Seven Reasons Not to Sleep While travelling in Halsema

Seven Reasons Why Not to Sleep while Traveling at Halsema Highway

9 April, 20142 July, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Halsema Highway is the Cordilleras’ major artery, linking urban Baguio City to most of this mountainous region. It is also called “Mountain Trail,” “Vegetable Highway,” and “Philippines’ Highest” due to obvious reasons: it is a road in the mountain, it is where most of the veggies are carried, and at one point it is at its highest in the entire Philippine highway system.

Enough of these factoids. There are seven reasons why you shouldn’t sleep over whenever at Halsema Highway, especially when travelling between the “Summer Capital” and Sagada this summer season.

(more…)

Finding Tranquility in Davao’s Linosutan Beach

24 March, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Talicud Island in Davao Gulf is indeed a floating emerald laced with pearly white sand beach. Despite its proximity with Davao City, it has maintained its countryside laidback charm. Although there are several notable beaches here such as in Babu Santa and Isla Reta, if you really like to be just alone-no commercial establishments whatsoever, then head to Linosutan Beach on the western coast of the island!

Located in the western side of the island, Linosutan Beach may just rival Boracay’s powdery white sand beach which stretches for kilometers, dotted with coral rock formations in between.

(more…)

Pancit Cabagan: Isabela’s Queen Pancit

20 March, 201422 July, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

“A road trip isn’t complete without food trip,” that’s my motto. Isabela Province wasn’t spared with this mantra that I have, but I was up to a surprise when I saw its famed Pancit Cabagan, 30 minutes south of Tuguegarao City.

“Miss, seryoso? Good for one ba talaga ito?” (Miss, are you serious? Is this really good for one?), I asked the waitress. I was so surprised, we only paid PhP50 for something so full!

(more…)

How to Get in and Out of Yogyakarta Adisucipto Airport?

19 March, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Adisucipto International Airport (IATA: JOG | ICAO: WARJ) is the airport serving the Javanese cultural city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia. It is the preferred destination airport for those who like to visit the famed UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Borobudur and Prambanan and experience the best of Javanese culture. It has daily flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali and even Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Adisucipto Airport is close to the city, which is not much of a hassle getting to the city center-or you can even go all the way to Prambanan Temples. Here are some of the tips on how to get in and out of Yogyakarta’s airport using public transport:

(more…)

Bohol: More than a Hundred Days Hence

17 March, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

On 15th of October, 2013, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook Bohol onto its knees, claiming more than 200 lives, isolating towns, slicing some of the famed Chocolate Hills, and destroying century-old heritage churches. The scene of destruction, hunger, and desperation was in the air when we went there five days after the big tremor. Aftershocks rattled everyone-to the point that a single few minute blackout sent people heading to the doors.

Times have changed. The scars remained but not a fresh wound anymore. The Bol-anons have started to pick up and bring back the sense of normalcy in this paradise island-province.

(more…)

Antonov-225: The Cossack’s First Landing in the Philippines

6 March, 20146 March, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Ukraine has been in the headlines lately. As the world watches the events unfold in Eastern Europe’s former Soviet bloc, it reminded me that I was able to see one of the lasting Soviet’s legacies that landed in the Philippines a few months ago—when Antonov An-225 landed in Mactan-Cebu Airport that rainy November morning.

The Antonov-225 holds the title as the largest existing aircraft in the world. It is bigger than the Airbus A380 or Boeing 747. It is one of the last great aircraft made during the Soviet Era and was intended to rival B747 in carrying Russia’s own space shuttle, Buran. However, the demise of the Soviet Union in the 1990s impeded its “dream” to go on mass production. In other words—the one we saw landed in Cebu is the only one in the world—for plane enthusiasts, it’s a rare bird!

(more…)

Isabela the Great: First time in Cagayan Valley

24 February, 201422 July, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Cagayan Valley is the last region we have never been to—probably because of its distance from Manila and its accessibility. Occupying the eastern half of Northern Luzon, one of the region’s provinces is said to be one of the largest in the Philippines, often titled as “Queen Province” of the North—Isabela.

(more…)

Canso-X: Cebu’s Newest Adventure Place

22 February, 201422 February, 2014 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

CEBU, Philippines – An emerging eco-park in western Cebu is set to become the newest adventure destination in the growing tourism industry of the province by summer of 2014.

Canso-X is the newest place to be for picnics, outdoor activities, relaxation, and ultimate adventure.

(more…)

Stopover Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal Experience

5 November, 20134 December, 2013 Bernardo Arellano III Leave a comment

Our long journey to Yogyakarta from Manila took a stopover at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, which I believe it is one of the largest airports I’ve seen in Southeast Asia. Since we took Cebu Pacific to KL, we landed not in the spanking brand-new terminal fondly called KLIA, but at the airport’s budget terminal called LCCT or Low Cost Carrier Terminal, which is on the other side.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT)

KL’s LCCT is the hub of operations and the terminal for Southeast Asia’s budget carriers such as Air Asia (which calls it its home), Cebu Pacific, and the like. The main KLIA terminal is located across LCCT. However, getting there needs a 20 kilometer ride. That’s how big KLIA is!

(more…)