:
- Toiletries
- Slippers
- Socks (it might get cold at night)
- Lighters / Matches
- Plastic Bags (to keep your clothes dry, and also for your garbage)
- Swim Wear
- Small Pillow / Small Blanket
- Dishwashing Soap
- Utensils / Plates / Cups
- Snacks
- WATER

All in all, a budget of Php 2000 is okay for this trip. Maybe cheaper if you're in a group. =)

Vacation Spot: Sabangan (Laiya, Batangas)

Summer is here! And what better way to spend it than at the beach! One of things I'm happy about being in the Philippines is that it is a home to thousands of amazing beaches! When you're in Metro Manila, you only need 3-4 hours of travel time to reach paradise. And you need not spend a fortune to enjoy the sun, the sand, and the sea.

One good summer vacation spot if you're in Manila is in Batangas. Batangas also has a lot of good beaches and dive sites. More specifically, if you're looking for a laid back, sun-kissed beach with calm waters, one good resort is Sabangan at Laiya, Batangas.

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Sabangan boasts of near-white sand and cool waters. It also has a relaxing ambiance: trees and flowers and plants everywhere; a hammock nearby; playground for the kids; a guest lounge for anyone who wants to play billiards, a very accommodating staff to attend to your needs; and of course, the huts that give you a warm shade when you want to be kissed by the sun. Their cottages are fully equipped with air conditioning, a kitchen, a bathroom, a dining area, and of course, a living are for your group to just chillax while you drink and chat away all the worries and stress of work or school.

Sabangan resort is truly one of those places where you'd want to spend your summer (or even non-summer!) vacation. To know more about the resort, you may want to check out the following:

Website: http://www.sabangan.com/
Location: Laiya, San Juan, Batangas
Email: info@sabangan.com
Manila Number: +63(2) 914-0848
TeleFax: +63(2) 667-3997

Vacation Spot: Potipot Island

Potipot Island is one of those islands that can be called "paradise." It is a small island surrounded by white sand, calm clear waters, and trees that provide shade along the beach and on the water. To get there, you would need to 5-minute banca (small boat) ride from the mainland shore of the Uacon, Candelaria, Zambales.

The crystal clear water, warm sunshine, and cool sea breeze will give you the feeling of peace and serenity. Potipot Island is the perfect place to relax after a stressful week at work. It's the perfect place to be in touch with nature and with yourself. It's the perfect place to enjoy with your friends, family, and loved ones.

The island itself is quite small that there are no resorts on it. You can easily walk the island's shores for only a few minutes. Visitors bring their own towels, food, and other beach paraphernalia and set up their "camp site" somewhere around the island. They usually stay at the resorts on the mainland, and just hire bancas (small boats) to take them to Potipot island.

One of the most popular resorts in the area is Dawal Beach Resort. They offer decent accommodation and also a package for a roundtrip boat ride to and from Potipot Island for onyl Php 400 (good for 6 guests). To know more about the resort, please visit: www.dawal.com.ph.

Manila Restaurants: Fuzion Smoothie Cafe

If you're looking for the perfect place to sip a nice, cold, refreshing drink made of fresh ice-cold fruits on a terribly sunny day, then Fuzion Smoothie Cafe is the perfect choice. They offer an array of natural fruit smoothies to quench your thirst, and they also serve a variety of food which include rice meals, pizzas, pastas, chips, salads and desserts, etc.

One of the nice things about the drinks they serve is that they guarantee an "all-natural" fruit smoothie: No Ice, no sugar. The fruits are kept frozen, and are only blended upon ordering. This is to keep the natural sweetness and coolness from frozen fruits at their peak of ripeness. Today, they have expanded their menu and now offer a full range of coffee, chocolate, and tea lattes.

Fuzion Smoothie Cafe also makes your stay more pleasant because of the very cozy ambiance of their stores -- perfect for your families and friends to hang out. They have large, comfy chairs and stylish tables to make your stay even more relaxing and refreshing. Fuzion stores can be found at popular hang out areas such as Greenbelt, Eastwood, and Greenhills. (Note: Image grabbed from their site.)

For more information, please visit their site at: http://www.fuzionphils.com

Resort: Eagle Point Resort

Eagle Point Resort has all the amenities for a perfect getaway: the Main Core, which includes restaurant and bar, a gift shop, two two-level fresh-water pools, a Saltwater Reef pool that where visitors can swim and snorkel to see the turtles, sharks and colorful fishes. It also offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding sea.

The second attraction of Eagle Point is the Sepok Beach center, in Sepok Island, which is accessible via a short boat ride from the Main Core. The island features a white beach, an open dining area, a hiking trail, cabanas, and a beach volleyball area.

Eagle Point Resort can be found at:
Bo. Bagalangit, Mabini, Batangas, Philippines

For Reservation:
rsvn@eaglepoint.com.ph

For more details, please visit:
http://www.eaglepoint.com.ph/

Resort: San Juan Surf Resort

La Union is one of the havens of surfers in the Philippines. It has become one of the hotspot surfing destinations because of the quality of its waves.

One of the resorts that's quite popular among surfers is San Juan Surf Resort. Not only does it have great rooms and accommodations, it also provides surfing lessons for those interested to join. Other amenities include its bar and restaurant, their famous surf shop, Surf board and accessories rentals. other activities you can do are Scuba diving, snorkeling, and Kayaking.

That's me learning how to surf. :)

Here's a quick peek at their rates:

ROOM RATES
PER NIGHT
STANDARD AIRCON ROOMS
GOOD FOR 2 PERSONS 950.00
GOOD FOR 4 PERSONS 1,350.00

BUNGALOW AIRCON ROOMS
(WITH TV, REF, AND KITCHEN)
GOOD FOR 2 PERSONS 1,200.00
GOOD FOR 4 PERSONS 1,600.00

For more details, please visit their site at http://www.sanjuansurfresort.com/

Resort: Club Manila East

Ideal for family trips and barkada outings, Club Manila East (CME) located in Taytay, Rizal is a must visit resort. Just a few hours drive from the city, this 7-hectare resort is one of the best places to unwind, relax, have fun under the sun, and sometimes even do business at the same time.

The resort's facilities are made to suit people of all ages: where the kids can enjoy the mini-slides and the playground on the pool, where the adventurous can get their adrenaline rush from the 3-storey slides and the kayak pool, where the older folks can immerse themselves in the shaded Pools, and where everybody can simply bask under the sun. The best attraction of the resort is its BeachWave pool - a giant wave pool that gradually deepens and produces beach-like waves for everyone to feel as if they were on a real beach. But don't fret, trained lifeguards are stationed near the pool to ensure everyone's safety.

The resort is somewhat strict with the swimming attire. Here are some tips to remember:

Also here are some details about the resort:

Location: Km. 24 Manila East Road Taytay, Rizal PHILIPPINES 1920
Telephone Numbers: (02) 660-2801, (02) 284-4740, (02) 284-4736

For details about their rates, please visit their site at: http://www.clubmanilaeast.com

Manila Condo Units

Are you looking for Condo Units here in Metro Manila or in the Philippines?
Don't fret!

ETON Properties has a wide variety of Condo units up for grabs. ETON is part of the Lucio Tan Group of Companies.

If you are interested, please send a private message to my good friend, Schyler Gan for more details. You may contact him at: http://schyly.multiply.com

Philippines Zoo: Zoobic Safari (Subic)

If you're going to Subic, please take particular notice of ALL STOP Signs and ALL SLOW DOWN Signs. Because just a little further, there's a bunch of traffic officers lurking who will consider no apologies from first time travelers who have "violated" their traffic ordinances. Apparently, they are pretty strict when it comes to their traffic signs. So if you happen to miss one Stop sign, you're pretty much dead and it'll pretty much cost you a hundred bucks per officer if you get caught.

Also if you're going to Zoobic Safari, DO NOT BE FOOLED by their "accommodation" package. They say that the hotel is NEAR the safari, but in actuality, it's a 15-minute ride by car. If you plan on walking, good luck. It'll take an hour before you reach the actual zoo.

The safari itself is nice. The animals are interesting, the layout of the place is nice, and the ambiance is really relaxing.

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Here are the rates:

- Php 395 per adult for the day tour (that's approximately 3 hours of walking around the zoo with a tour guide);
- Php 200 for the chicken - so you can feed the tigers and have a much more exciting "close encounter" with them;
- Php 50 for the chicken - so you can feed the crocs;
- Php 240 and Php 540 to have your pictures taken with a tiger on your lap;
- Php 30 for one Magnolia Twin Pops ice cream.

Damn overpricing. Also don't miss their "SCRAMBALLED" Eggs when you plan to have breakfast at the zoo!! Hahaha!

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But the close encounters with the animals is really something to remember. If you're planning a trip to Zoobic, I suggest not getting their overnight package because you'll be extremely disappointed with their accommodations, and unless you're not doing anything else, you'll just waste time sleeping in your room.

Philippines Zoo: Avilon Zoo (Montalban, Rizal)

For all animal enthusiasts in the Philippines, visiting the Avilon Zoo in Montalban, Rizal is a must! This 7.5 hectare zoo is the largest zoological park in the Philippines and it lies in the heart of Bo. San isidro, Rodriguez (Montalban) Rizal, Philippines. It will definitely satisfy your hunger for animal sight-seeing and adventure.

Going to Avilon Zoo is quite a pain. There's a part where the road gets rough and it would be best if you brought your 4x4 vehicles with you. If you're commuting, there are tricycles that offer a ride from the nearest town (Total Gas station) to the zoo for Php 40.00. However, don't expect to be squeaky clean once you arrive =). Also it's easy to get lost because there are no road signs that would direct you to where the zoo is. There are a few (and I really mean FEW), and you have to be very sharp to find it because it's VERY small (the sign says "This way to Avilon Zoo" but it's as big as a legal sized bond paper). It's better if you just ask around.

The zoo itself is a nice place. The entrance fee costs PHP 208.00 per person (around USD5.00), and if you want a guided tour, you can "rent" a knowledgeable guide for PHP350.00 only. Guests are allowed to bring their own food (and believe me, it's better if you do so because food and drinks sold inside the zoo are waaaay overpriced), but bringing of commercial goods such as McDonald's or Jollibee or KFC would cost you PHP25.00 per meal.

You can also have your picture taken with some of their animals. They charge PHP50.00 for 2 shots (using your personal camera) with their birds or with the mighty albino boa constrictor. This is a close encounter with their animals, by the way. Also at 2:00 PM onwards, their baby Orangutan is available for cradling. Don't miss this!

Despite the wonderful adventure, Avilon Zoo still lacks Maps and Directions. If you don't have a tour guide, you'd have difficulty figuring out where you are... It's a big place and it's easy to get lost without a map. Also some areas of the zoo are still being constructed. We have yet to see the fully developed zoo.

Bottom line is, the Avilon Zoo is absolutely a great experience for the family.

Bulacan Resort: DJ Paradise

DJ Paradise is a great place if you're looking for a resort where you can relax, have fun under the sun, and experience the beach without going through the trouble of traveling so many hours just to feel the sand-sea on your face. Yes, it doesn't have the sand, nor the salty smell of the wind, but it does have a wave pool for you to experience the water splashing on your back. And you don't have to worry about drowning too, because the wave pool is only around 5.5 feet deep, with bodyguards positioned on every corner of the pool. Plus, they have several floating devices you can use to better enhance your swimming experience.

Their pools also have slides for the young, the yuppies, and the total adventurers. There are 1-storey high slides, 2-storey slides, and 3-storey slides. Just pick which will give you the best experience.

Also the rates are cheap. The overnight hotel rent for a Standard air-conditioned room with 1 bathroom, 2 queen sized beds, cable television, 2 free breakfast, and 2 free use of the pool is VERY affordable. Just check out their site for the rates.

Food is great. The ambiance is perfect for relaxation, although if you're from the hotel, you'd have to walk a bit to reach the pools. The park is clean and colorful. All in all, you have to book your next trip to this place. :)

For more details, please visit their website at: www.djparadise.com.ph