We arrive in Tokyo today via the shinkansen (bullet train). Getting off at Tokyo Station, I immediately get a feel of just how fast everybody (and I guess everything) move in this city.

It’s rather overwhelming if you’re a first time visitor, and I am just grateful that my friends already know their way around so I just trot after them.

Exploring Tokyo means lots of walking and maybe a couple of pricey train, subway or bus ride. It also means practicing a lot of self-control because there are just too many things you’d be tempted to buy. Tokyo, have mercy on my wallet.

I like pie. Do you like pie? | This brain fart is brought to you by Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

Unfortunately, I only have one Wanderlust travel planner to give out and it’s going to:

Congrats Shiela A, who plan to wander to Ilocos Norte, Siargao, Zamboanga City, Palawan, Surigao, Eastern Visayas, Batanes, Singapore, Baguio, Thailand, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Kota Kinabalu, Bukidnon, General Santos City, Manila, and Cagayan de Oro! I hope the journal would help you plan for those trips and keep you company while you’re wandering

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

Where will you wander this year?

The planner highlights Philippine festivals like the Sinulog (Cebu), Aurora day celebration (Aurora), Pintados de Passi (Iloilo), Bangus Festival (Dagupan), Pahiyas (Quezon), Baragatan (Palawan), Sandugo Festival (Bohol), Kadayawan (Davao), Feast of the Lady of Penafrancia (Bicol), Masskara (Bacolod), Higantes (Rizal) and Balabag Festival (Boracay). Even if you’re not a festival-going traveler, there are tips from travel bloggers Chichi, Mica, Melo, Dong Ho, Enrico Dee, Mary Jane and someone who goes by the name Nina. There are even discount coupons for accommodations and tours in Puerto Galera, Boracay, Bohol, Batangas, Ilocos, Palawan, Cebu, Mindoro, Zambales and Albay.

Oh lookie here…

Once upon a time, I was a planner user. Granted, I was in school then, so most of my activities happen during the week. However, once I started working from home and traveling, it’s my weekends that are packed. That’s why when I saw that the weekends have a bigger writing space than the other days of the week in the Wanderlust planner, I had to smile.

The planner that puts an emphasis on the weekend. I like!

But alas, my planner keeping days are long gone. Andrea and Faith gave me a complimentary journal, and as much as I would like to keep it, I think it would be put to better use by others. So I’m raffling off my Wanderlust Journal to one lucky (or exceedingly competitive) reader. To join, simply tweet this:

Hey @NinaWanders, this year, I plan to wander to (insert destination here)

So simple, yes? You can even raise your chances by tweeting as many destinations as you want. One destination per tweet, please. Winner will be picked through Random.org’s randomizer, and will be announced on January 28, 2012. Contest ends on 11:59pm, January 27, 2012.

Don’t want to take your chances in the raffle or want your planner now? Wanderlust Journals are available in Powerbooks, Fullybooked, A Different Bookstore and Sketchbooks (Greenbelt 5) for Php499.

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

Just Wandering’s Travel Registry

Much like the gift registries malls offer, the travel registry gave them the option to gift me with tours, accommodation, meals, train tickets — the things I would need for my trip to Morocco. The great thing about the registry is that both parties are happy: they know I’ll enjoy their gift and I’m getting something that I need.

Thank you Rotch and Rael!

Actually, the reason why I came up with this travel registry is so that I can have a working example of one. The first time I wrote about this was back in 2008, when a newlywed couple created their online travel registry and gave a talk about it. The website is not accessible anymore, so I thought I’d put something up that would remain up as long as this blog is. Getting gifts out of it is just a happy side effect, really.

Thank you Karla!

This is one way for you to raise money if you are planning a big trip. Not a lot might understand why you’re doing this, but those who know your love travel will surely be delighted to be contributing and somehow being a part of your epic journey. Making one is actually quite easy: Paypal supplies the codes needed, including the shopping cart. No coding knowledge necessary. It’s as simple as putting that Paypal donate button, but instead you’re setting an amount for items in your inventory (which Paypal can also keep track of). The big difference from a donate button though is that Paypal charges a fee for each transaction, so you won’t be getting the full amount. Since not everybody has Paypal, you can also offer alternative ways of getting the money, like bank deposits or just plain cash.

Thank you Sha!

Some tips when setting up a travel registry:

• Be specific about things you really want. If there is an activity you really want to do like a hot air balloon ride or a trek in the desert, highlight it.
• Be general about certain things. One mistake I made with my registry was that I specified different food items that we find cumbersome when we were actually in Morocco. It’s not that we didn’t enjoy those meals — it’s just that we don’t want our food orders to be dictated by a list.
• Keep the prices reasonable. The common comment we got from friends was that the prices we set aren’t too bad — it’s almost like buying us a meal in Manila. Watch out though because when you get to your destination, the prices would vary depending on where you eat.
• Offer something in return. People love to receive as much as they love to give. Offer to give something for high ticket items or be open to accept requests from your sponsors. That’s how I ended up with a Ziplock bag full of Saharan sand.
• Continue saving up. Just because you set up your registry, it doesn’t mean that you can start shopping again. Unless you’re celebrating something big (like a wedding or a graduation) or you’re insanely popular and lovable, there’s a chance you’ll only be getting a 30% response rate.

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

The Awards aims to honour the crème de la crème of bloggers across the Asia-Pacific region. After 2 months of nominations, voting and campaigning, it will all culminate with the prestigious awards ceremony in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur, the bustling capital of Malaysia.

500 bloggers, including the biggest names in the blogosphere from all over Asia-Pacific, will be invited to the gala dinner at Putrajaya Marriott on 16 December 2011, where they will be dazzled by celebrity emcees and talented entertainers well-loved in the region.

The Blog Awards experience will not end there, because after the glamour and fanfare of the awards ceremony, foreign bloggers will also get the chance to get a taste of the unique, colourful culture of Malaysia with a semi-guided tour around the city of Kuala Lumpur the next day.

lolwhut. Yeah, that was my reaction too. Still, it’s really very flattering and it does wonders for my now rapidly inflating ego. You can help inflate it even more by voting for me!

I suppose I now have to tell you why you should vote for me and why I deserve to win. I really don’t know what to say when asked that question, so I’m turning the tables on you. Why do you read Just Wandering? Is it because you like to live vicariously through my posts? Do you come here for the travel tips and advice? Was I able to inspire you to travel? If it’s the last thing, knowing that is enough because what’s what I intended Just Wandering to be. But don’t let that stop you from stroking my ego. Go vote!

Voting will start soon and will end on November 27, 2011. A day before my birthday. Last chance to make this 30th year of mine extra special. Hint hint.

Emotional blackmail aside, I’m happy enough to be recognized for this award. Win or lose, I’ll still traveling with you here on Just Wandering

[UPDATE} Here’s the list of Pinoy blogs in the NAPBAS 2011:
BEST FOOD BLOG – thefatkidinside.com
BEST TRAVEL BLOG – justwandering.org
BEST FASHION BLOG – itscamilleco.com
BEST PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG – lantaw.blogspot.com
BEST GEEK BLOG – geekout.ph
BEST GEEK BLOG – yugatech.com
BEST PARENTING BLOG – themisischronicles.com
BEST LIFESTYLE BLOG – jenniepperson.com
MOST ORIGINAL BLOG DESIGN – blog.ditz-revolution.net
HIDDEN GEM – googlygooeys.com

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

Only three people got the correct answer: Mica, Doi and Lois. They correctly guessed that I’m going to Morocco!

Mica was the first to guess in the blog entry, so she gets the Eagle Creek Travel Journal. Doi posted her guess all three medium. Since Mica’s guess already closed the contest for the journal, she wins the Headware 3-pack. Nobody got it right on Twitter, so I’m just awarding it to Lois, who guessed correctly in the blog.

Once again, thanks for playing the game!

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

As the title suggest, let’s play a guessing game. Guess where I’m traveling to and you win a prize! Up for grabs are the following: Issue 7 of Lonely Planet Magazine Philippines, 3-piece Headware pack and a Travel Journal from Eagle Creek. There will be three winners: one from the blog, one from Twitter and one from the Just Wandering Facebook Page. You can join all three to raise your chances of winning, but you can only win once.

To take a chance to win the Eagle Creek Travel Journal post a comment to this entry with up to 3 guesses. Only one comment per person! The first one to get the correct answer will win the journal.

If the Lonely Planet magazine’s the one you’re after, tweet this: “Hey @NinaWanders, are you going to ________?” You can also make up to 3 guesses (3 different tweets). If you make more than 3 tweets, only the first 3 will be counted. The first to get the correct answer will get the magazine.

For those who want the 3-piece Headware pack, you must post in the Just Wandering FB Page with the following: “Are you wearing @The HeadWare on your trip to __________, @Just Wandering?” The Headware and Just Wandering must be tagged in your post (which means you have to like our pages, muhahaha). You can edit the phrasing, but it should still tag both Just Wandering and The HeadWare Facebook Pages. You can also make up to 3 guesses in one post (or 3 separate posts, one guess each). The first poster to get the correct answer wins.

The answer must be a country. No clues will be given, though feel free to scour my Twitter, Facebook Page and Tumblr for any hints.

In the interest of full disclosure, the Headware people gave me the 3-piece pack to give away. The Lonely Planet Magazine was a complimentary copy and I got the Travel Journal from an event I attended. Why yes, I was spring cleaning.

Raffle runs from 12:00am, October 20, 2011 to 11:59pm, October 21, 2011, Manila time. Winners will be announced on October 22, 2011. This raffle is open to Philippine residents only.

Mechanics:

1. The raffle is open to all Just Wandering readers based in the Philippines.
2. Readers can join by either commenting on this entry, tweeting or by posting a Facebook status update.
3. To join the giveaway for an Eagle Creek Travel Journal, interested parties must post a comment to this post giving up to 3 guesses as Nina’s destination. Only one comment per person. Succeeding comments from the same person will be disqualified.
4. To join the giveaway for the Lonely Planet Magazine, interested parties must tweet “Hey @NinaWanders, are you going to ________?” Fill out the blank with the destination. Each user can make up to three guesses, with one guess per tweet.
5. To join the giveaway for the 3-piece HeadWare, users must like both the The HeadWare page and Just Wandering page on Facebook. They must post on the Just Wandering FB page using the following statement (or a variety of) “Are you wearing @The HeadWare on your trip to __________, @Just Wandering?” The status MUST tag both The HeadWare and Just Wandering. Incomplete tags disqualifies your entry. You may change the wording, but it must have the tags. Three guesses (whether in one update or 3 separate updates) are allowed per user.
6. The first person to get the correct answer in each medium wins. If the same person is the first in all three, the very first posting based on the timestamp will decide which prize he/she will win.
7. Winners will be announced on October 22, 2011 through this blog, Twitter and Facebook. Winners will be notified through e-mail (blog), direct message (Twitter) and private message (Facebook).

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

Stock photos to the rescue

Those renewing must bring their expired/expiring passport, along with a photocopy of the first and last page, amendments page, and the page with the last Bureau of Immigration departure and arrival stamps. For holders of brown passports (issued before May 1995), applicant must also bring a copy of their birth certificate printed on security paper (SECPA). If you forgot to photocopy the documents before going to the DFA, there’s a photocopy machine inside the passport processing area. Copies costs Php 3 per page.

Step 1: Fill out form
The passport renewal application form is available at the counter beside the door to Passport Processing Area 2 (PPA2) in the 2nd floor.

Step 2: Have documents checked and get number
Line up at the counter and have your application form and documents verified. You will be given a queue number. You can now enter the Passport Process Area 2.

Step 3: Submit application
Once your number is called, go up to the window and submit your documents. You will be asked to take a seat while they verify your information. Once finished, you will be asked whether you want the expedited processing (Php 1,200, 10 working days) or the regular processing (Php 950, 20 working days). You will be issued an invoice,

Step 4: Pay processing fee
Go out of PPA2 and go to the cashier section just beside it. Once you’ve paid, go out the same door. If the guard tells you that the exit is on the other side, tell him that you are in the courtesy lane.

Step 5: Have pictures and biometrics taken
Once you’ve paid, go to the photo and biometrics section within the PPA2. Give the receipt of your payment, then your picture and thumbprints will be taken digitally. You will also be asked for your signature and to verify your information.

Step 6: Pay for courier service (optional)
If you live far from the DFA or do not have time to go back to pick up the new passport, you can opt to have it delivered instead. Go to the LBC table near the door and pay Php 120 for each passport (even if they are going to be delivered to the same address). The new passport will be delivered the following day after the passport’s release date.

That’s it. All in all, the entire process only took us 30 minutes.

The DFA Courtesy Lane is open for senior citizens, infants and minors, government employees and their families. For a guide on how to apply for a Philippine passport for children/minors, read the Hippie Mum’s guide.

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

So great to see the Philippine flag on an AirAsia plane

Though announced back in December, the airline only received its first Airbus A320 recently and today, it landed at DMIA from the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France.

The AirAsia Philippines is targeted to start flying commercially in October 2011, serving Singapore, Macau and Hong Kong, upon official approval. The second aircraft is expected to arrive in first quarter 2012 and will ply the routes to Bangkok (Thailand), Incheon (South Korea), Kalibo and Puerto Princessa.

Suffice to say, this is great news for travelers, specially for those living in the North and Central Philippines. More than anything, I’m eager to see how this new player in the industry will affect airfare prices.

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

I’m an idiot who uses two different apps for two different Twitter accounts. Yes, I know I can use one for both. It’s just easier this way. Or so I tell myself.

I’ve gone through several apps throughout the year, but these are the ones that have stuck with me:

My Vacation

So nice and organized!

This is actually a relatively new addition to my App list. The makers of My Vacation, Jasper Apps, sent me a coupon to try out their app. I have been content with using the Notes app on the iPod, so I was keen to check out if the app can make preparing and blogging the trip easier.

Was able to buy insect repellant before the trip!

Turns out, it did! Before the trip, I typed in our flight information and contact numbers in the notes section so I can easily refer to it when needed. What I liked in particular though is the built-in packing list. It has a list of suggested item, at the same time lets you add your own. As I looked through it, I realized I forgot about certain things, and I was able to buy them before leaving. They also have a to-do check list, where I wrote down the places we can visit in our destination.

The app has a presentation thing that lets you view the photos taken during the trip while the journal scrolls through the next panel. You can also view the destination on Google Maps. My Vacation allows you to keep your trip journal and photos by date so you can easily recall and find specific pictures or notes.

You can flip the photo to show the map

I found myself tapping on the keyboard writing on the journal while waiting for delayed flight or for food. I love that I can just write and post it to my blog or Facebook, send it as e-mail or to my Dropbox. I can even send it to other devices that has My Vacation installed. My two Back to Bicol posts were written and posted through My Vacation. I really liked that function, and found myself wishing for the new iPod with a camera. Still, I love how it was able to integrate the photos cleanly within the post. I have some issues with how the post was formatted, but that can be fixed within WordPress (though it would be great to be able to do without that). Overall, it’s a pretty nice app for keeping your trip notes, photos and journal organized.

Spending

Cutting my trip short. Sob.

You’ve seen my travel budget posts (which really should be called travel expenses). You know how anal I get with keeping tabs at every single peso that comes out of my wallet. I decided to track all my expenses, not just during my travels so I know just how much damage I’m doing to my non-existent pile of gold. I first tried out the free lite version of Spending, but quickly upgraded and bought the full app, if only for the passcode lock (there are probably other features that the full version has that the lite doesn’t but this is the one that matter most to me).

I love how I can categorize my expenses and income so I can easily see which ones I need to work on and which expense I have to cut back on. It also made me see just how money I’m wasting. Boy, was that an eye-opener. What I really really love about the app is its ability to upload to Google Docs. Gone were the days that I would have to type down each expense from my notebook unto my spreadsheet and compute each one to fit the category. This app just made it so much easier that I merely do minor edits on Excel before I publish and upload on my blog.

Currency

It kills me how low the dollar is nowadays

Technology can be seen as both good and bad. Good, because it lets you quickly convert foreign currency to your own currency, bad because it kills your brain cells. Now I can hardly do math in my head. Still, I’m grateful to this handy app for making it easy to know exactly how much 4,000,000 Vietnamese dong costs.

The app lets you convert to several foreign currencies. Just tap one currency and key in the amount. It will automatically convert to all the currency you set the app to convert to. Very very handy.

Accuweather

Can’t get more detailed than this.

The iPod and iPhone has its built-in weather app, but I love how paranoid Accuweather is. Apart from the daily forecast, it has an hourly weather forecast, which is great so you know when to wrap up your sightseeing and head indoors.

Hostel World

Ahh, if only.

Here’s an app that I’ve had in my iPod for a while but haven’t really used. It basically lets you search through HotelWorld’s extensive database of budget accommodations, book or mark as favorite for future reference. I haven’t used this yet (haven’t had the chance to), but I’m hoping I’d get to use it at least once this year. It’s great to have this as a research tool when you’re still in the planning phase of your trip. Which I’m doing at the moment

Cartographer

So pretty~~

Here’s another app that haven’t been used much. Not that I don’t want to use it. It’s just that the places I’ve been to lately haven’t been properly mapped yet. What made me download this app is its integration with Google My Maps. Basically, you can create your map on Google Maps, put in your notes and everything then sync it with the app. Presto, instant customized map for your trip! What’s even better is that it lets you download the maps so you can view it offline. It also helps that the app is pretty. Watch the video that sold me on the app. So looking forward to using this on an upcoming trip!

World Customs and Cultures

They got that one right…

Ever had to rush out to a trip without having the time to really read up on your destination? That happened to me a couple of times. This app helped me learn about the important stuff: the local customs and culture. There’s nothing worse than a cultural faux pas, and though some local might laugh it off since you’re the clueless tourist, it’s still better not to commit them in the first place. While it doesn’t have all the countries in the world, it does have most of them. It has entries on greetings, communication style, personal space & touching (very important!), eye contact, views of time, gender issues, gestures, taboos and law & order.

Fring

Fring fring…

Fring is an all in one communication app that logs you in to Yahoo! Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ (people still use ICQ?), Twitter and Facebook. I use it mainly for chatting on Y!M and GTalk, though if I have a headset with a mic, I can also make calls using the app. I have this installed on my Nokia and I’ve been able to make Fring to Fring calls to my brother in Singapore over wi-fi.

HeyWire

Ang sagot: wala pang sweldo

HeyWire also lets you login to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, but I use it mainly to send SMS to friends. When I was phone-less earlier this year, this app came in handy for sending messages to friends. This can help you cut down on international roaming costs, as you only need to connect to the wi-fi to send messages to friends and family back home (if they don’t know how to use Facebook or have an e-mail address, that is). If you’re using an iPhone though, make sure you’re connecting via wi-fi, not through the local mobile network as data charges while roaming are very expensive. (I was billed Php 1,700+ for a 1.3MB data transfer. OUCH.)

WordPress

Must work on backlog.

Of course, I can’t not have WordPress in my iPod! The app lets me draft and publish posts, but more importantly, it lets me approve and reply to comments. If typing on the iPod isn’t such a bitch, I would be blogging more through this app.

Dictionary

Got this word right when I was in the midst of my Dramione fandom.

The most important tool that ALL bloggers must have: a dictionary. It’s basically Dictionary.com, but there’s no need to go online to look up words. So you have no excuse to misuse words in your blog!

Angry Birds

My bird. It’s angry.

I can’t write about iPod apps without including Angry Birds! This is certainly one of the best value games, not to mention addicting! It kept me entertained during the bus ride from Hoi An to Hue, the 8-hour ferry ride from Mandalay to Bagan and in between activities while traveling through Bicol earlier this month. I have all the variants (Original, Seasons, Rio), and it’s the best $0.99 app you can buy.

Shanghai Lite

Best pearl of wisdom ever.

The free version has very limited boards, but the fortune that comes upon completion of each game is priceless.

Wordsearch

I actually did this puzzle back in November while waiting for my flight to Myanmar. So fitting, no?

The classic word search puzzle has gone digital! There are several word categories available: English words, food & drink, colors, body parts, world countries, etc. The game is timed, so you can easily be baited to keep on beating your own record.

Flood it

Flood it!

This is another puzzle game. You start from the upper left corner and you fill in the space with colors until you have one solid board. But you have to do it in 22 steps or less! This is app is free and is also available on Android.

Tong-its Lite

Tong-its! I wonder if there’s a Pusoy Dos app…

Ah, my latest addiction. I used to have different Tong-its app that lets you play with other players, but that requires an Internet connection. This one lets you play against the computer (err, iPod), so no need to go online. I downloaded this just a couple of days ago and I haven’t stopped playing it since.

What are the apps on your iPod/iPhone?

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

Day 3 – Hello Once More, Donsol

Donsol

Thursday, April 7, 2011

We made our wy back to Legazpi, leaving Naga early to ensure we have plenty of time. The ride was uneventful, save for some uncomfortable shifting in out seats to find the least cramped position in the packed van.

The central terminal in Legazpi have all the vans and buses that arrive and depart the city. While we could have just jumped from our van to one that’s headed to Donsol, we opted to stretch our legs before tackling another 2-hour ride.

We did not venture far. A short walk from the terminal is the Pacific Mall, where we’re sure to find a place to rest and eat. We ended up at the place adjacent instead; CDJ Halo-halo, which also serve hot meals and has free wi-fi. Just what we needed.

Though new vans service most routes, I was dismayed to see the old beat up Mitsubishi L-300 vans that seemed to be the same van I rode 3 years ago. Nevertheless, it proved to be a more comfortable ride as it has a bigger legroom, which new vans don’t have.

The ride was shorter than we thought, taking only 1.5 hours. It was the wait for passengers that was agonizing, and my sister-in-law had resorted to paying for an extra seat just so we can push off and be comfortable in the back row (which they insist can fit 4 passengers).

We had reservations at Vitton, a sprawling resort right at the beach and right next to the tourism office. It was great to have some time to relax and do laundry before diving into another set of activity.

Our only activity for the day, rather, night was the fireflies tour. Arranged through Vitton, we were driven by tricycle to the boarding area about 30 minutes from the resort. We registered and got into a small banca, and we soon found ourselves enveloped in darkness as we putt-putted. Up the Ugon river.

Just shortly after we pushed off the bank we saw individual fireflies. It was amazing enough to see one and two, but to see an entire tree covered in fireflies that seem to be blinking in uniform is just beyond amazing.

This is what I love about Donsol. You can break away from the things that give you stress and get as close as you can to nature. The sight of trees shrouded in darkness and the sound of the soft splashing of the paddle on the water lulls us into quiet contemplation. The night sky is filled with stars and we know at that moment that tomorrow’s going to be perfect.

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

Pinay Travel Junkie
Gay started traveling when she was single, continued traveling when she got married, and now, she’s on her way to being the perfect nomadic momma.

Pinay Solo Backpacker
Who’s afraid of getting lost? Gael isn’t definitely one of them! While some travelers fear losing their way, this fearless female traveler boldly goes where no one dares.

Trip@dora
With an unquenchable thirst for adventure, Izah looks forward to each trip with gusto. whether she travel for work or for herself, she tackles each with the same enthusiasm and fervor.

Sole Sisters
Who said backpacking means dressing down and looking like an unwashed slob? Sole sisters Chichi and Lois are off to break stereotypes, traveling around Southeast Asia for five months with only the stylish clothes and accessories in their backpacks.

Lakwatsera de Primera
Claire can’t seem to keep still. One moment she’s in Australia, the next she’s in some far flung province in the Philippines. A very diligent travel blogger, she shares her adventures with a regularity lazy bloggers (me) can only dream of.

Monette of Flip’n travels
The double X chromosome of Flip’n Travels, Monette is another chicha travel who’s mighty talented with the pen. Their collaboration work on the Hello Stranger series is a must read.

First Time Travels
Don’t let the name fool you; Claire is a seasoned traveler who’s been to various places around the Philippines and the world. And she does it in between her hectic work for an NGO.

No Spam, No Virus, No Kiddin’!
Though it’s actually a personal blog, Chyng travels too much that it’s starting to evolve into a travel blog. Onting pilit nalang. She takes each trip as a challenge to experience something new. She has gone spelunking in Sagada, hiking in Batad, SCUBA diving in Bohol and wake boarding in Camarines Sur. What’s next, Chyng?

Fly and Get Lost
Technically not a traveler YET, Karen is itching to get on the road and on board the hopelessly-addicted-to-travel wagon. Right now, she’s planning her Southeast Asian adventure, which will mark her first time to travel overseas. All the best to you Karen, and I hope to travel with you someday

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

On March 14, Seair will start their daily Clark – Hong Kong flights. Introductory price starts at USD 35/Php 1,500/HKD 270 one-way, including taxes. Promotional fares are available from now until March 2 for travel between March 13 to May 31, 2011.

“We look forward to serving travellers between Hong Kong and the Philippines with our ultra low fares. This has been possible because, like Tiger Airways, we are disciplined in eliminating unnecessary costs,” said Avelino Zapanta, President and CEO of SEAIR.

“With our new Hong Kong services and additional routes to be announced later, we are excited to contribute even more to our country’s employment, tourism industry, and national economy,” added Zapanta.

Seats are marketed through www.FlySeair.com and www.tigerairways.com, following the expansion of the Partner Airline programme between SEAIR and Tiger Airways. The programme allows SEAIR to distribute its seats through Tiger Airways’ established internet booking system, www.tigerairways.com. SEAIR is the first Tiger Airways Partner Airline in the Asia Pacific region.

“We are delighted to be expanding our Partner Airline programme with SEAIR,” said Tony Davis, President & Group CEO of Tiger Airways. “Tiger Airways has established a strong marketing presence in both Hong Kong and the Philippines which will ensure strong sales for these new services from SEAIR. As we continue to grow this programme with more routes and services we look forward to achieving greater economies of scale which means even lower fares for all travellers.”

Source: Seair Facebook Page

Get up to 10% off your Clark-Singapore flight and up to 25% off your Singapore-Clark flight when you book before March 2. This discount applies to flights between March 1 to October 29, 2011. That covers both summer and semestral breaks!

You can get these fantastic deals through www.FlySeair.com and www.tigerairways.com.

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

I’m sure you’re wondering about the answers, so here they are:

1) What is traditionally served for lunch among the Portuguese?
Answer: Cozido a Portuguesa
Source: Day 4: Delving into Macau’s heritage and jumping off the Macau Tower
We headed to the Macau Military Club for lunch. What was waiting for us was the traditional Portuguese Sunday fare: Cozido a Portuguesa. It’s basically a meal that combines different kinds of sausages and meats, chicken, pork and beef. It was a buffet so you can pick your choice of meat. It was our first encounter with Portuguese-style sausages. I couldn’t remember the names of the two other sausages served, but I took quite a liking to the Portuguese blood sausage. The cozido is quite a heavy meal. Traditionally, it is followed by a siesta. Thankfully, our itinerary allowed us to have a siesta — we had free time after lunch.

2) In which book can you find this paragraph:
“Tourists, of course, are always other people; never us. We are different. We are travellers – intelligent, well-mannered and cultured, a blessing on our chosen destinations, a delight to have around. It’s a common attitude, and one that I have always found condescending and offensive, as well as inaccurate. If you travel away from home for pleasure, you’re a tourist, no matter how you like to dress it up.”
Answer: Encore Provence by Peter Mayle
Source: Memorable lines from my favorite travel books

3) Who was my guide at Angkor Wat?
Answer: Kim Soryar
Source: Day 3: Angkor Heritage Park, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Kim Soryar came highly recommended online. He was mentioned in the notes my sister-in-law’s officemate’s Cambodia trip research document. I googled his name, and found several forums that has members raving about his services. So I took a chance and e-mailed him, inquiring about his rates and itinerary. It turns out he’s available for the dates I needed a guide,and that his rates (and the tuktuk and driver’s) is within my budget, so I went ahead and booked for today.

4) What song is this busker singing?

Answer: Proud Mary
Source: The video of the busker singing can be found within the post “Hong Kong, the second time around.” He’s hard to understand due to the accent (when I first heard him singing, I didn’t even think he was singing in English). If you’re a Glee fan, you’d probably have guessed it upon hearing the chorus. But if you’re not, one way to find out is to Google “lyrics “rolling on the river”" Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a mix-up as some websites list that the song’s title is Rolling on the River

5) True or False: I’ve been to all countries in Southeast Asia
Answer: False
Source: 9 things I did when I was 29
My goal for this year was simple: complete visiting the 10 ASEAN member countries before my 30th birthday. Yes, I cheated; it was supposed to be Southeast Asia, but I knew I won’t be able to do East Timor this year. Brunei and Myanmar were the last two in my list and I ticked them off just in time.

Bonus Questions:
Bonus Question #1 (appeared on Twitter): Where did I encounter this toilet?

Answer: Tasmania, Australia
Source: Flickr photo page (answer appears in the tags)

Bonus Question #2 (appeared on RSS feed): Who’s my favorite travel author?
Answer: Peter Moore
Source: I met Peter Moore!
That’s why this time, I made sure I know what’s happening in Melbourne, and I take careful notes to the events I want to join. I purposely gave the Melbourne Cup a miss because even though it’s the biggest event here, I find that I’m not really interested in it (the Flemington Racecourse is just 10 minutes away, whereas I flew 800 kilometers for the Mardi Gras). One thing I didn’t pass on was the chance to attend the WordCamp Melbourne, and a chance to meet my favorite travel writer, Peter Moore.

Bonus Question #3 (appeared on Facebook): Where in San Juan can you try candied bacon?
Answer: Crystal Jade Xiao Long Bao Restaurant
Source: Just Wandering Facebook photos
Anyway, this is thinly sliced pork, fried with sesame seeds. Tasted like candied bacon. This is at Crystal Jade Xiao Long Bao restaurant in V-Mall, Greenhills

Bonus Question #4 (appeared on RSS): Which sporting event gives us reason to visit Bangkok every September or October?
Answer: Thailand Open
Source: Thailand Open 2010
“Those who follow Just Wandering on Facebook and Twitter would already know that I spent the weekend in Bangkok. If you recall, I was in Bangkok around the same time last year as well. The reason for heading to BKK last weekend was the same as last year’s: to stalk watch Rafael Nadal at the Thailand Open.“

Bonus Question #5 (appeared on Twitter): How did I find out about Manila Hotel’s Holiday Room Promo?
Answer: Carlos Celdran’s Tweet
Source: Just Wandering’s Facebook
I seldom open my Twitter, and the one time I did, I chanced upon Carlos Celdran’s tweet about Manila Hotel’s promo (http://on.fb.me/gmiXrw).

The final tally:
Karen Marty Dela Cruz – 2 raffle entries
Katrina Centeno – 2 raffle entries
Christopher Cunanan
Jordan Lazaro – 2 raffle entries
Chyng# – 2 raffle entries
Brian Madrid
dyanie – 2 raffle entries
joanna lau## – 2 raffle entries
BPS – 2 raffle entries
Rey Martin Canate – 2 raffle entries
Joy Mesina-Bahia*
ida* – 2 raffle entries
Sheila Espanol*
Kara Frances Mauricio* – 2 raffle entries
Dash Estefani – 2 raffle entries
Ruby Escalona*
Doris Domasian – 3 raffle entries
Chechel Estacio – 2 raffle entries
Ivy Manalansan* – 2 raffle entries
Raquel Lao# – 2 raffle entries
Melody Co#
Rotch* – 2 raffle entries
John Carlo Senas – 2 raffle entries
Edrick Sierra**
Kenneth Gonzalez**
Jon Sierra**
Jon Edrick Sierra**
Josephine Sierra**
Deza – 2 raffle entries
LOURDES ESPANOL*
Ezra Montemayor*
Julius#
Angel Juarez* – 2 raffle entries
tin zablan – 2 raffle entries
Rose Anne Cutie – 3 raffle entries
Emilhene Tan*
Dex# – 2 raffle entries
Deza# – 2 raffle entries
Connie Torres* – 2 raffle entries
Selina Gabriel# – 2 raffle entries
Anna Joson – 2 raffle entries
Sheila S. Acut* – 2 raffle entries

Names with an asterisk (*) means that you got one answer wrong, but you answered the bonus questions correctly, thus offsetting the wrong answer. You need to get ALL answers correctly if you want to get 3 raffle entries.

Names with two asterisks (**) means that though you scored at least 6 and above, I’m giving you only 1 raffle entry each since I have strong reasons to suspect you are just one (or 2) persons using different combinations of your name and e-mail address in an attempt to get more entries in.

Names with a hash (#) means that you got 9 out of 10 questions correctly!

Names with two hash (##) means that while you got all 5 bonus questions correctly, you made some mistakes with the main questions.

And the winner is…

BPS

Congratulations, you got your basket of goodies! I’m sure your friend will appreciate the items you’ll be sharing with her

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!

From left to right: SEAIR President Avelino Zapanta, SEAIR COO Patrick Tan, SEAIR guests and suppliers Ms. Elsa Santos and Mr. Rico Santos of Job1Global, Father Victor Apacible, Batanes Congresswoman Hon. Henedina Abad, Congressional Chief of Staff Walter Estamo, and SEAIR Vice-President for Operations Capt. Adelberto Yap.

From the press kit:

Batanes is the only place in the Philippines that experiences four seasons, with autumn in September to November, winter from December to February, spring from March to May, and summer from June to August. SEAIR currently flies up to three times daily to Batanes until June.

From personal experience, I like flying the Dornier 328 to Boracay. With the Dornier, you can fly to Manila to Caticlan in just 35 minutes! My commute to the airport from my house takes longer than the flight.

For more information on SEAIR flights and promos , go to www.FlySeair.com and join our Facebook Fan page at http://www.facebook.com/flyseair. For flight packages, please call +632-843-7304 or +632-840-2803.

Copyright 2006-2011 Nina Fuentes | Justwandering.org | Let’s build the Blogger House with Habitat for Humanity!