Quick Hike in Tila Pilon Hills DRT

 Coming from SJDM, it took us 1 1/2hrs to get to DRT. It’s not that far but the roads are narrow. Luckily, there’s no traffic so our travel was smooth. You know you’re when you see a huge sign outside the place.

Upon arrival, we paid the 500 for the hiking and guide (50/head for hiking and 300 for the guide) then, JR, our guide, brief us regarding CLAYGO and not leaving any trash.

There are actually 2 paths: the easy one only has 2 ascending trail and the other one has five. We took the easy one but we paid 60 and another 15 to pass by private properties.

I’m not sure how long it took us to get to the top of the hill but the view is indeed amazing. It was easy even for beginners and even our son enjoyed the quick hike.

So, of course, after the tiring activity, we went straight to Tila Pilon Cafe to have lunch. It’s our sweet reward for making it to the top 😁 My son said the cafe offers top notch food and take note, he has high standard when it comes to food. The coffee ranges from 90-150 and the meal ranges from 180-250.

We’re planning to go back sometime to have picnic and just roam around. Even if you don’t go hiking, the place itself is worth visiting. You can just spend an afternoon relaxing and having coffee with a nice backdrop of Sierra Madre.

As of this writing, here’s their rate:

Table rental - 50

Hammock rental - 50

Parking - Car 50 / Motor 20

Biking - 50 (30mins) / 80 (1hr)

Hiking

50 per head

300 for a guide (group of 5)

Overnight camping

100 per head

800 for a guide

Tent rental - 400 ( 2 pax)

Pitching fee - 100

Year End Beach Trip at Subic

Yey! We finally get to spend a few days at the beach, thanks to the eased restrictions.

Anyway, we ended up here in Samba Blueocean because of the location (it’s just a 2hr drive) and the availability (I was able to book Dec 30 - Jan 1 eventhough it’s just less than a week before the trip).

Last Dec 30, we left home at around 4:45AM because we’re anticipating heavy traffic so we’re surprised that only a few cars were on the highway. We paid 60+425 for the toll fee going to Subic, then going back, it’s another 500.

We arrived at 7:20AM and there weren’t that many guests. There were a lot of empty parking spaces so we get to choose a good spot.

We headed over to the front office to settle our balance but since we arrived early, we still need to wait until 2PM to check in. The good thing is we can stay in the waiting area if we already want to swim.

After we had our breakfast, we decided to check out the nearby duty free shops since we still have a few hours.

We first visited Puregold Duty Free, and there were a lot on sale. I scored some sparkling juices for $3 per bottle, some chocolates and snacks for just a little over a dollar. After that, we went to Royal Duty Free. There’s not much to see so I was a bit disappointed. We just went back to the resort to have lunch.

At around 1:30PM, they already allowed us to check in. Our room, Seashell Village, is far from the entrance and a few walks away from the beach.

Our room is basic but super clean. It has its own CR and there a small patio with a table and some chairs where you can chill. They provided us with an extra mattress, a pillow, and a bath towel which is included on the extra head that we paid for. At the back of our room, there’s a common griller and a bonfire.

I was planning to grill our food for dinner but since we’re all tired from the trip, I just ordered from FoodPanda. Luckily, there were a lot of restaurants to choose from.

The next morning, while swimming, we saw a boat selling fresh catch so we bought Tambakol for 250 and grilled it for our lunch. The boatman offered to cook it for 200 but I thought it’s pricey. There’s a small sari-sari store inside the resort selling all kinds of stuff so I bought a small pouch of soy sauce for 20 and a 1L distilled water for 40.

After having our lunch, we then went to the front office to rent a Kayak. It costed us 380 for 1 hour. I’m not sure if it’s just the right price but I think it’s still within range.

At around 3PM, we went back to our room to rest and order food for our dinner.

After having our dinner, we went to the beach to check out the New Year Countdown event. At first, we’re hesitant to join but we’re glad we did. We didn’t even notice the time because we had so much fun.

On our last day, we just took one quick dip before leaving. I also bought a bag of indian mangoes for 100 to ease my craving.

Overall, we had fun. I wasn’t expecting much from the resort but they exceeded my expectations. We’ll definitely come back here for quick trips.

Boodle Fight at Ka-On Restaurant (Tides Hotel) in Boracay

During our Boracay trip last February 2020, We were able to try Ka-On Restaurant's Yapac Boodle Set and I'd say it's one of the best food we had in Boracay. I was able to buy their voucher from Klook for just P2150 and the Boodle set is already good for 6 (or 4 super hungry people which is us).

We arrived at 3:30PM and there are no other guests apart from us. We took three flights of stair to get to the rooftop where Ka-On is located. Upon entering, I immediately noticed everyone smiling at us. The staff were all warm and welcoming.

Just a few minutes after we're seated, they're already setting up our table. They also provided us a pitcher of water with calamansi that we can use to wash our hands with.

The (Yapac) Boodle is consist of Banana Fritters, Tortang Talong, Buttered Garlic Shrimp, Grilled Tuna Belly, Pork BBQ, Steamed Okra, and Rice.

The whole experience was great, from the food, to the service, to the ambiance and I'd give them 5 out of 5 stars.

Boracay Trip - February 2020

Since my son's first trip to Boracay in 2017, he can't stop talking about it. He even mentioned in his school assignment that his visit in Boracay was his happiest moment so I made it a point to bring him back here again.

This time we're with my mom. It's her first time, and, travelling with a senior means I have to skip the DIYs and make it convenient for everyone. So, I booked our transfers ahead of time (through Klook), and I had to  be thorough in picking our hotel. Well, after carefully reading the reviews, I ended up booking our stay in Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel.

On the day of our flight to Kalibo, we parked our car in T4 Terminal Parking and checked in. Airport Parking rate (P300/overnight) is cheaper than Park n' Fly's rate (P340 + VAT), not to mention it's more convenient and time-saving since it's just a few steps away from the entrance and you don't need to ride a shuttle to get to the airport anymore. Air Asia doesn't allow online check-in for Seniors so we had to proceed to their Priority Counter. Luckily, no one's in line before us so checking in was a breeze.

After we arrived in Kalibo International Airport, the staff from Southwest Tours called our name so we proceed to their counter and they gave us stickers and told us to meet the guy outside the airport wearing a Klook Shirt. The guy then led us to the bus. It took us just 1 1/2 hours to get to Caticlan Jetty Port. And after we had our body temperature checked, we were then directed to Southwest's waiting area where the staff gave us a boarding pass and in a matter of time, we're already riding the speedboat bound to Boracay Island.

The boat ride from Caticlan Port to Cagban Port (Boracay) only took 10 minutes and upon arrival, another Klook staff was waiting to assist us with our luggages. He then led us to the multicab that will bring us to our hotel. We're with another group and they were dropped off first since their resort is just in Station 3 before we were brought to our hotel which is in Station 2.

Cagban Jetty Port

Upon our arrival in Mandarin Island Hotel, one of the staffs offered us cold towels and gave each of us a refreshing glass of juice while the front desk is validating our booking. A few minutes and we're being escorted to our room already. We just left our bags there and went to Ka-On Restaurant, Tides Hotel's rooftop restaurant for our Lunch Reservation.

Boodle-style lunch at Ka-on Restaurant

After devouring everything in our Boodle-style Lunch, we went back to our hotel and my mom spent the rest of the day watching Netflix on the 65" Smart TV in our room while hubby and our son went to swim at the pool.

In the evening, everyone's still full except for the little guy so we took him to Andok's in D'Mall for dinner. After that, we capped off the night with some buy 1 take 1 cocktails from our hotel's in house restaurant, Don Vito Ristorante Italiano, while listening to live bands.

The following morning, Mom and I went shopping for pasalubong while hubby and our son spent the whole morning swimming. After our late lunch, we attempted to go to Willy's Rock before the sunset cruise but the sun is at its peak so we just decided to visit Jonah's and have some refreshing fruit shake. Jonah's used to be located near Willy's Rock but they were affected by the rehabilitation of Boracay so they moved to a new location which is near Astoria in Station 1.

At exactly 3:50PM, the boat for sunset cruise left and the acoustic singer started to play the guitar. We stopped in the middle of the sea, and while waiting for the sun to set, the crew provide free use of snorkeling gears, tube, kayak and paddle board to the guests. They even have mermaid tails for that ultimate IG moment. We just did snorkeling and kayaking. At around 5:30PM, the boat was already moving slowly and everyone's just chilling while watching the sky turn from yellow to orange.

Sunset Watching

After the 2 1/2 hour sunset cruise, we had dinner in Hoy Panga! and since we can't get enough of Don Vito's Pina Colada, we had them served in our room to end our second day in Boracay.

On our third day, we met with hubby's family after breakfast and we all went to Willy's Rock. I can't remember how long it took us to get there but all I know it's already lunch time when we arrived in Station 2.

Willy's Rock Station 1

After lunch, everyone took a rest and prepared for Banana Boat that they scheduled late in the afternoon. I'm not into extreme water activities (yes, Banana Boat is extreme for me) so Mom and I just chilled out in Crown Regency in Station 3.

After a few drinks and a plate of Cheese Sticks, the gang finally arrived. It was fun to see my mom and my mother-in-law relaxing and enjoying. Everyone's just laughing, sharing stories, and singing on the karaoke.

Hubby and his brothers went parasailing the next morning so I planned to take my mom to D'Talipapa but I was surprised to learn that it burned down 2 years ago and until now it was not renovated so we just went to check out Station 3.

On our last day during the check out, the Southwest Staff is already waiting to pick us up from the hotel to take us to the port. They scheduled the pickup 5hrs departure time to ensure we don't miss our flight. The transfer from our hotel to the airport is as smooth as when we arrived.

It's sad to say goodbye to Boracay and going back to reality but at least I have new memories and experience to treasure.

Our Boracay Sunset Cruise Experience

I booked our Sunset Cruise through Klook a few weeks before our planned trip. Their rate is P675 for Adult and P350 for Child. It's cheaper compare to the walk-in price of P800 / P400.

At exactly 3:30PM, we're already in front of Astoria in Station 1 and the guide wearing a My Boracay Guide T-Shirt approached us and asked us what name the reservation is under and how many of us will be joining. The guide then brief us of what we can expect and told us that we can still buy some snacks if we wish to bring some, and that the cruise will leave at exactly 3:50PM.

They offer free use of Paddle Board, Kayak, Tube, Snorkeling Gears, Mermaid Tails and they even set up a hammock where you can relax while waiting for the sunset.

The boat started to move slowly while the sun is setting and the guide/photographer took photos of the guests.

The whole experience is superb and it's something not to be missed when in Boracay.

NAIA Overnight Parking as of Feb 2020

After doing a research, Hubby and I found that the most convenient way of getting to the airport is to bring our car and park it there for the whole duration of our vacation. It saves us time and the hassle of booking a cab.

Wanting to experience this strategy for the first time, we decided to give it a try during our vacation in Boracay. We drove at the far end of T3 where the entrance to the multi-level parking area is located. Luckily, we found a good spot. We're all ready to enter the boarding area when the guard who checked our itinerary told us that we are departing in T4. Our option is either to take a bus which will cost us P40 each, or park our car in T4. Considering the hassle, we just decided to drive to T4. It's about 15mins from T3.

Since the T4 Parking area is across the airport, we dropped off my mom and our son first before parking our car. The Airport parking fee of P300/overnight stay and P15/succeeding hour is cheaper compare to Park n' Fly that charges P400/overnight stay. Airport parking fee is uniform for all Terminals.

Hong Kong for First Timers

I was anxious before our trip to Hong Kong since we haven't been out of the country and we don't know what to expect. I already have our itinerary prepared months ago and I would go into it everyday to make sure everything would come out as planned, fortunately, it did but we could've save more from our trip had I been more thorough with my research. Anyway, these are some tips and things you must know if you are planning to visit Hong Kong for the first time to make your trip easy peasy:

TIP #1

BUY A 4G SIM CARD

Yes, wifi in Hong Kong is everywhere, buses, malls, hotels, and restaurants have them but you need your own internet for when you're lost (or so you won't get lost). Use it with Waze or Google Maps and you'll surely get to your destination safe and sound. I did purchase a sim card and it's really worth it.

TIP#2

BUY AN OCTOPUS CARD

I purchased a One-way Airport Express with 72-hr unlimited MTR pass. Although it was convenient, I could have save more if I use an Octopus Card instead, plus I will have the option to take the bus. An Octopus Card is a reloadable card that you can use for cashless payment in MTRs, buses, convenience stores, and some restaurants.

TIP #3

TAKE THE AIRPORT PUBLIC BUS TO GET TO THE CITY

Taking the airport public bus is the cheapest way to get to the city plus you get to to tour around Lantau Island and Hong Kong for 60 minutes. It only costs around $33 compared to $100 when taking the Airport Express.

TIP #4

STAY IN A HOSTEL AROUND TSIM SHA TSUI

Staying around TST has more Pros than Cons. Apart from being near shopping malls, convenience stores, restaurants, and some tourist spots, you can book cheap rooms in one of the hostels in Chung King Mansions or the less-crowded Mirador Mansion along Nathan Road. Although hostels in these buildings have rooms that have just enough space for the bed, you'll still get a clean and comfortable place to sleep in.

TIP #5

BRING A WATER BOTTLE

Hostels usually have a water dispenser in their reception area where you can refill your water bottle. You will not only save hundreds of bucks by bringing your own water bottle, you will also save time because you don't need to do a stop over in convenience stores anymore.

TIP #6

GET THE BEST EXCHANGE RATE IN CHUNG KING MANSION

Another reason to stay in TST is because you can get the best FOREX rates here. Just make sure to compare first because there are still a few who offers high selling rates. I've bought a few dollars from Santi's in Makati Avenue just to be safe but had the rest of my pocket money exchanged in Chung King Mansions.

Book Piso Fare Like a Pro

Airlines like Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines, and Skyjet offer crazy deals with their promo fare frequently. During the promo period, You can get a flight for as low as P15. There was even a time that I managed to get a roundtrip flight for my friend with check in baggage for just P350 RT to Davao. But getting those cheap flights aren't easy. You should be well equipped to make the most out of those promos.

TIP 1 Follow Airline Facebook Page and set to SEE FIRST

Set the Airline Facebook page to See first so that when they post a promo announcement, you'll see it first on your feeds

TIP 2 Sign up for an account

Create an account on the airline website if you don't have one. Having an account will give you access to cheaper flights, your booking details, exclusive member only promos, plus discounted price on top of the promo.

TIP 3 Ready your companions' details

Once you have an account, enter the details of your companions on the Guests List. This is essential when booking promo fares since your goal is to get as fast as possible to the payment page. Keep in mind that during promo period, you are only allowed a specific number of minutes to reserve the seats and a slight delay might lose you those precious seats.

TIP 4 Make sure you have enough funds on your Credit Card / Debit Card

Cebu Pacific only allows online payment on the first day of promo and having a card on hand gives you the edge and enables you to secure the promo fare easily once you found it.While with Airasia, you'll be waived of processing fee (usually ranges from P250-P750) when you book with your card.

TIP 5 Use Multiple Devices to check for flights

Using multiple devices will allow you to check multiple destinations on sale at a time. This tip is efficient for those with flexible travel dates / destinations. It will also give you the option to fly in multiple cities. Why not hit two birds with one stone? if you can't find a cheap return ticket from the same city, why not consider booking from another city. Apart from getting cheaper flights, you'll get to explore more places in one vacation. This will allow you to cross out multiple places on your bucket list (or the world map). For example:

MANILA - KAOHSIUNG / TAIPEI - MANILA

MANILA - ROXAS / ILOILO - MANILA

Get the idea?

TIP 6 Be flexible with your destination

Don't spend too much time searching on just one destination. Just because the other city is not popular doesn't mean there's nothing to it. Every destination has a lot to offer you'll just have to research.

TIP 7 Book through the app

Airline Websites are usually slow during the promo due to the number of users trying to load the page at the same time so it will be better to use the app.

TIP 8 If you are booking for a large group, book by batch

Since promo fares are limited, some flight schedule might only have a few seats available. If that happens, check how many flights on the same day have available promo fares and see if those schedules can accomodate the whole group then book in batch.

TIP 9 Book on the first day of Promo

Promo fares easily sold out it's best to get first dibs so you can have a lot of options.

TIP 10 Decide Right Away

When it comes to booking promo fare, TIME IS GOLD. If you see multiple destinations on sale, decide right away. The promo fare will not wait for you. It might be gone in a few seconds so there's no time to hold back!

So there you go.. Happy Booking!

Things To Do in Hong Kong

*Spend a day in Ocean Park

Fee: HKD498 Adult / HKD249 Child

Get to see amazing animals like Pandas, Koalas, Kangaroos, Penguins and Sharks up close plus enjoy thrilling rides in Ocean Park. This is one of the best theme parks I've ever been to and a visit to Hong Kong will not be complete without spending an afternoon here. Just don't forget to bring an umbrella and a water bottle because the place requires a looooooooong walk.

*Explore Ngong Ping 360

Fee: HKD235 Adult / HKD110 Child STANDARD RT ; HKD315 Adult / HKD190 Child CRYSTAL RT

Ngong Ping is located in Lantau Island and the best way to get here is to take a 25-min cable car ride that connects Tung Chung to Ngong Ping. It will offer you the best view, just don't look down if you have fear or heights like me. Best time to visit is in the morning (they open at 10am during weekdays and at 9am during weekends) when there's still no people lined up.

*Watch the Symphony of Lights

Fee: FREE

Watching the Stunning Laser Show along Victoria Harbour is a perfect way to cap off your evening in Hong Kong. At exactly 8PM, light beams from major buildings dance to a soundtrack performed by Hong Kong's Philharmonic Orchestra. The show lasts for 10 minutes.

*Join the Crystal Bus Dinner Tour

Fee: HKD398 Upper Deck / HKD270 Lower Deck

Crystal Bus is one of the unique experiences you can try in Hong Kong. The 2.5hr tour takes you to different historical places such as The Chung King Mansions, Islamic Center, Nathan Road, and Olympian City while sitted in a bus studded with over 100,000 Swarovski crystals and enjoying a Michelin awarded Dim Sum Set Meal by One Dim Sum.

*Enjoy the 360 view of Hong Kong at Sky100

Fee: HKD188 Adult / HKD128 Child (less 10% when booked online through Sky100 website)

Go up to the 100th floor of International Commerce Center where the 360-degree Sky100 indoor observation deck is through Hong Kong's fastest high-speed elevator. Best time to visit is late in the afternoon to catch a good view of the sunset. Apart from the astonishing view, you will also get to enjoy the multimedia story wall that showcases different facts about Hong Kong. Cafe 100 is also located on the same floor and offers Brunch to Dinner menu packages for when you want to dine with the skycrapers as your backdrop.

*Shop til you drop at Citygate Outlets

Fee: depends on your CC limit :D

Head off to Citygate Outlets for that ultimate shopping experience because Where else can you buy a Nike jacket at HKD169? Getting here is also easy since it is located at the end of Tung Chung Line, right next to the Cable Car Terminal.

Our Ocean Park Experience

I scheduled our visit in Ocean Park on a Thursday since I read that it could get really crowded during weekends especially that we went there during summer vacation.

It was already 9am when our shuttle arrived and there's already a lot of people lining up to buy tickets. Since we went there on a group tour, our guide was the one who distributed our tickets and we have a special line. While on our way, our guide explained what to expect and shared with us his suggested itinerary and some tips to make the most of our visit to Ocean Park. Now, I'm sharing you the itinerary that we followed and I'd never our experience couldn't get any better.

Ocesn Park Entrance

SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT OCEAN PARK:
*Ocean Park covers an area of 91.5 hectares
*The park has two areas: The Summit and The Waterfront 

Ocean Park Map

So here's our Ocean Park itinerary:


*AMAZING ASIAN ANIMALS
We made our way to the Pandas first. This is just a few steps from the entrance.

-GIANT PANDA ADVENTURE
-PANDA VILLAGE
-GOLDFISH TREASURES
-GATOR MARSH

Ocean Express

Then, we rode the Ocean Express train to go up to the Summit. Our guide suggested that we take the train going to the Summit because the cable car line could get really long.

-OCEAN EXPRESS
(to the Summit)

*POLAR ADVENTURE
Here we get to see real penguins and boy! they're adorable..
-SOUTH POLE SPECTACULAR
-ARTIC FOX DEN
-NORTH POLE ENCOUNTER

*RAINFOREST
-EXPEDITION TRAIL

*MARINE WORLD
-OCEAN THEATRE
(to catch the 12nn show)
-SEA JELLY SPECTACULAR
-SHARK MYSTIQUE


-CABLE CAR
(to Waterfront)

*AQUA CITY
-OLD HONG KONG
-ADVENTURES IN AUSTRALIA
-THE GRAND AQUARIUM


It took us five hours to roam the whole park so we skipped on the rides.


THRIFT TIPS:
*Bring a water bottle this will save you hundreds of dollars
*Cheap food can be bought in Old Hong Kong
*Visit the park during weekdays to avoid long lines
*Bring umbrella / raincoat just in case it rains


Entrance Fee: (as of June 2019) HKD498 Adult / HKD249 Child
How to get there: take the MTR South Island Line from Admiralty to Ocean Park
Opening Hours: 10AM - 6PM

Our Hong Kong - Macau Trip Itinerary 2019

Here's our itinerary for our HK-Macau Tour last August 28-September 1:


Day 1
Dinner at Cafe Coral in Chung King Mansion



Day 2
Breakfast at Tsui Wah in Carnarvon Rd
Ocean Park
Lunch at Lan Fong Yuen in Sheung Wan
Rickshaw Bus



Day 3
Breakfast at Maxim's MX in Shun Tak Centre
Macau Tour
Lunch at Hotel Riviera
Victoria Peak
Dinner at Burger King



Day 4
Cable Car to Ngong Ping
Brunch at Ebeneezer's in Ngong Ping Village
Ngong Ping
Shopping at City Gate
Sky 100
Dinner at Six's Noodles
Crystal Bus



Day 5
Breakfast at Moon Thai in HK Airport