Sun, sand, and seawater… Boracay in October

Just reminiscing the fun time Emar and I had in Boracay in 2010. October is our wedding anniversary month and this year, 2016, would be our 11^th year together as a married couple.

We celebrated our 5^th wedding anniversary in Boracay and this was I wrote about our experience.

Sun, sand, and seawater… Boracay in October

I know that most people troop to Boracay Island during the hot, summer months but did you know that the off-peak season has the most beautiful of sunsets and the weather is much more tolerable?

In the famed island of Boracay, October weather is enviable. Yes, it was sunny but it wasn’t too hot compared to May or June, our tour guide, Jojo related. We did experience some rain showers but these were intermittent and happened only the night before we were to leave, which made me conclude that the island is pure bliss and worth visiting whatever time of the year you so desire. The beach is home to all sorts of people all year round. It’s like a fiesta there from January to December, day in and day out.

The first night we were there, that was October 30, Halloween parties were everywhere. The Boracay Island mall named D*Mall hosted a Halloween Costume Contest held in partnership with the mall’s newest store, Fila. It was so much fun and people in costumes were everywhere.

My husband, Emar, and I were lucky enough to have our photos taken with a man (or was it a woman?) who took the role of a headless person who carried around with him his decapitated head. It was one scary sight, which a lot of Boracay visitors took in jest.

So, why were Emar and I in Boracay anyway in the middle of the typhoon season?

The Boracay trip was in celebration of our fifth wedding anniversary. We got married on October 6, 2005. What more, the month of October is the last month of Boracay’s off-season, which meant that airfare to and from Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay, was a lot cheaper compared to other months of the year, and Boracay hotels cut their regular room rates in half.

Because of the island’s popularity, and probably as part of its tourist attraction strategy, the island had to divide the “visiting time” in the year into three, namely, peak season, off-season, and high season. The peak season happens from May to June while off season is from July to October. The high season, meanwhile, is from November to April. Holidays, however, such as the Holy Week and November 1-2 are considered as peak season. Airfares as well as room rates during these times are triple the off-season rates. This was based on a conversation I had with our very nice and friendly tour guide Jojo, who also happens to be managing the budget hotel beside the resort where we were billeted, the Orchids Resort (another budget hotel).

Both are considered as budget hotels because their rates were not only affordable considering that these were located in Boracay but because these places were situated at Station 3 and weren’t “beach front” ones, meaning these were hotels located a few meters away from the Boracay beach. These were hotels located at the back of other establishments.

Being at the back, however, didn’t mean the service weren’t good or the rooms were dirty. In fact, a lot of foreign tourists who plan on staying for months at time in Boracay Island preferred these places over the “beach front” ones because of the privacy it provided. It was away from the all-night beach parties and the service was more or less the same as the “beach front” ones. It wasn’t first class but it was alright already. Besides, if you were in Boracay you wouldn’t want to get holed up in your room, right? You would want to spend as much time outside under the sun, the sand beneath your feet, and the seawater caressing your tired limbs.

This was exactly what we did. The moment we landed at the Caticlan airport, around 11:20 A.M., I knew we had to make the best of the few hours of sunlight we had left to explore the island. We were fortunate enough to have been able to arrange for someone from the Orchids Resort to pick us up from the airport because we didn’t know our way around yet.

From the airport, Zan, the resort personnel brought us to the Caticlan port. There, she bought us tickets from the boat fee of P25.00 per person to the required environmental fee of P50.00 per person. I can’t recall the names of the other fees that we had to pay just that we were required to pay these charges before we could enter the terminal or be able to board one of the boats outside; and so, pay we did.

The sea wasn’t the friendliest at the time we boarded the boat. It was windy and the waves were really huge. What aggravated the situation some more was the violent swinging of the ledges that we were supposed to walk on to be able to get to the boat. One foreign tourist even got wet because she fell off the ledge that connected the port to her boat. Good thing she didn’t hit her head on one of the rocks or received any serious injuries. That would have been a total disaster! Haayyy… We, Filipinos, really are such daredevils. We have the “habal-habal”, the overloaded jeepneys, and, in Boracay, unsafe ledges.

But thanks to our very skilled boat captain, we were able to reach the Boracay port safely – huge waves and all. The boat ride wasn’t that long really, just about 10 minutes or so. So, from the Boracay Island port, it was P100 tricycle ride to the nearest Station 3 entrance and in a matter of minutes Emar and I were already inside our rooms, hurriedly changing our attires to ones that suited beach fashion. No, he wasn’t in swimming trunks; and no, I didn’t wear a two-piece bikini. I don’t own one and will never will most probably. I have post-partum stretched marks all over my belly and some tummy fat to boot. It’ll take about 1 million sit-ups to get rid of the fats. So, why waste my hard-earned monies on a branded bikini when I wouldn’t be able to wear it in this lifetime. I’m perfectly happy wearing a beach shorts and shirt.

Lunch was two delicious Andok’s meals. Then, we went off sight-seeing but around 4:00 o’clock, our tour guide, Jojo, whom we met while walking around Station 3, brought us to a Helmet Diving site. We paid P500 each for a 30-minute exhilarating (and oxygen-filled!) walk on the beach floor. Afterwards, Jojo took us to Boracay Island’s own version of the Zipline. It wasn’t that long, about 300++ meters, and we paid P700 each. I know it’s too expensive for a 300-meter zipline but hey you get to have a breathtaking view of the “virgin”, unoccupied part of the island even just for a few seconds. So, it was worth it in a sense plus there was the adrenaline rush and the terrified looks on our faces. That’s totally priceless!

The one other activity that Emar and I did was going around in a buggy car. For P1,000, you get to drive one (and in my case ride one with Emar who was driving) towards the highest point in Boracay Island. The tour took us to an exclusive (and luxurious) condo-tel where we were made to use the establishment’s rooftop to take in the view of the entire island. There we saw how “people-less” the other side was. We also saw once again the Zipline landing pad. It would be nice to go swimming in that part of the island but I doubt it. I think that the land there is private property, owned by some other wealthy person in the country. Oh, to be rich and famous!

So, since we were penniless already. Hehehe… Emar and I had to settle with experiencing the island using our two sturdy and excited feet. We walked from Station 3 all the way to Station 1. It was there that we noticed how much finer and whiter the sand in Stations 2 and 1 were. Must be the reason why the food and the accommodation in the area were way more expensive than those found at Station 3. There weren’t a lot of people too though Station 2, which is considered the “center” of the island, is an exception. It was at Station 1 that we first experienced the island’s cool and refreshing seawater.

Other fun and interesting (expensive but not in Boracay standards) activities that one could do in Boracay is the 6-hour island-hopping, which happens from 10:00am to 4:00pm, at P600 per person that already includes a sumptuous buffet lunch. There is also the parasailing at P1,200 per person for 15 minutes and the Banana Boat ride at P200 per person for 30 minutes.

I forgot how much these activities cost but I think if you had enough time and money with, you’ll also enjoy driving a Jet Ski, going on a Scuba Diving experience, or do some Snorkeling.

So there you go… some of the activities that you and your family or friends could enjoy in Boracay, whether off-season, peak season, or high season. You also don’t need to get your own tour guide because these activities could be availed of without the help of a guide. We discovered later on that the “desk people” lining the beach fronts were actually “dispatchers” or the ones managing the various water sports activities. It is these same people too that you pay and it will also be them who will take you to your boat or who will lend you the sports equipment in the case of Jet Ski rentals and Banana Boat rides.

But if you are new to Boracay like us and don’t know how to take advantage of your time there, a tour guide is really helpful. You only need to tip the guide and you’ll have an honest assessment of the best activities to take that are within your budget or within the bounds of the limited time you have got in island.

Or you always have the option to not do anything at all the whole time you are there… You could just go swimming, do some sunbathing, or go strolling from Station 3 to 1. A majority of the foreign tourists in Boracay do this on a daily basis, Jojo said. The beach is very public in Boracay so you could go swimming (or sunbathing) anywhere you want.

There isn’t any need too to stay in a beachfront hotel. Those are quite expensive and if you aren’t staying long, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy all of your room’s amenities anyway. When in Boracay, your hotel room serves only as a sleeping quarter. Beach side parties there are from late afternoon until the ungodly hours of the morning so who needs a cable television or free wi-fi? You wouldn’t want to miss all those sexy ladies dancing and grinding about the whole night through? Or the eat-all-you can food parties?

A budget hotel will do even if you have to walk a few meters to get to the beach. That’s free exercise and something to warm your limbs up for the day’s activities. Until our next visit… Hopefully then we would already be able to take our two children Paul Daniel (who is now four years old) and Phoebe Dawn (who just turned nine months old) to this famous island.

P.S. – This article came out of the November 8-14, 2010 issue of the Eastern Visayas Mail. Please check out their website here: http://www.evmailnews.net/.

Revisiting Cuatro Islas, Canigao… and the Maasin City Zoo

April is my favorite month of the year. Why wouldn’t it be? It’s my birth month.

No wonder I embrace the sun, sand and shores. I love the smell of sun-dried clothes, the sound of the sand as my toes crush them, and the view of the shoreline as the sun sets, after a fun-filled day.

It was a no-brainer, therefore, when I chose to re-visit Cuatro Islas of Inopacan-Hindang, Leyte for a post-birthday celebration with my family. Then, two weeks later, hopped on a boat to return to Canigao Island. This time, with my little girl in tow, who, like her Mama, is a mermaid-in-the-making.

She loves the water as much as I do. The last time I was in Canigao, I have yet to get pregnant with her. Her Kuya Paul at the time too was a little more than three years old.

Meanwhile, the last time I was at Digyo Island of the famed Cuatro Islas was when I was still in university; and we just went through the island. The same goes for Mahaba Island, which was and still remains to be a fish sanctuary. We were staying at the time at Apid Island – all four sisters, Mama and Papa, Lola Charing, a few cousins, Titos and Titas.

Cottages line up the shoreline of Digyo Island

Cuatro Islas

Today, the people of Inopacan has turned Digyo into THE “resort island” but you can always go island-hopping to all the other islands. Digyo, however, is the only place where tourists are allowed to stay the longest – even an overnight respite.

Digyo is where the cottages are located, where the sari-sari stores and a souvenir shop are situated, and where the municipality legally collects the entrance and cottage fees. The parties are here too – made possible thanks to the solar lampposts positioned all over the island.

For a hassle-free trip, tap the services of Fran-Con Viaje Internationale – an Ormoc-based travel agency that, surprisingly, offers affordable local tours. For P9,500, good for 10 people, the group gets a van (that can accommodate a maximum of 14 people), paid-for entrance and cottage fees and a pump boat that is ready to go the moment you arrive at the Inopacan jetty port.

Bring your own food and water – or you could opt to upgrade the tour package to include these necessities. You can contact the tour agency at 561-8039 or visit their office at Real Street, Ormoc.

To cap the day (and my post-33^rd birthday celebration), the family went to Matalom’s Pagatpat Seafood Restaurant. The food did not disappoint and their mango shake is now a personal favorite.

The fambam at Mahaba Island of the famous Cuatro Islas

Canigao

The beautiful island of Canigao is also in Matalom and can be reached through a jetty port at the back of the town’s municipal building. There, you’ll have to register and pay both the roundtrip boat fare and entrance fee. Total cost is P95.

Island cottages are on a “first come, first served” basis and costs P500 for day use and P700 for an overnight stay at the island.

Canigao Island’s charm as a family-friendly island destination – because it is just a 10-minute pump boat ride away from mainland Matalom, saving you the worries of a long sea trip with all your children with you – remains as charming as when I was here seven years ago. It still has the coolest of seawater, colder than Digyo’s, and boasts a canopy of trees, apt for a picnic and a hammock. The sun isn’t as bright, too, with all the trees surrounding the island.

A dip in its cool, blue water is a must; and so is a tour of the entire island. Canigao Island remains a favorite summer island get-away for Leyteños.

The author with husband and children do the obligatory pose at the Canigao Island's tourist signage

Maasin City Zoo

Now, while in the area, try dropping by the Maasin City Zoo, which is exactly what we did on April 23, during a summer outing with my family and a few friends.

This is my family’s third time to visit the zoo, which is located at Danao Forest Park, Sitio Danao, Malapoc Norte. If you’ve been to Monte Cueva, you take that same road. Go straight. You won’t get lost as signage after signage leading you to the zoo abound. The locals are quite friendly, too. Politely ask for directions.

The zoo has changed for the better the last time we were here – summer of 2013 before Typhoon Yolanda happened. There are quaint picnic tables outside the zoo’s vicinity, where one can take his meals or snacks. We had our breakfast there.

There is a canteen, too. The restrooms are clean and functioning. The animals’ cages are much better-looking now.

The children were also allowed to feed the two camels and the miniature horses with the plants our guide gave them. They even got up close and personal with these animals as they petted the “ponies” per my little girl. This was a dream come true for her, as she is quite obsessed with the “My Little Pony” cartoon characters of Hasbro.

The lion still looked imposing. The tiger looked healthy. The snakes gave me the chills, as usual; so did the crocodiles. The collection of birds was a hit with our group, especially the beautiful and colorful peacocks.

The parrot became my Kuya Paul’s favorite and the odd-looking Cassowary – a flightless bird of the ostrich family – that Kuya Paul thinks resembled a “dinosaur”.

The monkeys remained aggressive and show-offs, while the Australian spotted reindeer were as soothing to look at as Disney’s Bambi.

Entrance fee for adults is at P150 while it is P50 for the children. The Maasin City Zoo is as enjoyable the first, the second and the third time around.

My little adventurers pose with the camels

Now, why go far this summer when we’ve got Cuatro Islas, Canigao Island and the Maasin City Zoo to excite us and cool-off the summer heat?!

P.S. – Oh, how I wish it was summer again. This same article came out of the April 25-May 1, 2016 issue of the Eastern Visayas Mail. Please check out their website here: http://www.evmailnews.net/.

EV Mail April 25-May 1, 2016 Revisiting Cuatro Islas, Canigao... and Maasin Zoo

Climb a mountain; Take up a sport

The cuts have healed. The throbbing headache gone as well.

The aches all over my body diminished to a mere memory; and only the strong smell of Efficascent Oil would bring back the frown on my face and the lines on my forehead.

It has been a month since I did my first MOUNTAIN CLIMB. Uploaded Facebook pictures prove such a feat was completed by yours truly. So does the T-shirt we emblazoned with #iconqueredmt.magsanga.

Yet no matter how I cringe at the thought of why oh why did I ever subjected my amazing body to such a harrowing experience, the same would bring a smile and some very funny thoughts that I and I alone hold; and the 11 other people who were with me on this climb.

I was never the experiential type. I am quite content reading about mountain-climbing and rock-climbing in the adventure novels I have read.

Yet the thought of actually doing it with the company of good friends was too irresistible to resist. So on August 24, I finally did it.

Even the great Ernest Hemingway in his “The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories” said this about mountain-climbing: “There are only three real sports: bull-fighting, car-racing, and mountain-climbing. All the others are mere games.”

So there you go, two off my bucket list – Climb a mountain. Take up a sport.

This only leaves me with – Learn to play a musical instrument; and visit a Nudist Beach.

I thank my husband for doing the climb with me. All the way to the peak of Mt. Magsanga, said to be the second highest peak in Leyte, and is more commonly known to be a part of Merida, Leyte’s landscape.

I thank my friends-cum-officemates for efficiently planning our climb to make it as safe and as enjoyable (and less traumatic, of course). Two of whom have participated in other climbs in Cebu and in other parts of the country.

They knew what-to and what-not to bring and wear. They knew how to be safe and how to enjoy mountain-climbing.

How to get to Mt. Magsanga

1.) To get to Mt. Magsanga, you first had to choose between two paths – the easy one or the difficult route. Of course we chose the former.

Remember, of the 12 people that were going to do the climb, only 2 are experienced climbers/trekkers. The majority of us would call this climb our VERY FIRST so all we really wanted was to GET TO THE TOP. No acrobatics, please!

The easiest, accordingly, was to kick-off from Barangay Putingbato, Isabel, Leyte, which was the route we took.

2.) Then, you needed to get a guide, who was not only knowledgeable of the terrain of Mt. Magsanga but should also be one who knew the locals – one who hails from Putingbato.

Since one of the climbers in our group knew the Barangay Captain of Putingbato, we were able to request for two climbing guides to come with us. Our guide was a Putingbato barangay tanod and assisting him was his son-in-law. (Sorry, I forgot their names but they were the friendliest and took very good care of us.)

3.) Finally, plan, plan, and PLAN for your climb – from what to wear to what to bring.

A. Wear a sturdy pair of climbing shoes, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants – no maong please – that are stretchable, loose, and comfortable. For the ladies, they can wear leggings and shorts on top of the leggings.

Why the need for a long-sleeved shirt?

Because I was so confident that I only needed sun block to protect my skin from the terrible heat of the sun, I opted not to wear a long-sleeved shirt. I put on my #iconqueredmt.magsanga T-shirt instead and wore it from the very beginning of the climb to its very end, VERY, VERY CONFIDENT that I would be able to climb the mountain effortlessly.

I found out mid-way our climb that the long-sleeved shirt on our TO-WEAR LIST wasn’t for sun-protection, it was for protection against the COGON PLANTS that covered the entire mountain. 

So guess what happened?

When we were at the peak, I felt very itchy and VERY, VERY DIRTY. I got out my 70% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL from my backpack and splashed it all over my arms. I wanted to shout but couldn’t. Oh! The sting! Oh! The pain! Oh! The searing heat that only a 70% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL could bring!

I had bruises and cuts everywhere uncovered – that would be my arms and hands. And the 70% ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL was killing me, not helping me at all.

So there’s your answer…

B. Place your water in a water bottle that you can place inside your backpack. In this way, your hands are free to do the climbing.

This, my husband and I learned the difficult way.

To navigate the steepest part of Mt. Magsanga meant getting down and dirty. We needed to use all four limbs and monkey-climb all the way up. This task was proving difficult for my husband who was carrying our 2-liter jug of water.

We were in a steep part of the mountain when we started arguing about why I prepared a 2-liter jug of water that wouldn’t fit inside his backpack.

So to ease the tension, we stopped and got most of my husband’s stuff out of his backpack and transfer it to my backpack, just so our 2-liter jug of water would fit inside his backpack.

So there you go, make sure your hands are free from anything when climbing.

C. Wear gloves – no not the thin ones that ballerinas wear in performances. Industrial gloves, to protect your hands from sharp objects (COGON PLANTS, urgh) that you might get in contact with while climbing.

A trekking pole is well-recommended, too, if you have one and only if you are comfortable holding a trekking pole while climbing.

D. Bring just enough food – not too little, not too much – to do away with a heavy backpack. Like in our case, we knew that we will only have lunch at the peak so we brought food just for our lunch.

Bring some chocolates and candies, too, to fuel you while your next meal is still an hour or two away. Our group had an early breakfast so the candies and chocolates helped in keeping the cravings, the hunger, and thirst at bay.

E. Other essentials that one would need for a successful climb of Mt. Magsanga would be: sun protection, flashlight, first aid kit, knife/multi-tool, and utility rope.

Beyond-essential items, meanwhile, are: camera, whistle, toilet paper/wet wipes, trowel, hand sanitizer, and trash bag.

One could also bring an extra shirt and a small towel, if your backpack isn’t still too heavy.

It pays to be prepared.

Climbing Mt. Magsanga took two hours to do from the ground to the peak. We started our ascent at 7:00 A.M. and was at the top by 9:00 A.M.

We stayed at the peak for two hours and started our descent at 11:00 A.M. It was the most physical, most painful, not to mention most DANGEROUS exercise that I ever had but Mt. Magsanga is worth it.

When we were at the top, we could see the towns of Palompon, Isabel, Merida, and the beautiful city of Ormoc. We had one of the best view – MAGNIFICENT VIEW!

I wished I had a powerful DSLR camera with me then but I don’t think I could carry the extra weight. I was already complaining the heavy load of a backpack on my back, what more a DSLR camera!

Signal was good too at the top. I discovered this when I started using my cellphone for taking some pictures. It was also then while going around that I realized how steep the mountain really was. This was further confirmed when we started our descent.

How to descend Mt. Magsanga without free-falling?

Use your ass. Well, for those who aren’t brave enough anyway like myself to stand and walk. The others in our group – the experienced ones – stood up and walked (climbed) their way down.

When we were on flat ground, we walked all the way to the Putingbato Barangay Hall, gave our guides a tip, the Barangay Captain a thank-you gift, and profusely thanked all three for accommodating us and for making our mountain-climbing experience safe, fun, and memorable.

Now I want to believe that I can still do it the second time around BUT I JUST CAN’T DO IT ANYMORE. Once is enough.

Mountain-climbing isn’t for me. Nature is, so I guess trekking will do – for now and forever.

I am glad, however, and no amount of money can ever AMOUNT to the happiness I felt – the feeling of accomplishment – when I reached the peak of MOUNT MAGSANGA.

My thoughts at the time and TODAY are – this was a feeling only a MOUNTAINEER would appreciate and empathize.

No wonder the great American rock climber CHUCK PRATT can only say: “I don’t want to write about climbing; I don’t want to talk about it; I don’t want to photograph it; I don’t want to think about it; all I want to do is DO it.”

Therefore, I encourage YOU TO DO IT, go climb a mountain, at least once in your life – at least for bucket-list purposes.

Note: We conquered Mt. Magsanga two years ago, August 24, 2014.

This is where we started our ascent. That’s my husband, Emar, still happily carrying our 2-liter jug of water.

Surprising Ho Chi Minh

I dream of a Laos-Cambodia adventure with my husband. Just the two of us, this time. When (if) it happens, it'll be our first foreign trip as a couple; and we're going to do it in two idyllic countries unlike the ones we've visited. Countries that will not feature a theme park or high-rise, modern buildings. Countries that'll make us wonder, open our beings, make us want to meditate, make us want to believe in all the good that remains in the world. It'll be a great adventure --- one that I'm sure we will remember and treasure as we grow old together.  

It'll be like reliving our funny, beautiful, and awe-inspiring Vietnam trip last March 2015. Here is the article I wrote on that:

Surprising Ho Chi Minh

Research did not do justice to the Vietnam I experienced from March 25-27.

One word, SURPRISING, but it was a wonderful kind of surprise. Ho Chi Minh brought the old and new into one tasteful city. There are the markets filled with vendors hawking affordable wares, as in movies about the Vietnam of past. Then there are the modern-looking, tall buildings of today positioned all over the city.

Thought Vietnam would be this laid-back boondock swarmed with smiling Vietnamese on their bicycles and in traditional wear. When Mama and Papa were in Vietnam in 2012, I didn’t mind this part of Asia so much. I was still at the time more interested in visiting the more developed, theme-park-filled countries of Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia.

What struck me as most memorable, however, were her stories of tunnels that the ingenious Vietnamese people built because they needed to hide from American soldiers at the time of the Vietnam War.

Thought, once again, that this was the only tourist destination that Ho Chi Minh had to offer and their colorful markets.

I thought wrong. I fell in love with Ho Chi Minh – from its airy, spacy airport upon arrival and departure to its humid, dry weather the whole time I was there.

The company matters, too. Therefore, the combination of a “maverick” of a city that is Ho Chi Minh, the affordable and worry-free tour package thanks to Arco Travel and Tours plus Cebu Pacific’s promo fares, the lovely Lavender Hotel, and the “go-lang-ng-go” crew that could never stop giggling and whose energy is bottomless made my 72-hour Vietnam experience fun and memorable.

March 25 (Day 1) started with a visit to three of Ho Chi Minh’s historic structures – the Notre Dame Cathedral, a “cute” replica of the one in Paris, France, the city’s Grand Central Post Office, of which I personally experienced snail-mailing a letter for the friend of an office colleague who used to reside in Ho Chi Minh, and the Reunification Palace, which used to be the home of Vietnam’s former presidents.

Us, kidding around at the Reunification Palace.

The whole afternoon, afterwards, was spent exploring the Cu Chi Tunnel. One word, AMAZING.

A lot has been said already about the famous tunnels of Vietnam so I just had to experience being in one. The tunnels were welcoming, beckoning me to enter but I couldn’t take on the tour guide’s challenge to go 10, 20, or 30 meters deep into the tunnels. No, it wasn’t scary but it wasn’t the nicest of experiences. The duck-walking, however, made me appreciate some more the ingenuity and resilience of the Vietnamese people.

The author trying out one of the numerous entry points of the Cu Chi Tunnel.

Night was, of course, spent at the Ben Than night market. It was time to go shopping for our “pasalubong” and we did. Oh, did I mention that I was a millionaire in Vietnam? I was. The Vietnamese Dong (VND) is worth 21,500 to a dollar so imagine the first 100 USD I had exchanged at the money changer!

March 26 (Day 2) started earlier than our first day. The Mekong River awaited us and it was a good two-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City. Per Wikipedia, the river is the 12^th longest in the world and the 7th in Asia.

Beautiful, beautiful river plus beautiful, beautiful islands around the river, of which we explored one by one beginning with the honeybee-making and coconut-candy-making island. This is where we bought our true-blue honey and coconut candies. The reason our baggage almost went overboard.

Afterwards, we were brought to an island that grew Vietnam’s tropical fruits. The country has its own versions of our mangoes, watermelons, pineapples, and even Caimito. Ours are tastier, sweeter, and juicier. What just made the experience more unique was because we were serenaded by a family who grew the fruits we ate and sang at the same time. We were also treated to a horse-drawn ride and a paddle-driven boat ride around the water coconuts that lined the same island.

Dinner that day was on the Tau Saigon cruise ship that cruised the Saigon River for an hour. Sumptuous food and a one-of-a-kind experience. My first time on a cruise ship so imagine how happy I was! Not to mention that Ho Chi Minh is a sight to behold at night. Building lights are all turned on. Then there are the street light decorations that made the entire city shine brighter.

Beguiling Ho Chi Minh City at night while cruising the Saigon River.

To cap the wonderful, tiring day, we treated ourselves to a real Vietnamese massage. Four opted to have a whole body massage and the rest of the touring group immersed ourselves in a relaxing foot massage.

March 27 (Day 3) was a free and easy day. First on the agenda was a visit to the War Remnants Museum. It was painful to watch the exhibit but I needed to know what really happened during the 20-year Vietnam War, so I immersed myself in everything that the museum had to offer.

The author posing in front of the War Remnants Museum.

Lunch was at the famous Pho 2000 restaurant. The small eatery became famous for hosting a meal for then President Bill Clinton. We weren’t disappointed. There really was a picture of former President Clinton with the restaurant crew in the year 2000. The food was not exceptional but it was good. Everything I ate Vietnam was “really good”. I couldn’t complain.

Saigon Center and the Ben Than Market were next on the agenda but before those the high-end Diamond Plaza first. We bought shoes, shirts, blouses, and bags. Reruns of popular brands they called it but who cares. Everything we bought were affordable and items we liked very much.

No wonder Mama and Papa want to go back. No wonder they want to take us with them upon their return. Someday, when my children are all grown up, I would want them as well to come and tour Ho Chi Minh City.

It might be a more different city than the one I witnessed ten years from now but I am pretty sure Ho Chi Minh City shall remain as charming and as beguiling.

P.S. - This article came out of the Eastern Visayas Mail in one of its March 2015 or April 2015 issues. You can check out their website at: http://www.evmailnews.net/.

Disillusioned

Here's another poem I would like to share. I wrote this a long time ago, sometime in college if I am not mistaken. I used to love writing short poems, but well, life happened. Priorities got in the way. I want to write again; and so one of these days, I am going to make time. Then, I'll post it here of course. Enjoy reading. :)

Disillusioned

Disillusioned. It was all a big lie

            to trap me into believing

                        that everything was fine. A ploy

            to enslave me into pursuing

                        an unclear goal. A promise

            to trick me into remaining

                        here in this cold world.

Disillusioned. They had me there.

For an eternity

            I could not go out.

            I had to go on for

            I had nowhere to go and because

            I could never turn back.

Then I woke up

            and saw what they had done to me.

It was then that I began to cry.

I cried

            for the pain I went through,

            for the battles I fought,

            for hunger and strife,

            for the road that leads to nowhere,

            for the disillusioned children of this age,

            for the weak and the lost,

            for life and death,

            for an eternity of being in bondage, and

            for disillusionment.

My heart aches for the truth.

Now, my breath is short and

I gasped for air.

I die. Disillusioned still.

Surviving savoury Singapore with the kids

Going on a family vacation to a foreign country?

Singapore is the perfect place for you and your children. It has Universal Studios, the South East Asia (S.E.A.) Aquarium, the “Wings of Time” lights show, and Legoland Malaysia is a half-hour drive away.

Who doesn’t want to go on an adventure in Singapore! Who doesn’t want to spend quality bonding time with loved ones in this small yet fun-filled country!

Families with small kids, I bet. Parents would rather postpone a trip to Universal Studios until the children have turned into bona fide teenagers.

Because who needs to bring a pram everywhere while in Singapore?! Or a backpack overflowing with water and little children’s favourite snack items?! Throw in the wet wipes for dirtied hands, the small towels to wipe off the perspiration, or the extra clothing for wet-and-wild rides?!

How about the numerous toilet stops one has to make because we all know children cannot hold “it” in?! Or the ungodly tantrums children make when their hungry, sleepy, or when they are simply feeling crappy?!

Well, all that and more made my family’s first trip to Singapore the most exciting, the most frustrating, and the most cumbersome! But I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else because it was also the most fun.

The author with her children at Merlion Park.
Nothing shouts "Singapore" as the Merlion Park. :)

How did we do it? How to survive Singapore with a five- and nine-year old in tow? Here are some helpful tips:

1. PLAN YOUR TRIP – and I don’t mean the places you’re supposed to be visiting while there. This part was all planned out, beforehand, thanks to our ever-helpful and efficient travel agency, Arco Travel and Tours.

DAY 1 was Universal Studios, S.E.A. Aquarium, and “Wings of Time”. We had our own private coaster as our mode of transportation for the day. The same one that picked us up from Changi Airport. Park and show tickets, meanwhile, were care of Arco’s Singapore tour agency counterpart. So, we had those concerns out of the way.

a.) I learned that a checked-in luggage meant bringing clothes enough for a five-day travel, including the two-day travel time to and from Singapore, and the extra clothes we needed to carry around, just in case.

I didn’t want to go overboard because I wanted to save enough “baggage space” for the usual “pasalubong”.

Plan, therefore, each of your outfit for each of the day you are there, according to the activities you plan to do for the day.

b.) Universal Studios require light clothing, comfy shoes, a cap, and sunglasses. Singapore is quite humid in January and to our surprise, sunsets happen around 7:00 P.M. What a wonder!

c.) Depending on what you want to do and experience in Universal Studios, but when you are with children, you must start your journey with the “kiddie” shows and “kiddie” rides to keep boredom and possible tantrums at bay.

Prior to our Singapore trip, I did diligent research on the shows and the rides my kids would love and would be allowed to go on because there are rides that have specific height requirements. If you don’t meet the height requirement, you don’t go on the ride.

I didn’t want to be in a situation where I am beside my now-wailing child, who vehemently refuses to get out of the queue, because she really wants to go on “this” ride. For this reason, my husband and I avoided “these” rides.

Thanks to Universal Studios’ website, I was able to come up with a comprehensive list of shows and rides that were a “must” and ones we would all enjoy as a family.

This included Sci-Fi City’s Transformers The Ride: The Ultimate 3D Battle, which one shouldn’t miss when in Singapore’s Universal Studios. Even my five-year old little girl, the youngest in the group, enjoyed it. You would, too!

d.) Carry around your own water bottles. You and your children must drink water from time to time, even if you don’t feel thirsty. The temperature at the time we were there was unforgiving.

You save up too on “bottled water” purchases because water fountains abound inside Universal Studios. You just refill your water bottles there or drink directly from the fountain and you’re good to go.

e.) Don’t forget to bring from the Philippines your child’s favourite biscuits because they might not like the ones being sold in Singapore’s 7-11 stores or the food in restaurants during meal times.

Don’t take it against you if your child refuses to eat a full meal. Remember, even if your child seems to be enjoying, she could be at the same time stressed out – could be from the walking, the riding, the shows, and the playing.

So, I brought to Singapore through our checked-in luggage a week’s worth of light snack choices that my children love.

Every day that we were out, I would bring along a day’s worth. In this way, they wouldn’t get hungry (and cranky!) while we enjoy our tour, as we wait for the next meal.

The author's children (Paul & Phoebe), after conquering the Puss in Boots' Giant Journey rollercoaster ride at Singapore's Universal Studios.

2. GET ENOUGH SLEEP AND REST – whenever you get the chance!

The downside to promo airfares is that you fly either late at night or early in the morning, which is perfectly fine, except when you have children travelling with you.

Exactly what happened to us; we flew to Singapore from Cebu (a good three-and-half hour) late into the night and touched down very early in the morning. Sleep, therefore, was a precious commodity (and longed for).

Good thing we had a coaster waiting for us, which brought us as fast as it could to our hotel. Accommodation was at the Oxford Hotel.

Thanks again to Arco Travel and Tours for billeting us in the heart of Singapore. The Bugis mall, a 7-11 store, museums, and a church were all but a “walking” distance away.

The hotel staff were most helpful, too. It fast-tracked the check-in process so we could finally get that much-needed rest. We only had a few hours of sleep left, in an actual bed, before DAY 1 begins.

Sleep on a plane seat does not count for a well-rested sleep. I am just thankful though that my children got to sleep quite soundly while in transit. So when I woke them up, as we have arrived, they weren’t cranky.

Thank God, we, three, have my mother’s genes. My mom sleeps just about anywhere when she’s sleepy. The same happens to me and my kids!

Therefore, whenever you have the chance, get some shut-eye. This should refresh you enough to enjoy your tour.

3. ALWAYS CARRY AROUND YOUR PASSPORT – and other travel-related documents (especially if you plan on crossing over to another country).

In our case, DAY 2 was spent in Legoland Malaysia, which meant we had to go through both Singapore and Malaysia’s immigration centres – which meant getting down our vehicle, lining up, and submitting our passports for clearance.

Try not to forget your Disembarkation/Embarkation Card. Place it in a pack together with your passport. Malaysian authorities took our Singapore forms when we entered Malaysia. Then, upon exit, we were made to complete a new one. Better safe than sorry (or left behind).

We also discovered that Malaysia was even more humid than Singapore. So, once again, wear light clothing, comfy shoes, a cap, and sunglasses. Of course, bring along enough Malaysian Ringgit. We had our Singapore Dollars exchanged with the Malaysian currency at a local money changer that our driver recommended (before we reached Legoland Malaysia Resort).

Legoland Malaysia isn’t as big a theme park and isn’t as busy as Singapore’s Universal Studios. Still, it was worth the visit. Park tickets, again, were care of Arco Travel and Tours. Such a hassle-free tour!

The children loved every inch of Legoland because everything was made out of Lego. This was a dream come true for the children, especially our 9-year old boy.

The rides had lesser restrictions. There were 4D shows every 30 minutes. They’ve got a Miniland, which were miniature versions of Asian cities (all made of Lego). Young and old shouldn’t miss this attraction. It has a “Lego-plica” (Lego replica) of the Great Wall of China (another dream destination)!

Now, if you want to get out of the sun, there is the Build & Test building. It is Lego Heaven – both for the kids and the parents! It is air-conditioned and parents are allowed to hang out inside while the children play with all the Legos of all sizes and colours that they could put their hands on.

Food and cold drinks are not an issue in Legoland Malaysia. All these are available within the park at reasonable prices but if you want to sit down, relax, and eat peacefully (without the kids dragging you to the next ride or so), try the Medini Mall beside it.

Memorabilia, meanwhile, are available at The Big Shop. We found out that the Lego toys and figures the resort was selling was cheaper than the ones sold in outlet stores, so your children have a reason to shop ‘til they drop.

For the daredevils, there is The Dragon and The Dragon’s Apprentice rollercoasters.

Finally, to get a bird’s eye view of Legoland Malaysia Resort and the landscape surrounding it, go on the Observation Tower; or if heights aren’t your thing, there is always the Legoland Express – a train that goes around the entire park.

The author with her family at the entrance to Legoland Malaysia. We rode a small van to get to Malaysia. It's that near but still went through immigration so always bring your passports with you.

4. TOUR WITH A LOCAL – or with a cousin who is based in Singapore.

DAY 3 was a “free and easy day”. In tour lingo, that is when you are just free to roam around the city. As much as we wanted to visit all the historical, cultural, and popular Singapore sites, we had limited time. So, if you know anyone in the city, try to ask for a tour ONLY of the must-see places in Singapore. In this way, you don’t feel “deprived” when you leave Singapore. Do these with your children, too:

a.) Ride the train and a double-deck bus. Simply, because we don’t have these kinds of transport here in Leyte. We wanted the children to experience being in one. It was a joy looking at the children enjoying their train and bus rides.

b.) Eat and drink Singapore. This is where the “savoury” part of Singapore comes in.

My cousin, Jun-Jun Pongos and, his wife, Janeth, were such gracious hosts and the coolest tour guides. They bought us Singapore’s famous ice cream sandwich and the children a “Milo Dinosaur”, accordingly Singapore’s national drink.

Then, for lunch and dinner, they took us to “authentic” Singapore food courts. The food in each were to-die for. What is it with spice and noodles – when eaten in another country, it is tastier and more savoury!

c.) Must-see and must-visit places that children and adults would love include: Merlion Park (the original, not the giant version in Sentosa Island), Mt. Faber (via Singapore Cable Car), Marina Bay Sands, and Gardens by the Bay.

The author with the others in her Singapore tour group and with tour guides Jun-Jun Pongos and wife Janeth (back row, 3rd and 4th from the left).

5. LIVE THE MOMENTS – and enjoy “this” time with your children...

… while they are still young and would still want to go on rides with you

… while they still want to hold hands with you while you watch a “kiddie” show

… while they still want a picture with you in their funniest faces

… and, finally, while they still enjoy being with you, eating ice cream with you, and walking around with you.

A stop here and there for a photo-op is OK but there is no substitute to living in the moment and taking in the genuine joy and laughter that only little children are capable of producing. So, live and enjoy “this” time with your children.

Note: We went on our Singapore-Malaysia trip last January 7-11, 2016. In addition, this article came out of the Eastern Visayas Main in one of its January 2016 issues. You can check out their website at http://www.evmailnews.net/.

The author living the moment with her children, on the way to Gardens by the Bay.