A Relaxing Stay at Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin

       When looking for a place to stay in Camiguin, Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin or BBC Resort is the perfect choice. From the lavish accommodation to the modern amenities and facilities, the resort offers comfort, poshness, but value for money experience for your entire stay. 

Breathtaking view.

       Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin dubbed itself as the "premiere vacation resort of the south" and everything about it actually doesn't disappoint. The resort is about 30 minutes away from Benoni Port, the starting point of Camiguin from Cagayan de Oro. 

       Once you enter the resort premises, you'll be in awe of its simplistic beauty. You'll be welcomed at first by the amazing reception area. You won't help but marvel at the ceiling installation made of coconut husks. It is really evident that their vision is to showcase local sustainability in the entire resort.

The reception area.

       The room accommodations are all nipa hut-style rooms spacious enough to fit a family or barkada. You may choose between deluxe rooms and standard rooms depending on your budget. All rooms are air-conditioned with complete amenities such as hot and cold shower, cable TV, mini-refrigerator, and wifi connection. 

Deluxe rooms.

       The resort also boasts of its complete facilities, from the restaurant and bar to the heated pool, game room, mini gym, and day spa. 

The resort's mini day spa.

       Be amazed by the view of the sea when you lounge around the pool or relax in a hammock by the restaurant.

The hammocks are the perfect place to relax and enjoy the view.

       BBC also offers island hopping tours should you wish to explore Camiguin Island. You can also opt to tour the island by yourselves by renting motorbikes from the resort.

       Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin is the perfect vacation getaway where you can relax, unwind, and de-stress.

       For more information, check BBC's website at http://www.bahaybakasyunan.com. For reservations and inquiries, you may contact them at (088) 387-0131 or 387-1057 or send them an email at camiguinbbc@gmail.com.

This is paradise!

Do-It-Yourself CDO to Camiguin Tour

       It was only recently when Cebu Pacific launched flights from Manila to Camiguin via Cebu. For the longest time, one can only reach Camiguin via ferry ride from Cagayan de Oro or other nearby provinces such as Bohol.

       That's why when my friends and I booked a 5-day vacation to Cagayan de Oro recently, I made sure a tour of Camiguin Island is included in our itinerary.

       Nothing beats going to your choice of destination through hassle-free ways such as vehicle rental services wherein you won't have to worry about getting lost or missing your departure time. But for budget-conscious travelers, a do-it-yourself trip can be an adventurous challenge but fulfilling once you've successfully done it. That's what we did when we planned our trip from CDO to Camiguin and vice-versa. I hope this post will help you when you plan yours.

Balingoan Port

       Travel time to Camiguin from Cagayan de Oro is a long trip. From Laguindingan Airport to the city proper, it will take you in maximum of 2 hours via public transportation. There are actually taxi cabs and service vans that can take you to the city proper. You need to ask the driver to drop you off at Agora Bus Terminal where you can find buses bound for Butuan. You may choose between aircon or non-aircon buses. Prepare fee of PhP 150.00 and advise the conductor to drop you off at Balingoan Port. Since buses take several stops, allot max of 3 hours for travel time to reach Balingoan Port. Another option is to hire a taxi cab to bring you to Balingoan Port. Rate is a bit higher compared to bus fare but if you're in a group, you can divide the expenses equally or maybe you can haggle with the taxi driver for a good deal.

Savor the fresh air and the amazing view of the sea.

       Upon arrival at the Balingoan Port, look for the ticket terminal for the ferry ride to Benoni Port in Camiguin. Prepare fee of PhP 170.00 and terminal fee of PhP 15.00. Ferry schedules are on an hourly basis so better arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the ferry. Find a good seat and be amazed by the view en route to Camiguin. After 1 1/2 hours of ferry ride, you will see Benoni Port where you will be fetched by your resort service or your multicab tour guide if you wish to start exploring the island already. I strongly recommend Kuya Tata if you're looking for a tour guide in Camiguin via multicab which is a cheaper option if you're in a group. His contact number is 0916-2914799.

Welcome to Camiguin, "The Island Born of Fire"!

       For your return to CDO, be sure to get up and leave early since time is of the essence when you have a flight to catch. All you need to do is retrace your steps and you'll find your way back to CDO. It is strongly advised to leave early. You'll never know if there will be delays in the ferry schedule or in the bus departure. Visit Camiguin and enjoy the beauty of the island.

Benoni Port

Things You Need to Consider in Planning Your Trips

       Summer is getting near. School vacation is just around the corner. Thinking of going away for a little while from all the pressures of work? At a lost on what destination to choose and what itinerary to follow? Below are some things worth considering in looking for a place for your next vacation. These are based from my experiences in organizing our travels. These might also help you in planning yours:

• Budget

       You need to allot budget for airfare, accommodation, meals, transportation, and even pasalubong. Just a rough estimate will do. At least, it will guide you not to go overboard on your spending.

      The biggest bulk of your budget will go to airfare. Of course, it would be best to wait for promo fares so you can have more savings. Double check also if you will really need baggage allowance or a carry-on baggage will do because that's also big amount of savings you can allot for other expenses.

Highly recommended
Castle Peak Hotel in Cebu.

• Hotel

       This will also fall on budget but this is a separate item, too because the type of accommodation you decide to avail will depend on your preference.
       Will you be staying in your hotel during your entire stay or you just need a place to rest and sleep because you have a full itinerary? Room occupancy and amenities should also be checked. Most important thing I look for whenever I travel is internet access or wifi connection. Access to major establishments is also a plus factor in case you want to eat our or buy something. If you want to save costs on food, a hotel near the metro where access to fast food chains and convenience stores is worth considering. For hotel tips, I always check Trip Advisor and Agoda.

• Companions

When traveling with friends, we make 
sure our itinerary caters to our
adventurous souls.

       Traveling with friends or family? You will need to base your itinerary and the type of room accommodation on who you'll be traveling with. Age group, likes and dislikes, expectations, and health issues or concerns of your travel companions are vital in deciding where to go and what activities to do.

• Itinerary

       Are you the adventurous type or is your primary purpose just to relax, recharge, and stay in one place? Do you want to explore around, go food tripping, or go island hopping?

My sister enjoying the tricycle ride
around Dumaguete. We only had
manong tricycle driver as our
tour guide,

       Doing a little research will be really helpful. Looking for famous tourist attractions in your chosen destination will guide you in creating your itinerary. You may also want to consider having a do-it-yourself itinerary to save on costs, like instead of hiring a van or a tour guide or a travel agency to roam you around, why not be adventurous and ride a bus or tricycle and let manong driver be your tour guide?

        Now, you have the basics and the necessary information you need in planning your trip. These may be a lot of things to consider but trust me, doing a little planning will help you in having a worry-free vacation.
                 Happy traveling! :)

Making the Most of an Overnight Trip to Boracay

Yes, you read it right. Overnight at Boracay. Crazy idea, isn't it? It all started with the Airphil Express 12-Peso Fare Sale last New Year's Eve. Our fare from Manila to Caticlan and vice-versa was only PhP 448.00 each. We chose the month of June so the rates of hotels are lower and the beach will be less crowded compared during summer season. Also, we wanted to treat our father and youngest sister to a vacation.

The newly-renovated Caticlan
(Godofredo P. Ramos Airport)

So there you have it. Fast forward to June and we're on our way now to Boracay. Our flight was early in the morning so I planned our itinerary in such a way that we can do all activities we wanted to do in a day since our flight back to Manila is also early in the morning the following day.

After being fetched at the Caticlan Airport by our hotel at Station 1, we checked-in immediately to our penthouse suite at Shore Time Hotel. While resting since we had to get up early to get to the airport, I grabbed the opportunity to contact Zorb Park, the latest adventure park in Boracay. Good thing they offer free shuttle service to and from the park. Zorb Park is located at Barangay Lapuz Lapuz. We waited for the shuttle to pass by our hotel and after a 15-minute drive, we arrived at Zorb Park.

At the veranda of Shore Time Hotel's penthouse suite

It was still a bit early so only a few were in line wanting to try the famous Hydro Zorb. By the way, the view up the hill is amazing. We all tried the Hydro Zorb, even our father. The experience was so exhilarating. I actually felt dizzy afterwards. My sister Malou and our father did the Hydro Zorb together. Here's the video of their trip down the hill. I still laugh out loud every time I see this.

After that funny experience, we headed back to Station 1 to grab lunch and came back again to our hotel to rest for a while before going to the White Beach. 

We started at around 2pm from Station 1 to Station 3. Then we went to Bulabog Beach to try the Fly Fish after seeing it in Fun Philippines' page. The Fly Fish ride was enjoyable but very tiring. Good thing we scheduled that in the afternoon. Unfortunately, I don't have a video so I won't be able to share that hilarious experience. 

Who wouldn't enjoy walking along the
fine white sands of the beach?

The rest of the day, we just walked around, took pictures, and of course, we tried Jonah's Shake. No matter how tiring it was, we just kept thinking that we had to endure it because we only got 1 day to enjoy this lovely island of Boracay. There's actually so many things to do and places to go in Boracay that's why I promised myself next time I'll see to it that we won't be pressured anymore by time in order for us to explore and experience this wonderful tourist destination.

Sky Experience Adventure at Crown Regency Cebu

One of the first places we went to upon our arrival in Cebu last February 2011 is Crown Regency Hotel and Towers. This trip to Cebu was my sister Maan's second time so she was our tour guide. It's actually an advantage having someone in the group who already knows the way around a place. That way you will have an idea of the costs and routes so you can plan ahead of time. 

Upon landing in Cebu and after checking in our hotel, we immediately proceeded to Crown Regency for the Sky Experience Adventure. Maan said there might be a long line so it would be better if we go there early. True enough, the counter was full of people. We registered first, kept our belongings in safety boxes they provide, and waited for our number to get called. 

Me and my sisters just before our walk.

Waiting wasn't that long enough. The staff assisted us in wearing our safety gears. We weren't able to take pictures since it is a strict policy not to allow bringing of cameras or cell phones. They will be the ones taking pictures of you and your group that you can claim and have them printed after the ride.

From left: Me, Marilen, Mildred, and Maan

We availed the Sky Walk Extreme. It is walking around the translucent flooring of Crown's 37th floor. It was breath taking since you can see a great view of the city of Cebu. While walking around, you will have your picture taken solo or in group. I marveled at the city lights of Cebu that I didn't realize we were actually at the 37th floor of the hotel. It was a fun experience, indeed!

When I get the chance to come back to Cebu, I will surely try the Edge Coaster. We weren't able to try it due to lack of time. 

Me and the breath taking view of the city of Cebu.

For the list of activities that you can avail at Crown Regency Cebu, please visit their site at: http://www.skyexperienceadventure.com/page/rates-and-schedules.

Loboc River Night Cruise

View of Loay Bridge

If you want to experience the Loboc River's floating restaurant differently, try its river night cruise. The package is the same with the usual river cruise tourists go to: buffet meal, round-trip river cruise, and the chance to watch the Loboc Youth Ambassador Band Concert. Unlike the day cruise which only costs PhP 400 per head, the river night cruise is PhP 550 per head.

Dinner is served by 6:30 pm and the cruise will start at 7:30 pm. Unlike the day cruise, you will be eating in a separate boat during the night cruise. I guess because it's a little dark and the boats won't accommodate enough lighting facilities. Then you will be asked to transfer to the adjacent boat that will take you to a round-trip cruise from the docking area at the Loay Bridge to the Busay Falls which at night won't be seen, unfortunately.

What's enchanting are the different colors of lights on the riverbank, lighting up the trees and houses creating shadows along the water. It's also more peaceful at night and the air is cool leaving you more relaxed while traversing the river.

Before going back to the docking area, the boat will stop by a floating cottage where a local group will entertain you with Boholano song-and-dance numbers. You can join them, have pictures taken with them, or even dance with them if you want to. Giving donations are encouraged.

There are also local singers on board who will serenade you both with local and foreign songs. Again, giving donations are encouraged.

Loboc River Cruise is fast becoming a major tourist destination in Bohol. The river is located at the municipality of Loboc, around 30 minutes away from Tagbilaran City.

The Loboc Youth Ambassador Band

Organic Feast at Bohol Bee Farm

Welcome to Bohol Bee Farm!

Squash Bread with Homemade Pesto and
Mango Spread

If you want a taste of what Bohol has to offer, don't forget to eat at Bohol Bee Farm, a hotel/farm/restaurant located at Dauis, Panglao, Bohol. The Bee Farm is famous for its organic menu available at The Buzzz Cafe at very affordable prices. You can also choose among their themed-rooms if you want to avail of the farm's accommodations and amenities. 


You can get a glimpse of Bee Farm's nature-themed accommodations with their corresponding rates, you can view them here: http://www.boholbeefarm.com/bee-farm-room-rates.


During our trip to Bohol last February, we went to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch before we started our countryside tour courtesy of Bohol Day Tour. We went straight to the restaurant to try their organic menu. The waitress even brought us complimentary squash bread with homemade pesto and mango spread. Yummy!

Special Honeyed Fruit Veggie Drink

I ordered Grilled Marlin with Organic Garden Salad and Red Rice. Rod ordered Fresh Herb Pasta (according to them, it's their best-seller pasta). JP ordered Grilled Squid with Organic Garden Salad and Red Rice, while Emy wanted to try Spare Ribs, also with Organic Garden Salad and Red Rice. We all asked the waitress what drink she can recommend and she asked us to try their Special Honeyed Fruit Veggie Drink.



10 minutes after, our orders arrived. At first, I was quite hesitant to try the Organic Garden Salad because it has indigenous flowers in it. I actually saw bougainvilleas and calachuchi petals, aside from the usual lettuce leaves in salads. I took a petal and tasted it. It was bitter at first but if you still don't want its taste, try complementing it with honey mustard sauce.


The table beside us got intrigued by our orders that they even took pictures of our food saying they looked interesting. 


After that big feast, we got the chance to walk around to see the bees. Too bad we didn't have enough time to complete the farm tour as we need to leave early for the rest of our Countryside Tour.

The Buzzz Ice Cream's Various Flavors

When you get to Bohol, don't forget to visit Bohol Bee Farm. Also a must-try is their The Buzzz Ice Cream that we weren't able to try. Now I have a reason to come back there!



Don't miss the chance of going to Bohol Bee Farm. Even if you won't stay there,  just try eating at their restaurant, get a taste of their healthy and sumptuous menu, and get charmed by its location which is overlooking the sea.

From left: Emy, Rod, me, and JP with the lady who took
pictures of our food because she thought they' were
interesting.