Our Group's Travel Rules 101-8. Put Down That Camera...for a while!

Or, How To Make Sure We're Still Talking To Each Other At the End of the Trip - 8

Sagada, Oct. 2012

Well, yes, of course everyone wants to take pictures! After all, in some places, they're the only things we're allowed to take. We take photos to help us remember, to preserve the moment, let us show family and friends the things and places we've seen.  

By the hanging coffins, Sagada

We take photos to show others where we've been, what we ate, what we saw, where we stayed....or, as Anna's King would say.."etcetera, etcetera!"  We take pictures of ourselves having fun, or just being there. 

By the entrance of Sumaguing Caves, Sagada

How many times have we come face to face with a centuries-old church, 

or a postcard-pretty river scene, or a waterfall gushing out of a rock by the highway

or a simple but beautifully-plated breakfast

and the first thing that comes to our minds is, "Facebook!"

But, picture this: you're on a small boat in the middle of Lake Sebu. It's just you and the lake, because you can't see anything else because of the fog surrounding you. Everyone on the boat  reaches for his/her camera, busy clicking away for facebook. In five seconds, the fog lifts, and you only notice it because the reflection of the sun on the water hurts your eyes. And you realize you missed the experience of being on a boat on a lake totally shrouded by thick fog. You were there, but you missed it. And worse, all you can see on your pictures is something like this 

(Photo from  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dense_Tule_fog_in_Bakersfield,_California.jpg)


Trust us, we're talking from experience and we learned from that. 

By all means, take pictures, lot of pictures!  But don't just take pictures of the locals;  talk to them. 

Vegetable vendor along Halsema Highway

Don't just "shoot" the food ....savor it, ask how it's made, how it's grown. 

Pancit Luglug, Bangkerohan Public Market, Davao City

Shoot the scenery, the windows, the beach, the mountain...but also stay long enough to just keep still and savor the moment....savor the view,  "swim" in the experience of being there. No, drown in it! 

so that there are as many pictures in your heart as there are in your camera. 



"Travelling - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." - Ibn Batutta 

Our Group's Travel Rules 101-7. Now, About Baggage.....

Or, How To Make Sure We're Still Talking To Each Other At the End of the Trip - 7

We all know that most promo/budget fares include no check-in baggage  allowance, and excess baggage fees are .....excessive. Passengers are usually allowed 7 kilos as carry on baggage, although smaller planes such as those that fly to Caticlan (Boracay) allow only 5 kilos. At first we balked at this, and thought it was impossible to pack for a 4-night trip with just 7 kilos. But we did it, and have been doing it for years, so we thought we'd share some tips with you.

Good for 5 nights, 2 people

First, get a lightweight carry-on trolley that weighs 1.5 kilos or less. We each got a cute, China-made one for only P450.00, and the bags served us for many trips. Our only complaint is that the wheels made such a racket that we could hear CLACK-CLACK-CLACK in our heads long after we had disembarked from the plane. Like a last song syndrome, except that this was all percussion. After three years of frequent use, they're still working fine except for a few frays in the fabric.

The P450.00 trolley bags

Sure, you could always buy baggage allowance - the rates are reasonable especially if you buy way ahead of your flight. However, you may stretch the 7-kilo carry on allowance a bit more by bringing along a backpack in addition to the trolley. No, not the one that looks like you're going on a 2-month trek to the Himalayas. Just your regular backpack (which sometimes can also carry 7 more kilos!)/  Now, the airline staff are not consistent about this...sometimes they weigh all handcarried items, sometimes they let you get away with it. Of course it would help if you could walk without keeling over backwards from all that weight. 

Different airlines have different weight restrictions, but even if your carry-on weighs under 7 kilos, some airlines would still insist that you check it in if it exceeds the allowed luggage dimensions. Generally, it should not exceed  56 cm. x 36 cm. x 23 cm. all around, but for smaller planes, the dimensions may be smaller. This is because some overhead stowage bins are really narrow, as in Pal Express' Bombardier planes. It pays to check with your airline and your flight before you start packing. 

Image from USA Today in the Sky

Next, pack clothes that are made of lightweight material. They're not just light, they're usually quick-drying too, so it's a plus if you intend to do a little laundry while on tour. Also, don't bring whole bottles of shampoo and conditioner and other essentials; bring sachets or travel sizes. Or you may want to wait and see if your hotel provides them, and then buy whatever else you need at your destination. 


And lastly, check out which things you can share (no, not toothbrushes...not towels either!). Agree among yourselves who should bring the hairdryer (you don't need one hairdryer EACH, do you?), the tripod (unless you're on a photo safari!), phone chargers, portable water heaters, etc. so you save on space and weight. 

Now, if you really need to sneak in a few more kilos, you could probably try wearing cargo pants...

Image from bostinnostreetwise.com

Hmmm..you could stuff hand towels and T-shirts in those pockets ;-) .  And if you wear those pants with this vest..

Image from thevestguy.com

..then you'd get away with 10 more kilos! There's no guarantee you'll be able to walk from the pre-departure area to the plane, though, much less sit on the plane! But you could try.

"Let your memory be your travel bag." - Alexander Solzhenitsyn

For more information on baggage allowance, check the websites: 

https://www.cebupacificair.com/pages/prepaid-baggage.aspx

http://www.philippineairlines.com/products_and_services/all_about_baggage/free_baggage_allowance/free_baggage_allowance_pal.jsp

Our Favorite Budget Home in Singapore

Lodging in Singapore can be expensive if you don't know where to look. Tony found this hostel on the 'net, and was intrigued by its quaint name - 5footway inn. It's a chain of hostel-type inns across Singapore and now, even Macau. We had never stayed in a hostel before, so we were thrilled, curious and a bit scared before we went. 

We chose the Chinatown branch, or Chinatown Project, as the owners call it, and it was a wise decision as it was only a few steps away from the Chinatown -Pagoda St. exit of the MTR. Very, very convenient!

The inn starts on the second floor, and the stairs from the street level may be hard to find because it's behind souvenir stalls, but all the store clerks know where it is. Great location, alright - it's in the heart of Singapore's Chinese heritage area, and naturally, the shopping and dining area, too. 

Don't you just love the view from our bedroom window?

But location is not the only attraction of 5footwayinn. It has a lot more to offer. 

There were seven of us, and we chose a room with 8 beds. We opted to pay for the extra bed because we didn't want a stranger sharing our room. True, the front desk is small, but they have nice decorative touches like that green furry wall, the lighted counter and the old-fashioned telephone at the end of the counter...

The corridors were narrow, but who cares to lounge in a corridor, anyway?

What it lacks in space, it makes up for in cleanliness and neatness. All rooms are fully airconditioned. Our room had four sets of bunk beds. 

Each bed was equipped with privacy curtains, very clean sheets and towels, a reading light and two power outlets (behind Nancy).  It was our first time to stay in bunk beds! Girls on the lower bunks, guys on top. And yes, the guys negotiated those ladders really well!

And while our room did not have an en suite toilet and bath, there were several toilets and shower rooms down the hall, all very clean.

What we loved best was the breakfast area on the open terrace.

The room rate includes an unlimited continental breakfast... bread, cereal, jam, peanut butter, fruit, milk, etc.

There are standard kitchen utensils and equipment, a coffee machine, microwave oven, water heater, toasters and a fridge. You need to wash your used plates and utensils. 

The terrace even features a small vertical garden.

On the third floor, there's a cozy lounge with tables, laptops and free wifi, and comfy beanbag chairs and floor pillows, and interesting paintings and objets d'art. 

Can you see we how much we loved this place?

Lazing at the lounge after a long day of touring

The hotel is very close to heaven ;-) ..foodie heaven, that is...

..and more heaven...

Since our first stay, 5footwayinn has opened other branches all over Singapore and Macau. The Bugis Project even has single rooms,and rooms with en suite bathrooms. 

Room rate was a little over P700/person/day (SG$23 or so), with free breakfast and all these conveniences.  For accessibility, cleanliness, convenience, value for money and friendliness of hotel staff this hotel tops our list.



"It's better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times." - Asian Proverb according to Fodors.com


For inquiries and booking, you may check out their website and/or FB page: 
http://www.5footwayinn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/5footway


Disclaimer: This is not a paid ad for 5footwayinn...we paid our own way, and they don't even know we're writing about them, but we've recommended the place to many friends and they've enjoyed their stay there.

Our Group's Travel Rules 101 - 5. Leave Your Comfort Zone (But Bring Along Your Creature Comforts)

Or, How To Make Sure We're Still Talking To Each Other At the End of the Trip - 5

We travel to get away from it all. Well, not quite. Travel always takes us away from our comfort zone no matter how luxurious our hotel/resort accommodations may be. It may be the Four Seasons, but it just isn't home. A little unsettling may occur along the way. If we're in a tiny hostel, or in a remote island, the unsettling may be major.

Some people embrace new situations with wild abandon, immersing themselves in the environment as if they had lived there in their past life, while some are able to sleep in a hotel room only by their third night there. 

Our group believes that part of the thrill and learning that occurs whenever we travel is brought about by this new-ness, the change, and the difference from our accustomed lifestyle, and how we cope with it. Not that we've waxed philosophical about it; we just know better than to leave home without some creature comforts. 

All of us are creatures of habit in some way, so there's certainly nothing wrong with bringing along a few creature comforts. If you want your coffee as soon as you wake up at 6 and the hotel does not start serving until 7am, then you'd be a lot happier if you bring along a handy electric water heater and sachets of instant coffee, like Mats does. 

Or, if you insist on eating your breakfast eggs with tomato catsup and nothing but, just tuck a foil pack of catsup in your bag, as Nancy does. Trust us, so many places in the Philippines stock banana catsup only.

 http://www.bunzlcatering.co.uk/bcs_webstore/p/288584039289152/A00839/

Tomato+Ketchup+Sachets+10g

If you're like Millet who likes to read in bed before sleeping, bring along a small reading light (the type that you clip on to a book or e-reader) that can also act as a flashlight. Not all hotel rooms have reading lamps and side tables. 

Some people, like Tony, want an extra pillow, and this may be hard to come by in budget hotels, so the best thing to do is to bring along a small pillow or neck pillow. It works for the head, back, butt, legs and..oh yes, the neck.

Scared of cooties in hotel towels? Get one of those microfiber bath towels that sell for P100 each at SM; they're very light but absorbent.

Scared of cooties in hotel sheets? Or roughing it up and not sure if there's privacy in the beach/forest/tent? Bring along a malong/sarong so you can cover up. 

Photo from http://pinoy-culture.tumblr.com/post/34332784469/asean2015-

\asean-community-malong-philippines

Not sure if the hostel/dorm has hot water in the showers? Bring along a portable water heater and ask the hotel for a pail and dipper. 

Bring all chargers for phone, camera, tablet, and such. Check beforehand not just the voltage output (110 or220 volts) in use in your destination, but also the type of electrical outlets used. Some Asian countries, for example, use a three-hole outlet, so you will need to bring a 3-pronged outlet adaptor like this for your electricals:

All this stuff is lightweight and don't make a dent on our 7-kilo carry-on baggage allowance, but they certainly pack a punch in terms of making for happier trips. 

We have another secret stash of creature comforts. After a day of "feeling-like-20" trekking and exploring, nothing soothes "so-feeling-like-55"  tired muscles like a  rubdown using any of our group's preferred "perfume of the night" (all kinds of liniments and salves). Take your pick!

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone". - Unknown

Our Group Travel Rules 101-4. Find the Positive in Negative Situations (Or, Sometimes the Unexpected Is More Fun )

Or, How To Make Sure We're Still Talking To Each Other At the End of the Trip - 4

Anything can happen on a trip..or not happen. We arrived in Cebu from Hongkong at 2am and found out when we tried to check in that the desk clerk of the hotel had mistakenly booked us for the following day. We had made a 50% deposit before leaving for HK but there she was, telling us they had only two rooms available for the twelve of us, and admitting that she had entered our reservation for the wrong day. 

Twelve tired and sleepy people slumped on the lobby, clueless desk clerk, only two rooms available..what to do?  Have a sleepover! We requested the hotel to provide mattresses for everyone, and decided to put all the girls in one room, and the boys in another - 6 girls in one room (2 on the bed and the rest on mattresses on the floor), and the same arrangement for the six guys in the other  room. We did not have the time and energy to argue with the clerk then (what happened the next day is best reserved for another story), and this did not turn out to be exactly more fun, but at least we got our sleep on proper mattresses. 

On another trip, we decided to fly from Davao to Clark, with plans of taking the bus from Clark to Manila. When the day of the trip came, there was a typhoon affecting the whole of Luzon, and the entire Metro Manila was flooded including the expressway from Clark. So we decided to go to Baguio instead, because we love the cold and we love Baguio in sunshine or in rain, and because in Baguio, we could stay in the terrace and just watch the rain and the pine trees, and still feel good. So we took the bus, got there in five hours, got ourselves in a cozy hotel, and met up with a dear friend, Flo.... 

..who took no time bringing us to activities indoors like bowling, and lots of eating. At other times, we simply had coffee and each other's stories and never-ending laughter. 

And one day, Flo decided to bring us down to La Union (an hour's drive away) for some sunshine, and brought us to the beautiful Thunderbird Resort.

Who would have thought that just a five-hour drive away, Manila was swimming in floodwaters?

On another trip, a road trip in Davao City this time, we had a flat tire that took much longer than usual to fix. 

So while waiting for the tire to be fixed, we decided to walk around the neighborhood, and made many interesting discoveries in the process. 

We found this neighborhood basketball court totally handmade of bamboo, for instance

And a saddle made of wood,rattan and abaca fiber...

And still another time, we were booked for the Underground River Tour in Palawan at 12 noon, but we arrived in Sabang (the takeoff point) at 10 am. We did not want to spend two hours in the hot pier waiting for our turn to board the boats, so when the van driver asked us if we wanted to go caving, we jumped at the chance..even if we were all wearing flipflops. The cave guides assured us that we would be fine.

So we climbed...

..and squeezed our way amongst the boulders..

...and ziplined our way out of the caves and over rice fields..

..and had the time of our lives. And this was even before we had glimpsed the underground river, our original destination!

Sometimes, you just have to make serendipity happen.

"If at some point you have not asked yourself, 'What have I gotten myself into?', then you're not doing it right." - Roland Gau