2012: My Year in Travel

Despite the roller coaster year that it was, 2012 turned out to be a year where I was able to tick off places that have long been on my bucket list. Thank you to budget airlines' promotions, we got to travel to these places affordably.

FEBRUARY 
Pandanon Island, Bohol

main beach

I first learned about this island from a friend's post in Facebook 2 or 3 years ago. I could not believe that I missed this island after being based in Cebu for more than 5 years! So, though Cebu is like a 2nd home and thus, gets the least priority when faced with promotional fares, I decided to grab tickets for us last Dec 2011 for a trip in February 2012. I want to finally tick that place off my bucket list.

Contrary to what most people know, Pandanon Island off the Mactan Channel is already part of Bohol. But the easiest way to visit this island is through a banca ride from Mactan Island, Cebu.

Together with my Cebu-based cousins, off we went one fine day in February to Pandanon Island. Our very first "summer salvo" in 2012.

Pandanon Island is one of the far-flung islands/islets off Mactan Channel. If  you are coming from Cebu, you can hire a banca from any of the public resorts in Mactan Island to bring you to the island and back. There are also cruise boats you can join that goes to designated islands on a regular run.

The trip takes about an hour, but we did not feel any boredom as the scenery and the great blue is just breathtaking. On the way, you pass by several inviting islands and islets. If you are renting the banca, you can ask the boatman to let you explore some of the islands.

In our case, we decided to go straight to the island so we can spend more time on the island.  There are no restaurants in the area, so you are encouraged to bring your own food. Picnic huts and tables are available. And barbeque pits are abundant. Or, if you joined one of the regular trips, their rates usually include lunch already.

There are no resorts or hotels in the island.  If you wish to stay overnight, tents will be it. And yes, you have to bring it yourself.

So how did I find it? Honestly, it fell short of my expectation on the secluded, long white sand beach part. When we arrived, there were several people already there, so the beach was a bit crowded. I thought it has a very long white sand beach, but no, it does not have technically.  You see, it has a long white sand bar that was submerged when we were there because the tide was already coming in.

But despite that, and minus the crowd, the place has its own charm. A chapel, a ruin and white beach huts. With the sun shining, I still got my bluest of blue skies, whitest of white beach/sand, and turquoise seas. What more can a beach bum ask for? Indeed, a happy beach bum here.

at the back of the main beach

the other side of the beach

Beijing Adventures & Misadventures: Day 3&4

Tower 8 @ 888m above sea level

May 13, 2009

This time it will be the most famous attraction in China--the Great Wall--and a side trip to the Ming Tombs. We were joined by a couple from Australia who sweetly offered to us their Sydney home if we come visit.

Places we visited:

1. Great Wall at Badaling - the most famous and visited part of the Great Wall

The wall that represents the Ming Dynasty, it is the strategic gateway to the capital. It has North tower #8 which is the highest tower at 888 meters above sea level.

The Badaling Wall has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987.

We took the cable car to the North side. We planned to trek up to tower #8 but aborted it as we saw how steep the path is---no stairs for a few meters so you have to hold on to a railing. With a lot of old Chinese tourists around, it was quiet difficult to do so. So, we decided to hang around towers #7 & 6, where we took a lot of photos.

The walk along the wall would have been easier if the sun was not so hot, there were only a few tourists around, wind is blowing and we were not pressed for time. I would have done it..hmm...maybe I should go back??? hahahaha

Badaling Great Wall

The Great Wall as far as the eyes can see

2. Ming Tombs - burial grounds for 13 Ming Dynasty emperors set in a beautiful countryside.

After our sumptuous lunch, we proceeded to the Ming Tombs. Well, it is such a beautiful place for a cemetery, you know. =) You can even have a picnic here.

Ming Tomb entrance

Ming Tomb

3. Wangfujing - 1km shopping street--from luxury brands to bargain items.
They have a night food street that offers exotic food on wooden sticks. A pretty interesting place to visit.

Beijing Adventures & Misadventures - Day 2

Forbidden City

May 12, 2009

We were picked up at 7am for our whole day tour of Beijing's major sites:

1. Forbidden City - built in 1406 -1420 by a million laborers, home of emperors, servants, concubines and eunuchs until 1925. 720,000 square meters---you can practically spend the whole day here if you want to explore every nook and cranny!

Forbidden City

"9, 8, and a lion head are a sign of good luck"

one of the courtyards at Forbidden City

one of the temples

Forbidden City

2. Tiananmen Square - World's largest public square bordered by Mao's Mausoleum, History Museum, Great Hall of the People and Forbidden City.

Tiananmen Square

3. Temple of Heaven - magnificent temple and park where emperors of Qing and Ming dynasties worship heaven and pray for good harvest; features a circular "Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests".

Temple of Heaven

4. Summer Palace - Used to be a Royal garden and imperial palace for short stays away from the capital. An Imperial retreat from Beijing's summer heat with gardens, lakes, hills, the elaborately decorated "long corridor" and Empress Cixi's marble boat.

Summer Palace

The lake surrounding the Palace

a portion of the (very) long corridor

Empress Cixi's marble boat

Beijing Adventures & Misadventures: Day 1

At Lama Temple

May 10, 2009 - Arrival

A day of hitches!..and blessings!

Left Manila at 11am and arrived Beijing at almost 6pm. Waited for about 2 hours for our delayed baggage. The Dragonair flight was quiet impressive serving food with rice and Haagen Dazs ice cream for dessert! They even beat Cathay Pacific's pathetic tuna sandwich!

Our first glimpse of Beijing was that of its humongous airport. 5X London's Heathrow they say! To go around the airport, you need to take the train.

Our first impression of Beijing? Well, yes! not everybody understand and speaks English---so it was sign language most of the time here. But, we were able to get by taking the airport shuttle to the City--albeit a little worried if we get lost.

Arrived the City past 7pm. By this time it was already dark. Sunset in Beijing is around 7pm. Tried to hail a cab but nobody wants to take us, despite a chinese printout of the name and address and map of the hotel. Either they do not understand us or they think the hotel's location is just very near---hmmm, so very Philippines don't you think?

To validate, I asked a street sweeper who could not understand me. Good thing someone overheard me and offered his help. Oh what a God send! At first I was wary but he seems sincere in

Comfortable room @ Grand Mercure Xidan

offering that he walks us to the hotel because it is really very near. He was the first Beijinger that can speak and understand English very well. Thank you, Nick! You are such an angel...

Another blessing was the upgrade our hotel (Grand Mercure Xidan) gave me & Gia. We were given a bigger room with a living area and a separate bath and shower! It was a great way to end our stressful yet "fun" day.


 May 11, 2009 - First Hand Immersion in the land of Mao

My good friend Irah and her sister, Tisha, arranged our itinerary while waiting for me. (Oh! they too had more interesting and funny stories to tell about their arrival in Beijing!)

We hired a taxi for the day to take us to sites that were not included in the tours we took. This is our first glimpse of Beijing...

Places Visited in order:

Olympic marker

a 6-star hotel

1. The 2008 Olympic Village:

The Nest

The Cube

Bird's Nest - the National Stadium, 91,000 seats, used for football and athletics and the host to the opening ceremony.
2. The Cube - the National Aquatics Center, 6,000 seats but can accommodate 11,000 more standing, venue for swimming, diving and synchronized swimming.

3. Lama Temple - home of the Tibetan monks and the 18-meter statue of Buddha carved from a single sandalwood tree (which landed the Guinness Book of World Records).

4. Lunch at a Hutong area - Beijing's disappearing 700-yr-old alleys and courtyards.

- Where we had a hard time asking for ice for our drinks..hahaha

5. Bell & Drum Towers - built in 1240 to announce the time (drum at night and bell during daytime)

6. Beihai Park  - surrounded by Beihai Lake, with an island that has a White Pagoda where Kublai Khan's palace used to be. A refreshing site in the city.

After the tour, we went to the Silk Market where Irah got harassed by vendors and where we found bargain costume jewelries. You have to bargain well though...say, the amount should be at least 15-20% of the original price only! yes, you read it right!

Where we still want to go...

How much of the World have we visited

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com


How much of the world have we visited? Not even half of it yet.  And I wish I can do just half of it in this lifetime.

Places we want to visit




Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

To include: Moscow, Russia and a handful of Russian countries ( I do not know why I did not find it in the list)

Why do we travel?

Ever since my daughter turned 5 years old, we have  made it a point to visit another country at least 1x a year usually during school breaks and 1 to 2 places in the Philippines, the rest of the year.

Not because Mom just wants to travel, but because I want to show my daughter that there is a vast world out there, outside of the 4 walls of our home.  Full of culture, history , interesting people, and sights worth learning, seeing and enjoying.

Our recent trip to Siem Reap to marvel at the majestic Angkor Wat was perfect timing. The rich historical significance of the place was perfect for her History lesson for this year,  Asian Civilization.

Let me share wise words from Henry Rollins about travel and travelling:

Happy learning, everyone!