My Travel Map: Visayas, you are next!

My Lakbayan grade is B-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Hmmm... Aklan? Leyte? Bacolod? See you soon in Visayas, fellow ADBENTURISTAs!

Check how much of an ADBENTURISTA and traveler are you. To make your own map of the places you have been to in the Philippines, go to http://forge.codedgraphic.com/lakbayan/.

Visiting Lolong, World's Biggest Captured Crocodile, at Bunawan Ecopark, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur

Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, three to fours hours' drive away from Davao City, is the home to Lolong, the world's biggest crocodile, as confirmed by the Guinness World Records. Thanks to Lolong, this first-class municipality became a popular destination by the animal enthusiasts or simply the curious tourists.





Minimal entrance and parking fees are collected upon entering Bunawan Ecopark, where Lolong, the world's largest crocodile, is housed. See photo above for the rates.





For 10 pesos, you can rent umbrellas being offered by some kids at the entrance or parking lot of the ecopark.





Ta-dah! Presenting the world's biggest crocodile -- Lolong! At the time of his capture, Lolong was measured as 6.4 meters (21 feet) long and weighed 1,075 kilograms (2,370 pounds). Lolong was caught in a creek in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, on September 2001.





While being interviewed, I overheard that "Manong" has gained years and years of experience growing crocodiles in Palawan until he was carefully selected and asked to take care of Lolong, the world's biggest crocodile.





Souvenir shirts for sale at P250 or P350 each. I cannot remember the exact price.

Go Hotel: Chic Yet Affordable Hotel

Looking for an affordable but chic place to stay in Manila, Philippines? Look no further. Go Hotel, a sister company of the budget airline Cebu Pacific, offers the best accommodation for the budget-conscious travelers not willing to sacrifice comfort and luxury. Go Hotel is strategically located -- near the airport, a stone's throw away from Robinson's Pioneer and a five-minute ride from SM Megamall and MRT station and accessible by bus.

GO HOTEL
Upper Ground, Robinsons Cybergate Plaza
EDSA corner Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City
Website: http://gohotels.ph/

Cybergate Plaza is the pioneer location of gohotels.ph, located beside Forum Robinsons Mall.

All Go Hotel rooms can accommodate 2 persons, with a choice between twin bed and queen-sized bed.

I booked this room five months in advance, if I remember right, and paid only 788 pesos per room per night. The earlier you book, the cheaper you have to pay for the room. To book online, please visit http://gohotels.ph.

Go Hotel toilet/bath is sparkling clean.

Each room comes with a minivault so you will feel safe leaving your valuables in the room.

Gimik Update: Tanduay First 5 to rock Koronadal on Friday, July 29

Concert lovers, mark this date: FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2001. T5's Parokya ni Edgar, Wolfgang, Chicosci, Kamikazee, and Sandwich are coming to Koronadal!

Don't miss the chance to watch Parokya ni Edgar, Wolfgang, Chicosci, Kamikazee, and Sandwich perform live. Get a free ticket to the Tanduay First Five Concert at Fitmart Mall, Korondal City, on Friday, July 29, 2011, for every purchase of 2 bottles of Tanduay 5 Years, T5 Light 700 ml, or Cossack Blue 700 ml at the following stores:

* Fitmart Mall
* KCC Mall of Marbel
* Tacurong Fit Mart
* Ronald Grocery
* Amigo Commercial
* Tyangge ni Nonoy (Surallah)

Siargao Island: Getting to Siargao

Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines, is a must-go place among local surfers and has been gaining huge popularity even among international surfers. It is a good thing that Siargao, a teardrop-shaped island found in the southern part of the Philippines, is now easily accessible to surfers, nature lovers or simply adventure seekers by plane or by ferry.


GETTING TO SIARGAO ISLAND BY PLANE

Cebu Pacific flies from Manila via Cebu to Siargao daily. You can purchase Cebu Pacific tickets online www.cebupacificair.com. Flying is by far the most convenient option. Sayak Airport, also known as Siargao Airport, is a 45-minute ride away from Cloud 9, General Luna, where the big waves and the fun are.

GETTING TO SIARGAO ISLAND BY FERRY

Alternatively, Cebu Pacific, Airphil Express www.airphilexpress.com, and Philippine Airlines www.philippineairlines.com flies daily from Manila or Cebu to Surigao City.

From Surigao City, a ferry will then bring you to Siargao Island. It is a two- to three-hour ferry ride from Surigao City to Dapa port in Siargao Island. The following are ferry schedules to catch from Surigao City to Siargao:

Britphil Express (leaves 6:00 a.m. daily)
Dapa Express or Arjie 2 (leaves 10:45 a.m. daily)
Montenegro Shipping Lines (leaves 12:00 noon daily)

A one-way trip ranges between 250 pesos and 350 pesos, depending on the ferry of your choice. It is important to be mindful of the ferry schedule. Missing the 12 noon schedule means having to stay overnight in Surigao City and try to catch the ferry the following day, unless you don't mind hiring a private boat, which of course is more costly.

Britphil Express (shown above) Dapa Express and Arjie 2 are much, much smaller, thus less convenient ride, than Montenegro Lines, which can transport vehicles from Surigao City to Siargao. But if you are willing to forego convenience for a faster ride, hardly a space to extend your legs, try the small ferries, which sails for approximately 2.5 hours from Surigao City to Siargao and vice versa instead of 4 hours for Montenegro Lines.



FROM THE AIRPORT OR SEAPORT TO GENERAL LUNA

Cloud 9 surf break in the town of General Luna is where the surf scene really is. At Siargao Airport or Dapa port, there are tricycles or motorbikes for hire to Cloud 9. The trip costs between 150 pesos to 200 pesos.

The guard at Dapa port was kind enough to give us a tip, though, for a cheaper alternative. If we can find the tricycle line, each tricycle waiting to be filled with passengers, we can get to General Luna for only 30 pesos per person. True enough. Thanks, Manong, for the tip! :)

Magnificent sunset at Cloud 9, General Luna. This breath-taking sunset view, apart from the most-sought-after waves at Cloud 9, makes Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines, truly a dream destination.

Enchanted River: An Enchanting Beauty

ENCHANTED RIVER
Brgy. Talisay, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur

Entrance fee: P20
Parking fee: P10
Life vest rental: P15
Boat ride: P150/hour

The majestic blue water of Enchanted River is definitely worth the travel. Enchanted River is located at Brgy. Talisay, Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, about a four-hour drive from Davao City. Visitors without private vehicles have to ride Mindanao's famous habal-habal, a motorcycle with extended seat.

When at Enchanted River, it is best to bring an underwater camera to capture the beauty below the water (ahem) literally and figuratively.

One highlight at the Enchanted River is the fish feeding. Every 12 noon, a bell rings signalling the fish feeding time. No one is allowed to swim, and visitors are asked to remain quite so as not to scare the fishes. Only the Enchanted River employee is allowed to feed the fishes.

Fresh seafoods are sold right outside the entrance of Enchanted River at cheap price. Delicious!

For only 150 pesos an hour, you can rent a boat that can accommodate six persons and have a tour in the community around Enchanted River, with a few stopovers. The tour usually takes an hour to finish.

The first stopover is at a certain island, where we basically had the island for ourselves (or at least that part of the island where the friendly boat driver brought us) to swim.

The next stop is this fishing community, an interesting place worth visiting. Entrance fee is 5 pesos per person.

I cannot remember if this bowl of fish costs 5 pesos or 20 pesos. But you can buy this to feed the fishes in pen and see them jumping for it.

Ara teaching three-year-old Yoji his first lesson of feeding the hungry.

Drying fishes is one of the major sources of income in the local community.

Dried fish, seaweed, and bottled sea urchin for sale.

And, of course, I would never forget the hospitality by "Manang" who encouraged us to try the fresh seaweeds dipped in super hot vinegar.


Speaking of hospitality, I would like to thank Ara and her family for warm welcome and this truly enchanting experience. :)

EVENT UPDATE: Tree Growing Festival, City of Koronadal

"He that plants trees loves others besides himself." - Caecilius Statius (220 BC - 168 BC), Synephebi


City of Koronadal brings:

TREE GROWING FESTIVAL
Roxas Mountain Range, Koronadal City
29 June 2011

Masaganang Kalikasan para sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan

30,000 individuals
100,000 trees
300 hectares of land

ASSEMBLY AREAS:
Cluster A (Brgys. Carpenter Hill, Saravia, San Isidro) - New City Hall Ground
Cluster B (Brgys. Assumption, Mambucal) - Rizal Park
Cluster C (Brgy. Paraiso) - Old Municipal Hall Ground

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:
4:00 a.m. - Arrival of participants at respective assembly areas
5:00 a.m. - Departure of participants to respective planting areas
6:00 a.m. - Hiking/Trekking
7:45 a.m. - Waiting for countdown through radio monitoring

REGISTRATION AREAS:

City Hall Lobby
8 a.m.-5 a.m.

Ace Centerpoint
KCC Mall of Marbel
Fitmart Mall of Marbel
(mall hours)

Online Registration:
www.koronadal.gov.ph


FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
City Mayor's Office - (083) 228-5510/(083)228-8265/(083)228-3627
City ENRO - (083) 228-1732

Mount Kinabalu Expedition: Preparing for the "Major, Major" Climb PART 1

Okay, we have not been to any of the four climb spots I have listed earlier (see "Mountain Climbing Spots in South Cotabato), but here we are planning a much bigger expedition - to conquer Mount Kinabalu. Mount Kinabalu in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, is the highest mountain in Southeast Asia. But what made us decide for a Mount Kinabalu expedition?

CEBU PACIFIC'S 488 PHP MNLA-KOTA KINABALU PROMO FARE

Cebu Pacific promo fare, Manila to Kota Kinabalu and vice versa, at 488 php, opened the doors for our six-man Mount Kinabalu expedition this October 2011, composed by yours truly, my husband Jomar, my brother Cheeko, my cousin La Verne, my cousin Champ, and (ta-dah!) my mom. Of course, we did not literally pay 488 php only. With a base fare of 488 php, a round trip ticket from Manila to Kota Kinabalu cost us 2,365.02 each, including taxes and web admin fee. Considering that long mountain climbing that awaits us, we decided to travel a light as possible. Thus, four in the group opted for the no-baggage accommodation. My husband and Champ, though, each had to pay an additional 500 php per trip for a 20-kilogram baggage allowance.

For now, we're still awaiting another Cebu Pacific promo fare, this time for the General Santos City to Manila route. Thank you, Cebu Pacific promo fare! :)

But there is more to just securing the tickets. We still have to do a whole lot of research for our itinerary, accommodation reservations, proper attire, and most importantly costing. Follow this blog for preparations that had to be done for the Mount Kinabalu expedition.

Mountain Climbing Spots in South Cotabato

Unlike the past few years where Mindanao was least affected by the typhoons that hit the Philippines, this year, Cotabato area happens to be among the most affected provinces by typhoons Dodong and Egay.

But rain or shine, our bags are packed, tents and raincoats ready for the following expeditions, all in South Cotabato:

- Lake Holon, T'boli, South Cotabato
- Mt. Melibato, T'boli, South Cotabato
- Mt. Matutum, Polomolok, South Cotabato
- Linan hotspring in Tupi, South Cotabato


We welcome fellow "adbenturistas" out there who are itching for some adventureto join us. Anyone interested, please contact me at regaden@yahoo.com for further information.