Hop-on Hop-off Metro Manila City Tour

Good news for tourists and locals who want to explore Metro Manila sans the hassle of taking public transportation or dealing with overcharging taxi drivers! I stumbled upon an article on Business World's Weekender on the launch of the Hop-on Hop-off air-conditioned jeepneys offering tours around Metro Manila.

Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and Senator Richard Gordon had actually launched 21 jeepneys last month which explained the airconditioned jeepney adorned with Wow Philippines decors I saw along Ayala Avenue in Makati City a few weeks ago. I thought it was just one of those air-con jeepneys in Makati. The plan is to "have a total of 60 passenger jeepneys in its fleet in the first year of operations. The first phase will ply the route of Manila, Makati and Eastwood while the second phase includes the establishment of Hop-On Hop-Off links to nearby tourist destinations like Tagaytay, Clark in Pampanga and Subic in Olo"The Hopngapo." "

From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, the jeepneys will ply the streets of Makati and Manila. The tour starts at the airport with stop-overs in the Orchidarium, Coconut Palace, National Museum, Intramuros, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ayala Museum, Ayala Center, SM Mall of Asia and the best hotels in Makati and Manila. So the next time I see one of these jeepneys, I might just hop on!

For more information or franchise inquiries on the Hop-On Hop-Off program, dial 635.2148 local 106 or email info@citytour.com.ph.

Travel to Palawan - Sabang Beach

Sabang Beach in Puerto Princesa, Palawan is the jump-off point for the Underground River Tours. We opted to do the tour on our own - backpackers' style - instead of signing up for the airconditioned day trips (1,500 pesos per head) organized by the hotels and travel agencies in Puerto Princesa.

The road to Sabang isn't completely paved, so we were subjected to what seemed like a 3 hour butt massage.Accommodation in Sabang is also very basic -- no 3-star hotels here, just cottages with private or shared bathroom. We arrived in the evening due to an unbelievable 5 flat tires (!) and groped our way along the cottages to find accommodation. Most of the cottages were full. Fortunately, we found a room in Taraw Lodge for 350 pesos (good for 2 persons). Never mind if we had to share the bathroom/toilet with 2 other occupants and never mind that we could hear the other occupants' snores. The place was clean and there were no holes on the window screens (no mosquitoes!), what more can you ask for? :D

Aside from the Underground River, Sabang boasts of a long white sand beach perfect for romantic walks and of course swimming. The sand isn't as fine or as white as Boracay's but the quiet vibe was a welcome change from Manila's hectic pace. After the Underground River Tour, we asked our boatmen to drop us off to the mouth of the Poyuy-Poyuy River for the Mangrove Tour. For only 75 pesos, we enjoyed a 45 minute relaxing boat ride amidst the Sabang's 45 species of Mangrove. It was good our boatman didn't talk too much and just let us soak everything in - the calm brackish water, the soothing sights of mangroves on each side of the river, the steady chirping of the birds, and yes a couple of monkeys flirting.

After that, we walked back to Sabang enjoying the sand and sea water on our feet, lazed on our resort's hammock until the mosquitoes came out. Electricity in Sabang is only until 10pm. So there's no night life to speak of. But who needs a nightlife when you have a beach almost all to yourself, a hammock, and a clear endless night sky filled with stars? I wished I had taken more pictures but yeah, I was just too content and happy listening to the South China sea, gazing at my coconut from my hammock.

Where to Stay in Sabang:

• Taraw Lodge - cell no.: 09196011227 (cottages w/ own bathroom 500 pesos/night; cottages with common bathroom 350 pesos/night - good for 2

Things to do:

• Underground River Tour - DIY tour = 700 boat rental (good for 6 persons), park fee - 250 for Filipinos, 350 for foreigners
• Mangrove tour - 75 pesos per head for 45 mins
• Swimming and lazing on the beach - free!!!
• Star gazing - the sky in Sabang was really amazing especially when the lights were off (after 10pm). But we had to go inside our cottage as the place became too eery, with the dogs howling and barking.

Day Trip - Pagsanjan Falls

It seems like Metro Manila's heat is getting worse everyday. I went to the bank during yesterday's lunch break and I felt like an ice cream melting under the sun. This morning, I wanted to sleep some more after staying out late last night with SSEAYP batchmates in Greenbelt but I just couldn't. The heat is really getting to me. I want to escape to Pagsanjan!

Pagsanjan in Laguna became famous as the locaition for some of the final scenes of Francis Ford Coppola's epic Vietnam war movie Apocalypse Now. Unfortunately, the place was notorious in the '80s for the pedophiles who went there preying on unsuspecting children. So, I thought the place would be crawling with toursist traps - exorbitant fees, persistent boatmen and pesky vendors. But when I went there with my meditation friends, not only were there no traces of its sordid "place for pedophiles" past, the trip to the Pagsanjan Falls was actually fun and highly recommended for the family. The place is only one and a half hour drive from Metro Manila. Of course, there were the ever-present hagglers along the highway trying to entice us to hire their boats. But we chose the easy and hassle-free way. We went to the Pagsanjan Garden Resort and hired the resort's boatmen. We paid 1,100 pesos per person inclusive of boat, 2 boatmen, boatmen tips and entrance fee.

The highlight of the trip for me was not the waterfalls but the bumpy ride going there. Two bangkeros or boatmen paddled each a canoe with 2 -3 passengers against the river's currents, through a gorge with lush vegetation. At some point, the boatmen had to carry the canoe because it was impossible to paddle through jagged rocks. The Magdapio waterfalls, popularly known as Pagsanjan Falls beckoned to us after a 1 1/2 hour boat ride.

For 90 pesos per head, the boatmen took us under the waterfalls on a bamboo raft. Be prepared for an intense hydro-massage! It was such an adrenaline rush. My Indian friends got addicted so we went under the falls three times and felt like we had the best massage in our lives :). To recuperate from that hydro-message, we went behind the waterfalls and just chilled out in what seemed like a cave. We would've wanted to swim the lenghth of the waterfalls but the currents were actually too strong and so I chickened out. Maybe next time.

Tips when visiting Pagsanjan Falls:
1. Bring plastic bags for cameras and other valuable or better yet, buy an aquapack
2. Wear aqua sandals or mojos - the rocks at the cave behind the falls are sharp
3. Wear lots of suncreen
4. And wear additional mexican hat (never mind if you look silly)
5. Ignore the ridiculous Korean tourists who visit there with full make-up and high heels!
6. Feed your boatmen or at least buy them Coke and bread when you reach the falls after the 1 1/2 hour tiring boatride
7. Take photos along the way, during the scenic boat ride. I was too scared to get the camera wet that's why I don't have any photos to share.
8. And yes, enjoy!

Summer Getaway - Hidden Valley Hot Springs

*Cross-posted from my Wordpress blog.

It is almost the weekend and I am already dreaming of a weekend get-away. Where to go this time? Shoot the rapids again in Pagsanjan? Brave a trek on Taal Volcano under the summer heat? Or laze around Puerto Galera’s white beach? Unfortunately, I will have to content myself with dreaming and reliving past adventures and travels as I will be stuck in Metro Manila over the weekend. But for those itching to escape the city’s stifling heat, you can try experiencing a different heat at Hidden Valley Hot Springs in Alaminos, Laguna. I’ve always wanted to go there ever since I read an article in the now-defunct Colors Magazine. Last year, I finally got to visit with my meditation friends.

After painstaking research in Google to find the resort’s contact number and directions on how to get there, we set off to experience Hidden Valley’s delights. It was a 1 1/2 hour drive through South Superhighway and Laguna - I just can’t remember the exact route as I dozed off or blabbered for most of the drive. The resort itself is situated a few kilometers off the main road and is hidden behind a lush forest to give it a jungle feel. We had to pay 1,500 pesos at the entrance which already includes buffet lunch. The resort does not allow guests to bring food so we had to leave our home-cooked Indian vegetarian food in our vehicles. However, we managed to sneak them in as the resort didn’t have anything for our vegetarian friends (shhh don’t tell the resort ;))

We followed the gurgling sounds which brought us to the 3 main pools. From warmest, warmer, warm - we tried them and loved them all. I especially love just staying under the warm waterfall for a very relaxing back rub. We could’ve stayed in the warm pools for hours but other attractions beckoned.

After dropping off our bags on one of the cabanas, we headed to the “Hidden Falls.” On the way we saw this giant 100-year old tree. I felt in awe of its majesty, like I was just a tiny speck in comparison.

The hidden falls (picture at the top) awaited us after a few minutes of trekking and skipping over huge tree roots. The hidden falls was magical. It actually beckoned us to enjoy its cool waters but the resort guide said guests aren’t allowed to swim in this area. Too bad. We just watched and took photos of the kids from the neighboring barangay as they jumped from the top. Watching the kids brought Fr. Ferriols’ “Lundagin mo, beybeh” to mind.

Aside from the warm pools, Hidden Valley also boasts of a soda pool - according to the guide, the water in this pool tastes like soda; and a lovers’ pool located off the road and away from prying eyes. When we were there, the lovers’ pool was empty. Perhaps because it was more tempting to laze in the warm waters.

We left Hidden Valley’s relaxing warm waters at dusk with a promise to return. It was worth sharing bathroom space with naked Koreans and the blah buffet lunch. I shall indeed return. And maybe next time, I’ll visit with The Boy so we can verify the lovers’ pool’s claimed seclusion ;-).

Contact information:
* Hidden Valley Hot Springs Alaminos, Laguna Tel: (+63 2) 840-4112