Bohol, Philippines

Sun Avenue in Tagbilaran, Bohol (Gogle Images)

I went to Bohol with my friends mid this year and fell in love with the place. It was quiet, laid back and people are trustworthy. They welcome everyone with a warm smile. But the trip to Bohol was not as smooth as we hoped it would be. The ferry ride was one of the scariest journeys I have experienced. The waves were like slapping the boat that was taking us from Cebu to Bohol. My friend and I did not talk much during the trip, as we were saying our own prayers. We arrived safely and lived to tell the story.

We arrived at Tagbilaran safely. It is a small town.  Going around the city is easy with the use of pedicabs. So we rode one when that would take us to our inn, the Sun Avenue, were another friend is waiting. It is a nice cozy place with very accommodating staff.

We shopped awhile and were pleased with the number of inexpensive items we found. After that, we visited my friend's aunt, who prepared a sumptuous dinner for us. And then we head back to the inn for a good night sleep.

Chocolate Hills, Bohol (Courtesy of Google images)

The next morning, we started out early. We enjoyed a lovely breakfast then packed our stuff. We rented a car that will take us to the different tourist destinations in Bohol. It is a good thing that everything is on the way. Our driver was very helpful too. He suggested that we visit the Chocolate hills first then start visiting the other destinations from there.

After that, we went to other must see spots like Butterfly Garden, The hanging Bridge, the man made forests, sanctuary for tarsiers and more.

The long and fruitful day ended. So we head to the Hayahay Hotel for a  much needed rest. When it was darker, we decided to get out of the room and check out the life at the beach. It was festive. There were guests from all over the country as well as from other parts of the world. There was music, dancing, food, laughter and more.

Then we had to call it a night. We need to be up by 5am for a scheduled dolphin watching. And we did. But before we could see any dolphins, our boat stopped. The engine failed twice before those in charge could get it running continuously. We saw the dolphins, and it was quite an experience. After that, we went Island hopping. We enjoyed the Virgin Island the most. The water is calm and shallow and the sand was white and fine.
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Hinagdanan Cave, Bohol

We went back to the hotel to freshen up and prepared to leave. We left after having our first meal of the day. My friend's aunt picked us up and took us to the Hinagdanan cave. The cave is eerie but majestic. We were happy that we had enough time to see it. Then we dropped by an old church before going back to Tagbilaran.

Our ferry ride from Bohol to Cebu was more peaceful. We had fun during the trip. When we arrived in Cebu, friends picked us up. The first thing we wanted to do was eat. So they took us to MOOON, a nice Mexican restaurant (I think). The food was more than satisfying.

After that, we went around Cebu. We considered skywalking, but reconsidered and watched a 3D animation instead. It was fun, a nice way to end the night. After our last nigh in Cebu, we ate breakfast and head to the airport. When we arrived at the Davao International Airport, we decided to hit the Abreeza mall instead of heading home. But the day has to end. We went home tired, but fulfilled.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the premiere tourist destinations in Asia.

Geography (Courtesy of http://www.marimari.com)

Hong Kong island sits just south of the Tropic of Cancer on similar latitudes as Calcutta, Havana, and Hawaii, and sharing the same longitude as Wuhan in central China, Bali, and Perth. Surrounding the country's southern coast is the South China Sea.

The country consists of a peninsular protruding from southeastern China and hundreds of islands scattered off the coast. Kowloon and the New Territories make up the peninsular, while south off the mainland is Hong Kong Island and various other remote islands.

Deep waters surround Hong Kong, and with its wide harbors protected by mountains in the north and south, the region is favorable as a passing point for ships. Its geographical location between the Taiwan Straits, the South China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean make it a strategic channel for sea traffic in Asia and the world.

(Photo courtesy of google image.)

Tourist Destinations - Check out the links below for a list of must see destinations in Hong Kong:

1. Hong Kong Island
2. Kowloon
3. New Territories
4. Lantao Island

Learn more about Hong Kong attractions by checking out this site.

Making Your Dreams To Travel Come True - Money Issues

Many want to travel but few are given the luxury to do it. Some can't and some won't. One of the primary reasons is financial constraint. Let's face it, traveling does not come cheap. For most of us, it would take a few months before we can even afford a round trip ticket. But this does not mean that we should give up our great desire to see the world and experience other cultures.

So how will you make your travel dreams come true?

Prepare your travel documents:

First of all, if you want to make it happen then do something about it. Start with your travel documents. Other countries would require that you have a passport. So start with that. In certain countries, you may need to apply for a visa. Once you have all your travel documents ready, you can start worrying about other things. Like making money.

Find the money you need:

If you have parents or someone who is willing to pay for everything, then you will not need to read the rest of this blog. However, if you are like most of us, who need to earn the money we spend, then it is time that you start thinking of ways to raise the funds you need, through legal means of course. You don't want to see yourself in an episode of Nat. Geo's Lock Up Abroad. So where to start?

Identify the amount you need:

Don't be cheap when identifying the budget for your travel. See to it that you consider everything as well like air fare, taxes, other fees, board and lodging, food, entrance fees of your destinations and the like. Identifying the amount you need to raise will give you direction to start planning the means to raise the amount.

Check your source of finances:

If you are an employee who relies on your monthly salary, then reevaluate your spending habits. Give up the expenses you don't need without depriving yourself too much. For instance, you like to go out on Friday nights to have fun with friends. Instead of going out, maybe you can just stay home, play poker, cook, watch movie, or anything that you enjoy, (cheaper than going out).

You should also check your purchases. Are you really using them. Visit your pantry, you will be surprised with the things you have but don't use because you don't really cook. How about your closet? Your shoe rack and other storage areas? If you have a lot of things you don't use, then it is time to stop shopping for a while. This goes for men too.

Face it, if you want to save more, you need to give up a few things.

Find other financial sources:

Do not just rely on your salary. Find other sources. Maybe you have some stuff you can sell. Remember the things to that you don't really use? Well, now is the time to use them. You can start selling them to your friends or you may also start a small online store.

If you bake, then start making money out of that. You can do it during the weekends. You can also find an extra job. The internet offers a lot of ways to make money online. Aside from selling you can start blogging, viewing ads, filling out surveys and get paid. You get extra cash without incurring additional expenses.

Plan your trip ahead of time:

This is one of the best ways to save on your trip. Get a round trip ticket ahead of time. Fares are cheaper when purchased a few months ahead. This goes for your accommodations and tourist destinations as well. Some will offer discounts for early bookings. This can really save you a lot. So put your online reservation skills to good use.

Set a deadline:

This is the good thing about booking your plane tickets ahead of time. It gives you 90% certainty that you will be going on trip. This also means that you have to raise the money you need no matter what. To make sure that you do, see to it hat you have a deadline. Your deadline for raising the funds should be a month or a few weeks before the trip. This gives you a lee way, just in case you encounter some financial drawbacks.

Prepare for the trip:

Have a list of the things you need to do before you leave. Among them is asking permission from your boss. File the vacation leave before you purchase your tickets. Make sure that your boss will allow you to travel before you plan anything else, unless you don't mind quitting the job if he does not let you.

Aside from that, list the items you need to pack. This would depend on where you are going, so make sure you research before packing. Check out the climate, the customs and the like. Prepare your itinerary too. Leave a copy of your travel plans to a friend or a family member. Give them the contact information of where you will be staying as well.

Plan the trip but be open to spontaneity. This will make you enjoy your escapade more.

Bon voyage!!!

The Trips We Need To Make

I read a caption from Elliott.org that says:

"The most important trips are not about getting somewhere, they are about getting to someone..."

Most of us do not realize the truth of the statement unless we have experienced being far from a loved one and not being with them in times of trouble. A mother working abroad would give up anything to be with her child after learning that he is in the hospital because of an accident. A son would wish for super powers just to say his final goodbye to his father who died after a stroke.

Of course, we want to travel and see the world. There is beauty in each country that is just waiting to be discovered. Many have dreamed of touring Europe, experiencing Disneyland and the diverse culture in Asia. But nothing beats the sight of a loved one's smile and excitement of seeing us again.