Trip Ko Lang

Here are 5 things to do before going on a trip. I have gathered these useful tips based on personal experiences as an appointed planner of the group/initiator/adventure lover/eager traveller with my family and friends’ holiday trips.

1. Google it. Do online research on your travel destination. Google will provide you with good results from different  blogger experiences on hotels, beach resorts, how to get there, accommodation rates, places to visit and etc. You will get a more friendly and realistic reviews/comments and not just learning about it from the companies/businesses’ point of view.

2. Ask your friends. Tell them your plans and ask if they know something about the place. They might refer a good place to stay or suggest interesting things to do that can help make your planning a lot easier.

3. Booked early. If you have already finalized your travel destination, date for your trip and confirmed the people coming with you, then you can now booked your transportation (bus/plane/rent a van) and hotel/resort. It is always advisable to book early so you can avail of cheaper rates, you have time to save money and avoid any last minute change of plans.

4. Write down your Itinerary. Yes you have to put everything on writing, set a meeting with your group to discuss the things you want to do, sights and places you want to visit, food to try and etc. Include estimated time, how many hours will be spent on one place, give some time adjustments or make your schedule flexible in case something unexpected would arise during the trip. Don’t forget to consider your travel time in between places and available transportation.

5. Budget your expenses. The most important part in any trip, putting in mind your allotted budget, your actual expenses and how will you be spending wisely on your trip. But this depends on you; some would go on a trip to really splurge while others would go on a tight budget trip just to spend their vacation. Set your transportation, accommodation, food, and other expenses. Give allowances so that you won’t be short with money, ready for any emergencies and if ever you will still have money left after the trip then it will give you a good feeling that you didn’t go over budget and have spent reasonably the whole trip.

These are my 5 travel tips on planning before a trip, really helpful from my experiences, made planning easier and trips more enjoyable. Hope you can also make use of it and share it to your family and friends.

Day 2, first stop in our itinerary – Casa Gorordo Museum at 35 Lopez Jaena St. Cebu City. It was early Saturday morning around 8am, we were already on our way to see this museum, planned to ride a jeepney but the jeep number that we needed seldom passed by and so when we saw an Avanza taxi we immediately got in. Told the driver, Lopez Jaena St./Gorordo Museum, thought he understood us but later on realized we were getting far and the ride was supposed to be short because it was just nearby. Finally, the driver spoke and he thought we were going to the Gorordo in Lahug, a bit embarrassed that we went the wrong way, the driver was laughing and won’t stop saying sorry. (It’s okay, Manong… we understand…) Then, when we arrived in Lopez Jaena St., he just asked us to pay 35php and still saying sorry… we also felt shy but anyways, thank you so much Manong driver for being too kind.

Casa Gorordo Museum

We went in and paid for our entrance fees, total of 60php (30php each). But the prices posted at the entrance were different, surprised to pay cheaper. Maybe, Bishop Gorordo was with us and taking care of our expenses… haha. Camera is not allowed inside the house/museum. You can only take pictures outside.

view outside

The place was really, really amazing. I really love to visit old Filipino houses built in wood as well as the stuffs inside. Everything was so beautiful. I was wishing to live in a house just like that… haha. It was also my first time to see different parts of a house during the Spanish era – they have the descantos, the salas, the suitor’s room, guest room, library, music room, small and big dining area, kitchen, etc. Suitor’s room, wondering if we still have this in our homes, haha, and maybe proper courtship will remain and men will really have a hard time because there was even a seat for the chaperone. Library was also interesting; it has a copy of Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere and some of his other books written. I can’t really contain my excitement in what I was seeing and so I managed to get some shots of the inside of this lovely old house.

Salas, Kitchen and Hallway only in Trip Ko Lang

We all had fun viewing Casa Gorordo Museum and had different insights about Bishop Gorordo, their lovely home, Spanish times, their one-of-a-kind kitchen utensils, the restroom at that time and other stuffs. And we will forever wish we can live in this kind of home and maybe meet the first Filipino Bishop in person.

I'm really wondering... hmmmmm....

Are you bored of your everyday routine life?  Are you too stressed with work and people around you?

It’s time to do something different, forget about your problems, and walk your way to Crown Regency’s Skywalk Extreme Challenge.

Skywalk Experience

The moment I stepped on the hotel’s 37th level outer-rim, my mind focused to ME, and only ME – gahd, I need to control myself, I need my sanity, and get out of here alive! It’s a good thing that I’m not afraid of heights but looking down really makes me feel dizzy. We had 15 minutes to stay up in the sky and survive the challenge. While we were there, I just savoured every moment – cool air, sunny weather, and magnificent view of the island. It was really exciting and I even loved when we were asked to sit on the edge… I was hoping to stay much longer but of course we can’t stay too long. 

one-of-a-kind adventure

This sky experience adventure definitely made my summer a memorable one. Got to do something different and prove to myself that I can do the challenge, thou a bit scared but  enjoyed every moment up in the sky. If you’re also up to a different kind of adventure, fly now to Cebu and take the Skywalk Extreme Challenge. Enjoy!

Day 1 – 24 April 2009 (Friday)

7.50am – departure from Manila via Zest Air

9.20 – arrival in Mactan Cebu International Airport

10.30 – check-in Golden Valley Hotel in Pelaez St. Cebu City

11.00 – lunch at Jollibee

11.30 – Jumalon Butterfly Sanctuary

2.00 – Crocolandia

4.00 – Meet friend in Ayala Cebu

5.00 – Taoist temple

6.30 – Back to hotel and dinner

Day 2 – 25 April 2009 (Saturday)

7.00 – breakfast in hotel

8.00 – Casa Gorordo Museum in Lopez Jaena St.

10.30 – Crown Regency (Edge Coaster, Skywalk, 4-D Dino Rampage movie, Snack at the bar)

12.30 – Magellan’s Cross and Sto. Nino Basilica

1.30 – lunch at Chowking

3.00 – Ayala Mall, merienda in Ice Castle

6.00 – back to hotel, bought ihaw-ihaw on side streets

Day 3 – 25 April 2009 (Sunday)

7.00 – breakfast at Jollibee

8.30 – English mass in Sto. Nino Basilica

10.00 – Fort San Pedro

11.00 – back to hotel and check-out

12.00 – lunch at CNT lechon

1.00 – SM Cebu

3.00 – watched movie Monster vs. Aliens again…

6.00 – dinner in Chikahan sa Cebu

8.00 – arrival in Cebu Mactan International Airport

10.05 – departure from Cebu via Zest Air

11.20 – arrival in Manila

Note:

We didn’t really had a plan at first, we just noted all places to visit and then everything came into place in terms of proximity of the locations, time of the day, weather conditions, and means of transportation. We rode a taxi, jeep, tricycle, and a trisikad just to get to these places. We met a lot of different cebuanos, some are nice people, some are makulet, funny and most of the time they speak to us in Bisaya. Cebu city is just like our Quiapo in Manila, busy streets, busy people on the streets selling stuffs, walking, begging for alms, and old structure of buildings, a lot of jeepneys, dirty roads, “buwaya” policemen and traffic anywhere. I can’t really say that it is a safe city but you should always be alert and aware of your belongings and people around you.