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The adventure and misadventure of a first-timer in Bangkok

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Photo by Izah Morales

*A story which happened when Trip@dora was still unborn.

Delays happen whenever my travel dates are approaching but these didn’t hinder me to scratch my itchy feet from going places.

In May 2009, Mama and her friends accepted Tita Vi’s invitation to their home in Pattaya, Thailand. Having booked a flight on sale (Php5,017.00 roundtrip–I thought it was cheap back then), I went with them and spent money for a trip for the first time. My previous out of the country trips (Macau and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) were for free.

During that time, Southeast Asian countries have been strict about outgoing and incoming tourists to prevent the spread of the AH1N1 virus. But since there was no travel ban and the invitation has been long overdue, we took the risk and traveled to Bangkok.

Before leaving the Philippines, we wore a mask as a precautionary measure though it was not that strict at the NAIA Terminal 3. After 3 hours, we arrived at the Suvarnabhumi Airport and I was impressed with their international airport. They have a Thermo Scanner. How I wish our airports in the Philippines had it too.

From the airport, we hailed a taxi to Imm Fusion, which took 20 minutes. It’s located along Sukhumvit Road and a few meters away from the On Nut Station.

The Entrance

It was past 1 am yet the Thai receptionists greeted us with warmth, “Sawasdee Ka!”

The pictures which led us to choose this hotel didn’t disappoint us. Its Moroccan-inspired interiors were very eye-candy.

We availed of their promo pay 1 and stay 1 more night for free–all for 1,600 baht (800 Baht/ night= Php 1,113.00). We got a standard room with queen-sized bed connected to another room with twin beds.

The hallway has an ambient lighting. When we opened our room, we’re very much satisfied. The room has a safe. Wifi access is free.

The comfort room was a bit small but it was fine.

In the morning, we ate our breakfast (which was included in the room rate) at their dining area. The design was so cool and relaxing.

The breakfast which consists of pastries were served in buffet style. The drinks were also varied from coffee, soya milk to juices.

We spent our day going to the Grand Palace via the Chao Phraya River (more on this in a separate post).

Fast forward the day after, Tita Vi arrived at the Imm Fusion to fetch us and bring us to their home in Pattaya. Before leaving the hotel, we did some photo-ops. They have a pool but we didn’t have time swimming.

Mama and her friends enjoyed posing in their Moroccan-inspired receiving area across the reception. When we were satisfied, we secured all our things and bid the hotel farewell.

It took around 2.5 hours via a private car until we reached Pattaya. Pattaya was a little laid back than Bangkok. The travel was like Manila going to Subic via the SCTEX.

When I was unpacking my things, I noticed that my black bag was missing. I asked Mama about it. We returned to their vehicle but then, we found none. Oh no! I left it at the couch of Imm Fusion. I was worried. We slept it off and planned to return to Bangkok the following day.

DAY 2- The fun of riding a public transport

From the Pattaya Bus Terminal Station, we bought our tickets at 113 baht each going to Ekamai or the Eastern Bus Terminal in Bangkok.

I was so excited riding a public bus in another country because this would allow me to blend with the locals. We successfully arrived at the station and went on our way to Imm Fusion.

I approached the reception and told them my story. Then after a few minutes, one of the staff returned holding my black bag. Thank God! I checked all my things and everything was intact. We thanked them and left with a sigh of relief.

After buying some things, we returned to the bus terminal for Pattaya. Most of the passengers of the bus were locals. Some may have forgotten to put on a deo and the smell immediately spread in the airconditioned bus. I thought my research was enough but it failed me this time. I wondered why the bus was so slow. It was too late when we learned that the bus that we took was the one that travels along the old road and not on the expressway which we passed by the day before.

We asked the driver but he barely understood English. I looked around the bus and most of them only spoke the Thai language. Oh my. I looked outside and learned that we were in Chon Buri. My bladder was killing me. It would burst anytime. When we saw a home depot, we decided to alight from the bus. I couldn’t take it anymore.

I rushed inside the depot and asked for their comfort room. The staff couldn’t understand what we were talking about. When Mama demonstrated and uttered a urinating sound “swiisshh”. They then understood, “ah toilet.” One of them pointed the direction towards the toilet.

Whew! Relieved.

We thanked them and asked for the directions in riding another bus going to the city center of Pattaya. The staff assisted us and we arrived safely back in Tita Vi’s home after four hours.

What an unforgettable experience that was. Even if two years had passed, the memories still reside in my head. I’ll be back Bangkok. I hope soon. And I hope this time, I’ll have more memorable adventures.

Travel Notes:

  • There are two buses that ply the Bangkok-Pattaya route. Unfortunately, what we rode was the slow bus which took us four hours. The Express bus is operated by Roong Reuang and pass by the tollway. Read more here.
  • Basic Thai Language: Mai Dai (cannot), chai chai (yes), Mai Chai (no), wai (greeting), Sawasdee Ka (greeting referring to female), Sawasdee Kap (greeting referring to male), Koh (island), Khao (mountain)

Chasing Waterfalls: Casaroro Falls

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If there’s a will, there’s a way. I firmly believe so. And yes, I found a way to Casaroro.

The weather has been so uncooperative in the last three days that we were in Dumaguete City. Talk about a rainy summer in May. I woke up that day, determined that I shall see Casaroro Falls.

Armed with research, tripod, and camera, I told my folks that I’ll be going to Valencia, a nearby town which is 10 kilometers away from Dumaguete City.

Being the protective dad that he is, Papa insisted that he would come with me. I said, “Pa, okay lang po ako saka mga 300 plus steps going to the falls.” Nonetheless, he won.

From the inn where we were staying, we hailed a trike going to the public market where the jeepney terminal to Valencia is.

When we arrived at the market, I saw that there’s only one passenger in the jeepney. The driver said that he’s still waiting for others to join the ride. I looked at the time. Waiting for other passengers would be a waste of time since we would still be buying souvenirs in the afternoon before leaving Dumaguete.

We walked further and decided to just hire a tricycle to take us to Valencia, which was a 25-minute ride from Dumaguete City. For Php 100.00, we saved time and managed to arrive at the quiet town of Valencia

I didn’t have a hard time finding our next ride to the falls. A number of motorcycles or locally called Habal-Habal (meaning: A passenger motorcycle which can carry two or more passengers) were parked in front of the municipal hall. The drivers readily offered us to ride with them. I was glad Papa was there with me. Sometimes, it’s indeed a bit scary to travel alone (especially that I’m a woman).

As much as I wanted to ride together with Papa, the driver said that there’s a rough road and the motorcycle may not be able to carry us all. Papa was a bit fat. So I agreed. The drivers quoted us Php 100/way per motorcycle (which makes Php 400 for two motorcycles). I haggled: Php 300 for the two motorcycles. They agreed and so off we go to the falls.

After a few minutes, the driver of the motorbike that I’m riding stopped at a house. He said that the tire was losing air. Papa and his motorbike continued. I was worried. The driver replaced the motorbike. But thank God, we caught up with Papa and his driver after 10 minutes.

From Valencia Central School, we passed by cemented roads.  About one kilometer away from the drop-off point from the falls, I saw the rough and steep terrain. The drivers were right. With that kind of slope, it’s an accident prone area.

For the motorbike to pass through the rocky road, Papa and I had to get off the motorbikes. We don’t want to get back with a sling arm or bruises. After all, we weren’t wearing any helmets. Our drivers weren’t wearing anything too.

At the entrance, we met two people sitting on the bench. One looked tired and was drinking water. I greeted them and asked where to pay the entrance fee (Php 10.00). The woman said, “A wala pa yata. ‘Yung mga anak namin nandun na sa falls. Kami, di na kami tumuloy. Di na namin kaya.  (The caretaker is not yet here. Our children were already there at the falls. We preferred to stay here. It’s difficult for us to get there).

I smiled and saw this sign, which posted the challenge:

Going down the 335-step cemented stairway was easy since gravity was pulling us. I thought we’re near. But I spoke too soon. There’s another stairway. This time a steel stairway where you can see the altitude of where we were. My knees were shaking as I hold on tight on the railing and took this shot using my other hand.

Alas, we made it after 15 minutes of careful steps. The crickets belted out their sounds as if they were in concert. Indeed, we’re in the middle of the forest.

We passed by a hanging bridge, not the swinging one. Good thing, it looked stable. The bridge led us to path which ended in a dilapidated gazebo.

It seemed like a dead end. But where’s Casaroro Falls? I heard the gushing water and followed the sound. I climbed up the stairs of the gazebo, turned into my right and there I saw the narrow waterfalls which flowed beautifully like a water coming out of a faucet.

I set up my tripod and captured the scene, which looked like a haven of fairies and other enchanted creatures.

I was still meters away from the falls. I wanted to get nearer but that would entail crossing a log and boulders that block the way to the falls.It seemed to protect such beauty.

Nonetheless, I did cross the single log which served as a bridge from the gazebo. As I made my way to the falls before crossing over the huge log that must have been a fallen tree, I slipped. The water was cold. Brrrr….My balance failed me again. Safety first. The minor bruise was enough. I decided to just return to the viewing deck. I was not going to swim anyway.

After awhile, I felt my bladder’s need for a toilet. We were in the middle of the forest but thank God, they have a toilet built for cases like this.

We then started going back. The trek has just began. It was a struggle but I was reminded of the signage. By climbing, we burn fats.

Then, I saw Papa catching his breath and we didn’t have any bottled water with us. Gahhh… Guilty. I really felt guilty but I told him beforehand that it might be a tough trek. Anyway, he also needs exercise so he’ll lose weight.

Words weren’t enough to express my gratitude that I have a father who’s willing to join the crazy adventures of her daughter to chase waterfalls like this one. Thank you Papa!

TRAVEL NOTES:

*HOW TO RETURN TO DUMAGUETE CITY: At the Central School, where the motorcycles are, ride the multicab. Warning: It’s a jam packed ride. I sat on a bench placed in the middle of the cab.

The multicab will drop you off at Independencia corner Cervantes St. near the public market of Dumaguete City.

*Multicab Fare: Php 12.00/way

*Total Travel time: Dumaguete City-Casaroro Falls: 1 hour

*Habal-Habal Fare: Php 100/way/ motorcycle

Trip@dora goes to Hong Kong: Evergreen Hotel

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Woo Sung Street

“Evergreen…”

The shuttle bus driver said as the shuttle stopped at Woo Sung Street. The other passengers were not moving. I stood up and told Mama that we’re supposed to get off the bus. It took her a minute before she followed me and she was laughing as she alighted the vehicle.

“Dito na ba talaga tayo? (Are we staying here?) ‘Di ko alam na dito pala (I didn’t know that we’re staying here),” she said laughing.

“I thought we were in Binondo,” added Mama.

Okay, the surroundings of Evergreen Hotel, which is near the night market at Temple Street, resembled those of the Philippines’ China Town in Binondo. But of course, both have Chinese influences. We were after all in the Special Administrative Region of China–Hong Kong.

I assured Mama that I’ve read good reviews about Evergreen, even reviews from Filipinos. Those reviews given by fellow Pinoys and the reviews in TripAdvisor helped me decide to book this hotel, which ranked #116 out of the 338 hotels in TripAdvisor.

We approached the reception and showed our booking reservation.We had our reservations prior to our arrival. It turned out that it was not still credited. The Chinese receptionist asked us to pay in HKD cash. This was a bit of a hassle for us. Good thing, we had enough for the payment.

I booked their promo: 3 nights twin bedroom with airport pick-up and daily buffet breakfast on their website, which summed up to HKD 2,122 (Php 12,000=Php 4,000/night x 3 nights Note that price was quoted December 2010). It’s not the cheapest hotel that you can find but we got good values for the price that we paid.

There were a lot of backpacker inns at Chungking and Mirador Mansions along Tsim Sha Tsui. However, I read not-so-good stories about staying there. Since I’m traveling with Mama, I want to ensure that we have a comfortable, clean, and decent accommodation.

We were ushered to our tiny room, which has a 14 square-meter floor area. The bed sheets were clean. The pillows were fluffy. There’s a mini-fridge, complimentary tea/coffee and a flatscreen TV.

I checked out the bathroom. The bathroom showed that the hotel was a bit old but it was maintained well.

The amenities in the comfort room were basic: Shower cap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shaving cream

BUFFET BREAKFAST

The following morning, we proceeded to the Evergreen Hotel Cafe for breakfast. Wow!  There were so many to choose from: Hard-boiled eggs, baked potatoes, noodles, salad, cereals, bread, sausage, coffee, tea, milk, orange juice.

We even met a Filipino family, who were staying there as well. Anna and Carlo were also spending their holidays with their kids. They came from Bermuda in the United States, where they work, and chose to spend their vacation in Hong Kong before visiting their relatives in the Philippines.

The downside of the buffet breakfast: They serve the same menu everyday. So it’s up to you on how you’ll schedule eating noodles, rice, or cereals.

WIFI-ZONE

-Yes, there’s wifi in the hotel. The signal even reached the room. During our stay here, I became mayor on Foursquare. :)

LOCATION: Woo Sung Street

-It’s near the night market at Temple Street

-Walking distance to Jordan MTR Station, near Yau Ma Tei

-When you walk out of the hotel, you’ll find Delicious Cafe, hawker food stalls, and other eateries, which serve delectable Chinese cuisine.

 

HOW TO GET HERE from Hong Kong International Airport:

-The hotel pick-up from the airport service was one of the reasons why we chose this hotel. The pick-up is included in the room package. So we didn’t have a hard time commuting from Lantau Island to Kowloon Island.

But since the HKIA was so huge, we were a bit lost at first. Here were the tips:

1. Never hesitate to ask.

2. Find the hotel desk at the airport.

3. Find Bay 27 Hotel Shuttle Bus Exit.

4. Ride the hotel shuttle bus. You will be riding with other visitors from other hotels.

5. Enjoy the scenery from Lantau to Kowloon

Cheers to Trip@dora’s 1st year

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March 4, 2010—It’s been a year since I started sharing my travel adventures and misadventures to the world. Tripadora was born out of my love for travel, photography and of course, my country, the Philippines.

Traveling gave me new perspectives in life. As Mohammed puts it, “Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you traveled.”

Indeed, I learned life’s lessons beyond the walls of a classroom. For others, travel is just for leisure. For me, it’s getting to know the world and its people. Every place has its own story to tell.

Last year, my itchy feet visited the Callao Caves of Penablanca, the Churches of Cagayan, the Sand dunes of Ilocos Norte, the surfing capital of the North La Union, Hot Air Balloon Festival of Clark, the organized city of Davao, the enchanting Samal and Talikud Islands, the underwater treasure of Boracay, the colorful MassKara Festival of Bacolod City, the heritage houses of Silay City, the captivating wonders of Coron, the safari of Calauit Island, and the magical Disneyland in Hong Kong.

This year, my ultimate dream destination came true—I finally set foot on the unspoiled beauty of Batanes. I also conquered Mt. Pinatubo and survived the huge waves in Palaui Island.

And as I write this piece, I’m at the Blue Lagoon, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte traveling with the Lakbay Norte group for the second time around. I feel so grateful with everything. God is great! :)

Thank you Lord for all the blessings and fruitful travels,  for the dreams that came true, and for the people who later on became my friends. Special thanks to the generous Nina Fuentes of Justwandering.org, who hosts my blog, and to the Lakbay Norte friends (Cha, Ivan, Melo, Estan, Karlo, Ida, Marge, Ella, Rhaine, Ferdz, Mishy) who influenced and ‘infected’ me with the “travel fever.”

To the readers of this blog, thank you for taking time to read, comment, and even email. I hope my travel stories inspire you guys to explore the unexplored and live your lives to the fullest.

Cheers! Happy 1st birthday Tripadora!

As I write this piece by the Blue Lagoon,

Batanes Diaries: The accidental trekking in style

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February 11, 2011

Dear Diary,


Thank God it’s Friday! It was the last day of the week and yet, I was more excited than ever. I took a snapshot of my boarding pass: MNL-BSO. Yes, it’s for real. Tripadora’s going to Batanes. It is known as Home of the Winds and the smallest province in the Philippines with an estimated population of 15,000.


After an hour and a half in the air, I peeked through my window seat and saw what I thought was a dream.  But lo, and behold, when the 32-seater Dornier 328 landed at the Basco Airport, I knew that I was living the dream.


February is winter time in Batanes but then I didn’t feel the cold weather that I was expecting when we arrived.  And so I thought, my get-up (sleeveless top, shorts, and boots) was fine.


From the airport, we headed to Hiro’s Cafe for a sumptuous lunch of beef broth soup, laing (taro stem and leaf cooked in coconut milk), beef and camote fries, steamed dibang (steamed flying fish), fish lumpia, and turon, courtesy of the generosity of Dir.Bless Diwa and the Department of Tourism Region II. (Thank you po!)


We then met the jolly and very accommodating Tita Lydia Roberto, manager of Batanes Seaside Lodge and Restaurant. After checking in at the Batanes Seaside Annex, we wasted no time and hopped into the van. Our destination:  Racuh-a-Idi, where the so-called Fountain of Youth is.

As we passed by the narrow roads on the way to our destination,  I noticed the sign: BLOW UR HORN.  The locals  said, the sign (with a text lingo), has been existing in Batanes even before short messaging service or SMS was invented.

I looked up and saw the cloudy and gloomy skies.  The sea was its direct opposite. It was alive as its waves kept crashing on the rocky walls.

The vehicle  then stopped at the end of the cemented road. It’s trekking time. I looked at my footwear: boots. I forgot to change into my trekking sandals. wahahaha. And so, it was one step at a time down the rocky make-shift stairs. Fortunately, I didn’t trip or get a sprained ankle after the 15-minute trek.

Going to Fountain of Youth. Photo by Joseph Dy

The Fountain of Youth has a grotto and a small falls. The water is said to have a different taste. So I stretched out my hand and filled it with water. I sipped and found nothing distinct. Maybe, it’s just a matter of mindset. Some people do believe that the water can make them young but I think one can be young by being positive with life.

Fountain of Youth

People can also try dipping into the pool beside the small grotto but in our case, we didn’t. I suddenly felt the changing temperature. It was getting cold in the afternoon. So I was wrong with the weather in Batanes. It was like a fickle-minded woman. It changes from time to time.

After some clicks, we then headed back to Diura Fishing Village and walked. It was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. Hence, the people were out and celebrating. Even if the Ivatans didn’t know us, they greeted us  like old friends. Their smiles and hellos were enough assurance that we were welcomed.

Life was so simple in this small fishing town. Children and adults alike watched  cockfighting. It was their way of entertainment.

View from Chawa View Deck

On our way back, we stopped by at the Chawa Viewdeck in Mahatao. The sea was again restless. The turquoise waves happily splashed and left the rocks washed anew. The sight of being washed away was spectacular.


The day ended with addictive jumpshots in front of the Basco Lighthouse and photo shoots at Naidi Hills. We can’t help but jump and be happy because finally we’re in Batanes.

Hooray! Jump shot in front of Basco Light house. Photo by Joseph Dy

The cloudy skies didn’t allow me to capture the full sunset.  Nonetheless, the view of cows grazing with the sunset backdrop was breathtaking.  The sun bade us goodbye but the journey has just began.


Till here,

Trip@dora