It was so unfortunate that we had a rushed trip to Macau. Blame those travel companions without travel plans! (peace!) Anyways, I just had to make the most of my one-day-only stay at this amazingly bright and colorful city.
We took a fast boat, Turbojet, from HK to Macau. It's similar to the fast crafts that we have in the Philippines. The boat trip was short and comfortable---thanks to the cushion seats and fun companions. After getting through the immigration, we rushed out to look for maps and money changer. HK dollar is accepted in Macau though.
I always plan my trips and study bus or train routes of the place I'm going to. We took the right bus but, we failed to alight at our stop. No choice but to take another bus and alight at Senado Square. We didn't book any accommodation, so we just walked around (with our luggages!) and looked for the most convenient, clean, and cheap guesthouse. We ended up at Vila Universal which is very near Macau's tourist spots. After a short nap, we started discovering the charm of Macau.
We started our tour with a walk around Senado Square which is the most touristy place in Macau. Frankly, I was surprised that the old buildings were occupied by commercial establishments. I was expecting them to be filled with museums and history stuff.
You'll never get lost in the square; it's not that big. And also, there are very helpful signs around.
The street going up to the Ruins of St. Paul will not only lead you to the picturesque site but will also fill your stomach. We went out without having our lunch yet. And it was a very warm welcome seeing all those free, sample food. Of course, we won't let this opportunity pass. We basically entered every store and tasted everything until we got sick of it!
The street leading to the ruins was full of tourists making it hard for us make our way to the landmark. Along the way, I saw a food cart selling egg tarts. I heard that egg tarts in Macau are the best. They really are. It was, by far, the best egg tart I ever tasted.
The highlight of our Macau trip was actually visiting the famous casinos and hotel. Where else to go first but The Venetian. At first glance of the building I was immediately at awe. With all its bright lights, huge size, and incredible architecture, the tour was definitely captivating.
The most mind-boggling experience was the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. Those super bright lights and daylight-similar environment. Totally mind-f*ck. Haha! That canal too. Super awesome!
We also went inside the casino and met a lot of Filipino workers there. They were very friendly. They help us find our way out of the enormous Venetian Hotel and Casino.
We then took a shuttle bus from the Venetian to Senado Square. This is free so expect a queue. And this is how the square looks like at night...
Below is a summary of our actual itinerary and expenses. You may use this as a guide on your trip to Macau:
We took a fast boat, Turbojet, from HK to Macau. It's similar to the fast crafts that we have in the Philippines. The boat trip was short and comfortable---thanks to the cushion seats and fun companions. After getting through the immigration, we rushed out to look for maps and money changer. HK dollar is accepted in Macau though.
I always plan my trips and study bus or train routes of the place I'm going to. We took the right bus but, we failed to alight at our stop. No choice but to take another bus and alight at Senado Square. We didn't book any accommodation, so we just walked around (with our luggages!) and looked for the most convenient, clean, and cheap guesthouse. We ended up at Vila Universal which is very near Macau's tourist spots. After a short nap, we started discovering the charm of Macau.
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| Me, the tourist. |
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| Mc Mc Mcdo! |
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| Green Tea Sundae. Didn't like it. |
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free taste of beef jerky |
The street leading to the ruins was full of tourists making it hard for us make our way to the landmark. Along the way, I saw a food cart selling egg tarts. I heard that egg tarts in Macau are the best. They really are. It was, by far, the best egg tart I ever tasted.
After a fulfilling walk, we finally reached The Ruins. We took a lot of pictures, and I mean a lot of it. We then explored the museum at the back of the ruins as well as Museum de Macao which was a long way up.
The most mind-boggling experience was the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian. Those super bright lights and daylight-similar environment. Totally mind-f*ck. Haha! That canal too. Super awesome!
We also went inside the casino and met a lot of Filipino workers there. They were very friendly. They help us find our way out of the enormous Venetian Hotel and Casino.
We then took a shuttle bus from the Venetian to Senado Square. This is free so expect a queue. And this is how the square looks like at night...
Below is a summary of our actual itinerary and expenses. You may use this as a guide on your trip to Macau:
11:00am
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HK to Macau via Turbojet
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Ticket: 150HKD
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12:00nn
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Arrival in Macau
Take Bus to Senado Square
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Fare: 3.2HKD
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1:00pm
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Check in at Vila Universal
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300HKD
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2:00pm
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Tour:
Senado Square, The Ruins, Fortress,
Macau Tower, The Venetian
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8:00pm
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REST
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THE NEXT DAY
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||
10:30am
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Hostel to Ferry
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Fare: 3.2HKD
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12:00nn
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Macau to HK via Turbojet
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Ticket: 149HKD
|
Long weekends basically shouts getaway. And thank God, I badly needed one.
We arrived in Inopacan at around 9 in the morning and started our island hopping at 9:30am. The sun was scorching hot, but would have mind the heat when all you can see are natural wonders. We can't help but smile as we enjoy the pristine waters and captivating scenery.
Cuatro Islas (four islands) is a group of islands under the political jurisdiction of Hindang and Inopacan namely Digyo, Mahaba, Himokilan, and Apid. Our first stop for our island hopping was supposed to be Himokilan Island which is actually a fish sanctuary and the one nearest the main land. However, the boatman told us that recently, docking in the island was prohibited.
We decided to go to the 3rd nearest island which is Mahaba Island. As the name suggests, the island is elongated in shape and is the second largest among the four islands. We were all at awe at the beauty of the island. I had no plans of swimming or even getting wet but my mind immediately changed as we were approaching the island.
After our dip and photo ops, we proceed to Digyo Island where we will spend the night. We didn't go to Apid Island anymore as the boatman commented that it is highly populated and is the least appealing among the four.
On our way to Digyo Island, everyone was complaining that they were already hungry. But, upon arrival on the island--instead of preparing our lunch--we instead took out our cameras and started taking pictures. Well, we can't be blamed. The island is just so beautiful!
Digyo Island is far from being a commercialized destination. No hotel rooms, no restaurants, no beach pubs. We even brought our own drinking water as well as tap water for our bath! This place is for those who are after serene and relaxing environment.
MY THOUGHTS: Definitely a go-to beach. I personally prefer serene environments, which makes Cuastro Islas my number 1 choice by far. But if you're after comfort and luxury, this destination definitely won't do. As mentioned earlier, go with a group for everything to be less expensive and more secure. Bring enough food and water. Remember. No restos. No convenience store. Nothing.
So gather your friends and pack your sunblocks and sunnies. And be ready to gorge on the beauty of Cuatro Islas.
There are a lot of beautiful, white sand beaches in Eastern Visayas --some widely known, some undiscovered. Cuatro Islas is one of those hidden gems of the region. Located in Inopacan, which is only a two-hour drive from Tacloban and an hour and a half from Ormoc City, this concealed tourist destination would definitely surprise you.
You can easily reach the municipality of Inopacan, that's for sure. But the more challenging part is going the the islands. You need to rent a pump boat for a day. It will take you to and fro the island. You can also do island hopping with the same boat. I won't recommend going alone since pump boats are chartered and there are no daily, scheduled trip; thus, it would be quite expensive.
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| panoramic view |
You can easily reach the municipality of Inopacan, that's for sure. But the more challenging part is going the the islands. You need to rent a pump boat for a day. It will take you to and fro the island. You can also do island hopping with the same boat. I won't recommend going alone since pump boats are chartered and there are no daily, scheduled trip; thus, it would be quite expensive.
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| No pier whatsoever. Take a chartered boat at a dock right behind the municipal hall of Inopacan. Pay Php30.00/person as entrance and environmental fee. |
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| Large boat good for 15-20 persons would cost at least Php3,000.00-Php4,000.00. In our case, it was Php 3,500.00 (11 pax) |
Cuatro Islas (four islands) is a group of islands under the political jurisdiction of Hindang and Inopacan namely Digyo, Mahaba, Himokilan, and Apid. Our first stop for our island hopping was supposed to be Himokilan Island which is actually a fish sanctuary and the one nearest the main land. However, the boatman told us that recently, docking in the island was prohibited.
 |
| Himokilan Island from a distance. |
We decided to go to the 3rd nearest island which is Mahaba Island. As the name suggests, the island is elongated in shape and is the second largest among the four islands. We were all at awe at the beauty of the island. I had no plans of swimming or even getting wet but my mind immediately changed as we were approaching the island.
 |
| crystal clear waters |
After our dip and photo ops, we proceed to Digyo Island where we will spend the night. We didn't go to Apid Island anymore as the boatman commented that it is highly populated and is the least appealing among the four.
On our way to Digyo Island, everyone was complaining that they were already hungry. But, upon arrival on the island--instead of preparing our lunch--we instead took out our cameras and started taking pictures. Well, we can't be blamed. The island is just so beautiful!
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| shoreline just in front of our cottage |
Digyo Island is far from being a commercialized destination. No hotel rooms, no restaurants, no beach pubs. We even brought our own drinking water as well as tap water for our bath! This place is for those who are after serene and relaxing environment.
 |
| overnight cottages at Php 500.00/night |
 |
| open cottages at Php 300.00/day |
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rentable spaces for Php 50.00/day |
So gather your friends and pack your sunblocks and sunnies. And be ready to gorge on the beauty of Cuatro Islas.
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| the gang ^^ |
I was just too happy to read this online. Visa application is just so
hard and tedious. This one brought the biggest smile on my face
hahahaha!
Let’s travel!
ASEAN member-states
Brunei Darussalam : 14 days
Cambodia : 21 days
Indonesia : 30 days
Lao People’s Republic : 30 days
Malaysia : 30 days
Singapore : 30 days
Thailand : 30 days
Vietnam : 21 days
Non-ASEAN
Azerbaijan : 30 days (visa issued upon arrival)
Taiwan : 30 days (condition: has valid (1) Permanent Resident Card or (2) Entry Visa, of any one of the following countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand; or one of the signatories of the Schengan Agreement.).
Georgia : 90 days (visa issued upon arrival)
Hong Kong : 14 days
India : 30 days (visa issued upon arrival) howver (from Racquel Cayog’s comment: “There are limited cities that allow us to get visa on arrival: Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata with visa fee of USD 65 (30 days).”
Israel : 90 days
Macau : 30 days
Maldives : 30 days (visa issued upon arrival)
Mongolia : 21 days
Nepal : 15/30/90 days (visa issued upon arrival with corresponding fees)
Timor-Leste : 30 days (issued upon arrival with corresponding fee)
South America
Bolivia : 30 days
Brazil : 90 days
Colombia : 90 days
Ecuador : 90 days
Peru : 90 days
Suriname : 90 days
Africa
Morocco : 90 days
Saint Helena : 90 days
Seychelles : 30 days
Tuvalu : 90 days
North America
Costa Rica : 30 days
Haiti : 90 days
Saint Vincent Grenadines : 30 days
Europe
Kosovo : unlimited
Oceana
Fiji : 120 days
Micronesia : 21 days
Nauru : 30 days
Niue : 30 days
Palau : 30 days
Pitcairn Islands : 14 days
Samoa : 60 days
Tuvalu : 90 days
So, tara na! Byahe tayo! ^^,
Let’s travel!
ASEAN member-states
Brunei Darussalam : 14 days
Cambodia : 21 days
Indonesia : 30 days
Lao People’s Republic : 30 days
Malaysia : 30 days
Singapore : 30 days
Thailand : 30 days
Vietnam : 21 days
Non-ASEAN
Azerbaijan : 30 days (visa issued upon arrival)
Taiwan : 30 days (condition: has valid (1) Permanent Resident Card or (2) Entry Visa, of any one of the following countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand; or one of the signatories of the Schengan Agreement.).
Georgia : 90 days (visa issued upon arrival)
Hong Kong : 14 days
India : 30 days (visa issued upon arrival) howver (from Racquel Cayog’s comment: “There are limited cities that allow us to get visa on arrival: Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata with visa fee of USD 65 (30 days).”
Israel : 90 days
Macau : 30 days
Maldives : 30 days (visa issued upon arrival)
Mongolia : 21 days
Nepal : 15/30/90 days (visa issued upon arrival with corresponding fees)
Timor-Leste : 30 days (issued upon arrival with corresponding fee)
South America
Bolivia : 30 days
Brazil : 90 days
Colombia : 90 days
Ecuador : 90 days
Peru : 90 days
Suriname : 90 days
Africa
Morocco : 90 days
Saint Helena : 90 days
Seychelles : 30 days
Tuvalu : 90 days
North America
Costa Rica : 30 days
Haiti : 90 days
Saint Vincent Grenadines : 30 days
Europe
Kosovo : unlimited
Oceana
Fiji : 120 days
Micronesia : 21 days
Nauru : 30 days
Niue : 30 days
Palau : 30 days
Pitcairn Islands : 14 days
Samoa : 60 days
Tuvalu : 90 days
So, tara na! Byahe tayo! ^^,
Biliran Island is one of the island provinces that constitutes the Eastern Visayas Region. The province covers 8 municipalities with a total of 132 barangays/villages. Dubbed as the “undiscovered paradise”, there are so many unexpected sights to see in this province.
How to get there?
BY AIR – You can take a flight from Manila or Cebu that will bring you to the region’s capital, Tacloban City (Daniel Z. Romualdez airport). From there, you can take a cab or tricycle or jeep to the downtown area. You just need to tell the driver that they bring you to van terminals, either Van-Van’s, Grandtours, or Duptours. Or if you want to take a bus, you may ask the driver to bring you to the New Bus Terminal in Abucay. You can take the VELMAR bus. Take note however that there are only 2 trips going to Naval–one in the early morning and another in the afternoon.
Velmar Bus Schedule:
4:00am Tacloban-Biliran-Naval-Culaba
5:00am , 9:00amTacloban-Biliran-Naval
8:30am , 12:30pm Naval-Biliran-Tacloban
BY SEA – If you’re from Cebu City, you can easily go to Naval,Biliran by taking Roble Shipping. Here is their trip schedule: CEBU to NAVAL (8:30 pm, every Monday, Wednesday, Friday); NAVAL to CEBU (Every Tuesday,Thursday). I’m not sure if they have trips on weekends. Fare would be at PHP500.00 for economy accommodation and PHP600.00 for tourist accommodation. It takes almost 9 hours travel from Cebu to Naval.
Here is the trip schedule and fare rates of Roble Shipping (as of August 2013):
Considered as one of the grandest monuments to Islam in the whole region, the magnificent Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque is the brainchild of His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah and Yang Dipertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam. (source: http://my-brunei-darussalam.blogspot.com/2008/02/jame-asr-hassanil-bolkiah-mosque.html)
The first time I laid my eyes on it, my jaw literally dropped. It was just so huge, so clean, so grand! No, I'm not a Muslim, but I appreciated the beauty and grandeur of the holy place. I can't imagine what they do to maintain its majestic appearance.
I heard from a friend that they have a similar mosque in Mindanao (which I have yet to see). The construction of the great mosque was also funded by Sultan Bolkiah; hence, the mosque was named after him.
