Japan is worth it. It’s very very expensive, yes, but it’s also a really really beautiful country to explore. To those who I haven’t scared off yet, here’s my Project Japan (549) file, which contains my itinerary, pre-trip budget (which I completely disregarded in the face of sushi), resources and other information. I hope it would help you in planning your dream trip to Japan

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

I promised them I’d give a copy of my spreadsheet, which has our itinerary, budget, list of accommodation we considered staying at and links to various resources. Since it’s Christmas and all, I decided to share it with everyone! So here’s a little something from me to you: Project Morocco (1467).

It’s nothing fancy, but it should be enough to get you started. It’s my way of saying thanks for all sticking with me through all these years

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

Headware

Sha and Winston sort-of modeling the Headware for me

It’s one of those stretchy, tubes of fabric that you wear mostly on your head, but if you’re built like Olive Oyl, you can probably wear it as a tube top or a mini skirt. The wonderful people at Headware sent me a couple to try out, and I’ve taken a liking to it. It keeps sweat from dripping to my eyes and camera when I’m taking pictures and it keeps my hair from flying around the place when it’s very windy (or when I’m on a boat). There are different ways to wear it, but if you’re creative enough, you can use it as a makeshift burka for your doll.

Somebody was bored

Headware is available in R.O.X. outlets (and a whole bunch of other stores listed here) and retails for Php 240 – Php 390. You can get a chance to win a 3-pack Headware by liking the Headware Facebook page (complete mechanics here). You can also try your chances at a contest I’ll be having at the end of the week. Watch out for it!

Water resistant jacket

columbia Cliffhanger Jacket

As cute as those cotton jackets are, they only fight against the cold. They’re more of a nuisance when you get caught in the rain because they absorb water. That’s what I loved about my Columbia Waypoint Softshell jacket. It keeps me warm and it keeps me dry. So when I (stupidly) lost it last March, I made sure to find a replacement before the upcoming trip. Pictured above is the Cliffhanger Softshell jacket, which is actually bulkier than my old one but it totally wins because it’s purple. I’m shallow like that.

Comfortable shoes

For something called Free, it’s quite expensive.

Like my jacket, my trusty running shoes (which I don’t use for running — cue the angry villagers!) was due for a replacement. I’ve had the grey and purple Nike Free since 2008 and I find it really comfortable and a great fit for my feet. I’ve looked at other shoes to replace it, but in the end, I decided to go with the tried and tested. After all, if you’re going to be walking a lot, it just makes sense to walk around with comfortable shoes.

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

Money is one of the biggest concerns when traveling. Aside from saving enough for your trip, the other pressing concern is how much to bring and how to bring it. When I travel, I usually bring cash (peso and US dollar, when overseas), my ATM and my credit cards. I developed this terrible habit of relying on my credit cards for more expensive items, specially when the establishment accept credit card payments. This of course, results to me going beyond my budget.

On the other hand, having a credit card proved useful when I found myself unable to find an open money changer upon arriving late in Kota Kinabalu and specially when I found out that the US dollar bills I bought were practically useless as the money changer wouldn’t accept it for exchange. It also helped a lot when I ran out of cash on the last leg of my Southeast Asian backpacking trip in 2009.

Convenience always comes with a price. In exchange for the service, you pay interests for your charges (of course) and you also pay an annual fee to use the card.

A great alternative to credit cards are debit cards. Debit cards work like ATM cards: it’s tied to a savings or checking account, and you’re only allowed to use the available funds within the account. This means no going over budget, no interest charges, and best of all, no annual fees. You use it like you would a credit card, paying for items without having to withdraw cash. Of course, you can still use it to withdraw money from the cash machine without the additional cash advance fee.

When I traveled solo for the first time, I made sure I was prepared. Along with the dollars and pesos in my wallet, I also had two credit cards (one Visa, one Mastercard) and two debit cards (both Visa Electron cards). What I liked about the debit cards is that I was able to use my local ATM card to withdraw money from any machine that has the Visa logo.

Now that I’m trying to be more responsible and control my spending, I’m making an effort to limit my credit card abuse. While I’m not comfortable completely eliminating my credit cards, I think the debit card would be a great compromise.

Visa believes that one of the most important financial tools is not a product but knowledge. That is why Visa has been developing financial literacy programs that teach individuals how to spend, save and budget responsibly. In 2009 Visa committed to reach 20 million people worldwide with financial education by 2013. For more of Visa’s financial literacy materials visit http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com.

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

US Ambassador to the Philippines at the inauguration of NOX1. Photo by Jane Tenefrancia Uymatiao, used with permission.

The time in my confirmation says 7:15, but I was there an hour ahead, even if the instruction was to be there 30 minutes before my schedule. I walked away from the hoard and found a quiet spot facing the Manila Bay. Distracting myself from the unappealing aroma wafting from the water, my mind wandered back a month when I first learned that I need to apply for a US Visa.

I had just walked back to our table at the Camsur Watersports Complex after taking pictures of wakeboarders showing off practicing. The first thing I did was to check my iPod if there are new e-mails. There were several, but one particularly stand out: an invitation to visit Guam. As excited as I was about this opportunity, I knew that a US visa is required for the tiny US territory, and that’s one thing I don’t have, and frankly, something I never thought I’d ever apply for. I quickly fired off a reply, explaining my predicament, and they assured me that they will assist me in getting a visa. A meeting was set with the Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) a day after my return to Manila, and in the meantime, I filled out the online application form.

I had to snort at my (now) apparent stupidity, printing each page of the questionnaire, not knowing that I can view and print it in its entirety at the end. It took me more the alloted 20 minutes to complete and print each page, giving the Internet shop owner in Bulusan a headache with my crazy request to print and scan each page. After it was all over, I was toting a 26-page pile of documents that I now use as scratch paper. Filling out the form made it somewhat real: that I’m really applying for a US tourist visa.

They gave us pointers during the meeting. Be confident, don’t fidget. Don’t be afraid because there’s nothing you should be afraid of, specially if you’re not planning on doing anything illegal. I pestered them and friends who has been through this before and got the same advice. With the advice comes their assurance: you’ve been to plenty of places already. That shows you come back to the Philippines every time you travel.

Outdoor waiting area. Photo by Jane Tenefrancia Uymatiao, used with permission.

I look at my watch and saw that it was already 6:45am. I stood up and made my way back to the embassy’s entrance. I lined up with the rest of the applicants for a non-immigrant visa, wondering just how am I going to appear confident and nonchalant when I feel the opposite inside. I sneaked a peek at the documents that the applicants ahead of me are toting and I was startled to see a document that I do not have. I timidly ask what that paper was and was told it’s the confirmation page for the appointment. All I had with me is the other confirmation page and the bank slip as proof of the payment.

When the GVB said they’ll offer assistance to my visa application, I wasn’t exactly sure how they will assist me. Never did I imagine that they will pay for the visa application fee, set the interview appointment and provide the formal letter if invitation from Guam, as well as a guarantee letter.

The line slowly moved and I quickly realized the difference in the lines. One on the left is for non-immigrant visa application, the middle one for immigrant visas, while the right most and the longest are for seafarers. US citizens can just walk right up to the entrance and enter. Security, was as expected, tight. Electronic gadgets are not allowed inside. No mobile phones, no mp3 players, no iPods, no laptops, not even USB thumb drives and bottles of water. Once through the security, we wait at the outdoor holding area.

Inside NOX1. Photo by Jane Tenefrancia Uymatiao, used with permission.

I got the e-mail shortly after Easter. My interview was set for 7:15am on May 3. My heart suddenly started beating fast. Now it’s real. I knew I had to go for an interview, but now that the date has been set, it completely sunk in that I am doing it. I have to face what I’ve always been too happy to avoid. The first thing I did was to message the accountant… is she finished with my business registration? I need the documents for the embassy ASAP.

We were given a number as we entered the embassy. I watched the board with fascination, wondering why 2286 was being called the same time 2304 was flashing on the screen. Now I understand why a friend told me she was too preoccupied watching the numbers to read the book she read. Jasper Fforde likewise spent the entire day inside my bag.

The business registration papers were waiting for me when I got home from making the rounds at my banks, picking up the bank certifications I requested for. I heaved a huge sigh of relief and set about arranging my supporting documents in my clear plastic envelope. I checked and double checked each item in the checklist I was provided with, hoping that the consul won’t ask for documents that I do not carry.

At last we were called. I realized that the numbers on the board were for those already being processed inside the new NOX1 building. For those waiting outside, you need to listen to the staff calling out numbers by batches. After another round of security checks, we were finally inside the US Embassy’s newest consular services facility.

Right after I got news about my visa appointment, Yogajane published the photos she took during the NOX1 inauguration. My eyes glazed as I took in each detail, wondering how I’d feel once inside that shiny new building.

We were told to line up and I blindly followed the people ahead of me. Seeing that our line was too long, a staffer pulled the guy ahead of me and told me to follow them to another window. Before I knew it, we were standing in line window 15 and we heard the consul asking the guy ahead of us for the purpose of his travel. Is this it? It’s interview time already? I’m not ready for this! It seems it was a preliminary check, verifying the information in our application form and confirming that it was us who actually filled out the form.

“What did they ask you?” I asked my friend Kaoko.
“Just the things that are in the application form. Then they asked about my job and what I do.”
“That’s it? Did you put your documents in a clear book?”
She replied, “my documents are just in an envelope, but I realized then that using a clearbook would have been more efficient since you can easily find specific papers. Not that it mattered to me anyway, since the consul didn’t ask for any document.”

Consul windows. Photo by Jane Tenefrancia Uymatiao, used with permission.

After leaving the window unscathed, I realized that there really *is* nothing to be scared of. I faced what I’ve been worrying about head on and I felt that I can take whatever else that is coming my way. My butt hardly touched the seat before my number flashed again and I rushed off to Window 12. There was a burly guy with a warm and friendly voice who was taking finger prints. Despite my newfound confidence, I floundered and stared stupidly when he asked me to state my name and birth date. He was patient as I fumbled with the contraption that scans my fingerprint, assuring me that behind those (I assume) bullet-proof glass are humans that are only doing what they’re trained to do. And that they don’t bite.

“The consul I got assigned to was friendly,” Kaoko relates. “He even chatted with the kids of the couple ahead of me in line.”
“Really? Hmmm,” I muttered. “I hope I get him as well. Is he cute?”

I ended up sitting with two other girls who were ahead of me in line at the entrance to the embassy. We chatted about the purpose of our trips and shared horror stories about friends who got denied, even with extensive travel histories. One by one we were called and soon I was on my feet, standing in front of Window 5.

“What’s the purpose of your visit,” the consul asked.
“I was invited by the Guam Visitors Bureau to attend a festival towards the end of the month.”
“Why did they invite you?”
“I’m a travel blogger,” I replied. Upon her blank stare, I continued despite warnings not to talk too much. “They are inviting media outfits from all over the world for the festival. I’m one of the delegates from the Philippines.”
The consul flips through my passport and sees my Myanmar visa. I stifled my groan; I knew I will be asked about Myanmar. “What did you do in Myanmar,” she finally asked.
“I went around the country to Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan.”
“Why?”
“Myanmar is part of my bucket list of places to go before I turned 30.”
“What do you do for a living?”
“I have my own business. I write content for websites, design and create blogs.”
“Okay. Your visa is approved,” the consul finally say.
“…” I stare at her, not knowing what to say.
When she saw my eyes flick to my passport, she continued, “we’ll send the passport via courier.”
“Oh wow, thank you!” Screw being formal, I need to express my joy!

Seriously, I think bad passport and visa photos are the norm around here.

It wasn’t until last week that I heard news about my visa. Actually, the day after the interview, I got a call from the embassy that I need to submit a new picture, as the picture I submitted doesn’t meet the guidelines. I had to send it via courier at no additional cost. I felt naked without my passport and kept wondering when it will be returned. An excited call from Niel woke me from my reverie one afternoon. My passport was delivered to their office bearing a new stamp: a 10 year multiple entry visa! Seriously Just Wandering, what would my life be without you?

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

Sunblock

Nice product placement, yes?

While I don’t mind getting a tan, I do not like the discomfort sunburnt skin comes with, so I religiously slap on some sunblock whenever I know I’m going to be exposed to the sun for long periods of time. Luckily, the good people of Beach Hut Philippines sent over a couple of their new products for me to try out: Beach Hut Max SPF100++ and Beach Hut Face SPF65. Both bottles have an icon that says “prevents skin darkening” at the back, which I’m sure would appease most Filipinos who are afraid of getting dark. However, I must have used the sunblock wrong because the first thing out of my friend’s mouth when she saw me after the trip to Bicols was “wow, you’re so dark.” But yes, sunblock. It’s good for your skin.

Dry bag

Quack

If I know I’ll be anywhere near the water or going to ride a boat, I make sure to bring my Rubber Ducky dry bag. Or at least plenty of zip top bags for my gadgets. Rubber Ducky is available in Stoked stores. You can also try Sea to Summit, who offers lightweight dry sacks that takes up very little space. Sea to Summit products are available in R.O.X. and Travel Club branches.

Dicapac

Of course, if I’m island hopping or snorkeling, having an underwater camera is a must. While there are a number of cameras that are water proof, I’m stuck with my current point and shoot and an underwater pouch. The Dicapac has served me well, though now I must admit that I’m considering getting one of those underwater cameras because it’s hard to change settings when the camera’s inside the pouch. Still, it does what it’s supposed to do and I’m pretty happy with it. Dicapac is available at JT Photoworld.

Sarong

Oh how I miss days like this.

It’s almost a travel cliché, but you have to admit, sarongs are the most versatile item you can have in your backpack. It can serve as a towel, a skirt, a dress, a blanket, a bag or anything you can do with a piece of cloth.

Gorillapod

I miss this too

While everybody else take their travel photography like it’s very SRS BZNZ, I prefer to take it easy and take crappy shots. Still, it’s great to have a tripod with you for those long exposure shots. Lazy bums like me who can’t be arsed to tote a tripod around revel in the Gorillapod. It’s a tripod minus the bulk and is an instant conversation started. Joby Gorillapod is available in most photography stores in Manila. Watch out for the fake Gorillapod though!

Flipflops

I want to go to the beach

Growing up in the Philippines means wearing your tsinelas when you’re at home and when you go out to play with the neighbor kids. It’s just so darn comfortable to wear and it keeps the sole of your feet from touching the grimy bathroom tiles of the hotel’s communal shower.

Travel pillow

I actually use the pillow at home too. Perfect for propping my iPod arm up while lying down in bed.

I used to scoff when I saw these pillows years ago. Why would I bring something so bulky to a trip? The inflatable pillow is enough for me, thank you very much. Of course, that’s before I decided to buy one and realized why traveling with one makes the world a much better place (well, not really). Inflatable pillows cannot hold a candle to an actual pillow. Neither can the lumpy, hard and flat (take your pick) hostel pillow. It also prevents your head from lolling about too much when you’re sleeping in the cramped minivan. My travel pillow is Muji. It’s now available at the local Muji stores for Php 1,425.

How about you? What’s in your backpack?

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

Quick drying, super absorbent microfibre towel

Sea to Summit and Aquazorb microfibre towels

When I was just starting to travel, I passed on buying a microfibre towel because of its price. To compromise, I bought a small towel and a sarong. I figured the towel would be absorbent enough, yet it wouldn’t take up as much space, won’t weigh as much as a regular bath-sized towel and dry (relatively) faster. I finally gave in and bought a Sea to Summit Drylite towel in 2009 and quickly saw the difference: it dries so much faster, absorbs much more and it’s a whole lot lighter. It was pretty expensive though: Php 599 for a small towel.

Luckily, I found out that there’s now a local company who makes great travel towels: Aquazorb. Fluffier than Sea to Summit, it absorbs as much liquid, it’s light and dries fast. Even better, a large towel only cost me Php 499.75!

Sea to Summit products are available at Travel Club and R.O.X. while Aquazorb towels are available at Landmark Department store.

Power adaptor

A family of power adaptor

If you’re like me who can’t travel without a gadget, you definitely need one of these! When researching about your destination, be sure to check what kind of plugs they use. If you’re only traveling to one country or countries that use the same plugs, it’s okay to just buy the single adaptors. However, if you’re traveling to several countries, it’s better to bring a universal power adaptor.

I was content with using the single adaptors, but when I was given an universal power adaptor as a gift, I realized just how convenient it was. No need to worry about forgetting to research the power plugs because it’s fitted with all possible plug designs.

Single adaptor plugs and universal power adaptors are available in most hardware/electrical shops (Ace Hardware, SM Workshop).

Bag locks

Go Travel, Pacsafe, Victorinox and Master Lock

These are on my bag rather than in it, but it ranks high in my travel must-haves. Bag locks not only prevent people from taking stuff out of your bag, they also prevent them from putting things into your bag. Remember, it’s never wise to bring bags you did not packed yourself.

As you can see, I prefer combination locks over regular padlocks. Though I have an aversion to padlock keys (specially small keys that are prone to getting lost or worse, broken while you’re turning the key to unlock the damned padlock), I liked the Pacsafe Prosafe 750. Instead of a key, it uses a keycard, which you can store inside your wallet. It is TSA compliant, which means it can be opened by the Transportation Security Administration of the US Department of Homeland Security using their master key.

Master Lock is available in SM Workshop and similar hardware shops. Go Travel Combination Lock with cable, Victorinox Cable Lock and Pacsafe Prosafe 750 lock is available in Travel Club and R.O.X.

Bag tags

Bon Voyage!

Cute and colorful bag tags not only tells the world just whose bag it is, it also help you spot it in the baggage carousel. You can buy pre-made bag tags pretty much everywhere, but if you want something that really stands out, you can have personalized cards made with your own picture or design at any Bag Tag kiosks.

The Bon Voyage tag was a gift from Cla, while the MNL tag is from Team Manila.

Re-usable bags

I love ecobags!

I first encountered reusable shopping bags in Australia. While the bags from the supermarket didn’t impress me much, I was instantly taken with the Envirosax, which I spotted while in Sydney. Since then, I always make sure to bring one in every trip, whether to another country or just to the neighborhood mall. They work great as an extra bag (beach bag anyone?) and of course, for shopping. That’s one (or three) less plastic bag! The Earth will love you for that.

Envirosax are now available locally (Fully Booked, R.O.X., Travel Club, Brat Pack, among others), but the local prices are absurd. Since going green is now the trend, local companies have started making and selling similar products at a fraction of the price. They’re available in most malls (check Watson’s, Saizen or kiosks selling various knick knacks) around the Philippines.

Travel-only and travel-sized toiletries

Toiletries for home use, toiletries for travel

If you’re staying at hostels, you basically just get a bed and a room. It’s not like staying at a hotel where almost everything is provided. That’s why when you go on a backpacking trip, it’s recommended that you bring your own toiletries. However, with the airline restrictions on liquids and low cost carrier’s incentives/discounts for not having checked-in luggage means you’re limited with the amount of toiletries you can pack.

Sachets are the answer, you’d say. They’re the right size, and you just throw the packets as soon as you finish using them. Unfortunately, that’s not too good for the environment. You can also buy travel-size (100ml or less) bottles, but if you’re like me who use a lot of products, 4 100ml-sized bottles will not fit inside a quart-sized zip lock bag. A great compromise are re-usable travel sized bottles. With these containers, you can continue using your regular brand and just refill them when you get back from a trip. You can also opt to go with sticks and bars instead of liquids and gels: shampoo bars instead of regular shampoo, bar soap instead of shower gel, deo sticks instead of roll-on anti-perspirants.

Follow the 311 rule when traveling with just a carry-on luggage

If you’re a frequent traveler (or will start traveling often), I highly recommend keeping a separate set of toiletries. That way, you don’t leave your toothbrush or deodorant behind.

Quart-sized resealable bags are available in supermarkets. Reusable travel bottles and containers are available in Travel Club, R.O.X., Beabi, Watson’s and Muji. Shampoo bars are available in Lush.

Compression bags

Clothes for a one-week trip

My friend Rochelle introduced me to these compression bags. It’s basically a huge Ziploc — you put your clothes inside and either suck out the air from within using a vacuum or squeeze it out by rolling the bag or sitting on it. The difference is huge and it can really free up some space in your bag. Word of warning though, it just compresses the space, not the weight.

After

This bag helped me fit one-week’s worth of clothes in a small backpack and gave me enough space for the souvenirs I bought along the way.

Compression bags are available in Saizen for Php 85, while sturdier Sea to Summit compression bags are available at Travel Club and R.O.X.

I’m raffling off a basket of travel essentials! Get your own microfibre travel towel, universal power adaptor, bag tags, reusable ecobag, travel-sized liquid containers, quart-sized zip-top bag and compression bag by joining the Just Wandering travel essentials giveaway!

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

Is there such a thing as a decent passport or visa picture?

Unlike the Australian tourist visa application, the Myanmar visa does not require as much documents. Along with your filled up application form, you need to submit the following:

• Valid passport
• Photocopy of valid passport
• 2 passport size photos
• CD with scanned copy of passport photo
• Signed waiver that you will not publish anything against the Myanmar government.

I’m not joking about the last one. The government is wary of people working in the media (journalists, photographers, writers, etc.), so if that’s your line of work, state a different job in your application form. They don’t ask who your employer is anyway.

You have to personally apply for the visa. The Myanmar embassy in the Philippines is located at the 8th floor of the Gervasia Corporate Center, along Amorsolo Street (on Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/HbvO). The building is right across Makati Cinema Square. Look for the Benchmark Corporate Center and Fabricare signs. Visa application and pick up is from 8am to 2pm. Not a lot of people travel to Myanmar, so there’s a high chance you’re the only one applying for a visa when you visit the embassy.

If you’re going to have your photo taken before applying for a visa, it’s best to do it at the Kodak studio inside Makati Cinema Square. They already know the requirements of the embassy; you can have you photo taken and have the CD copy for only Php 78. If you already have photos on hand, scan it at 100%, 300dpi, then save as JPG and burn unto a CD.

The visa application fee is US$25 or Php 1,100. This is cheaper than the visa on arrival, which costs $30. Visa processing takes 3 – 5 working days. The Myanmar tourist visa is valid for 3 months and for up to 28 days upon arrival in the country.

Myanmar Embassy
8th floor of the Gervasia Corporate Center
Amorsolo Street, Makati City
Phone: (02) 893-1944, (02) 812-3644
Google Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/HbvO

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

My travel haul from Robinsons Galleria

Saizen is what you would call a hyakuen shop. It’s the local franchise of the Japanese Daiso chain, and the perfect example of where you can find great travel paraphernalia.

Hyakuen shops are Japanese discount dry goods stores that sell everything from kitchenwares and household goods to stationery and gifts, all at one price: 100 yen (hence the name, hyakuen).

Source: Magnetic-rose.net

You can find a whole range of items inside the store, including things for your trips. Here are my Saizen finds:

Inflatable pillow, compressed washcloth, compressing bag and plastic zipper bag

There’s an inflatable pillow, which is great for those long bus rides or when you’re sleeping underneath the stars; compressed washcloth, which inflates when you take it out of the packaging; compressing bag, which lets you fit everything in your backpack or luggage easily (no vacuum? Just roll it or sit on it!), and; plastic zipper bag, which comes in the regulation size for your toiletries. Everything is priced at Php 85 in Saizen. This travel haul costs a total of Php 340.

My other travel find was upon Kaoko‘s recommendation. As we were about to check in for our flight back to Manila from Macau, she whipped out this luggage scale. I’ve seen this kind of luggage scale before, so I thought it was nothing special. That is, until she hooked her bag into it and weighed her luggage. It works the same way as similar luggage scales, but what’s great about this scale is that it has a marker, so you won’t have to twist yourself into an awkward position just to see the weight of your bag. As an added bonus, the scale also comes with a tape measure that can measure up to 1 meter so you can check if your luggage meets the cabin requirements. The scale is lightweight, so while it takes up space in your bag, it doesn’t drastically add to its weight.

Travelon Luggage Scale from Handyman

The Travelon Luggage Scale is priced at Php 499 at Handyman. With the 20% discount the store is offering, the price has been marked down to Php 399.

Saizen has branches in Robinson’s Galleria (Ortigas), Alimall (Cubao), Marquee Mall (Pampanga) and Trinoma (North EDSA). Handyman has branches all over the Philippines.

August is the month for great sales and bargains at all Robinsons Mall nationwide! Enjoy amazing discounts on premium international and local brands. Choose from a wide array of apparel, shoes, bags and accessories; from fashion items to electronics, from toys to gadgets and many, many more. Stay updated with sales, promos and events by liking the Robinsons Malls’ page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/RobinsonsMalls

Thanks to Saizen for the invite to their Trinoma Branch last July 30 and to Robinsons Mall Galleria for the invite last August 1.

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

Random photo of an airplane just so this entry has a photo.

So how do I end up with these cheap fares? Here are some of the things that help me score tickets at rock-bottom prices:

Watch out for seat sales and airline promos
This is fairly easy, since you can sign up for each airline’s mailing list. Once you sign up, you’ll receive an e-mail alerting you about upcoming sales and promos (just make sure they don’t end up in your spam box!). If you’re wary about giving out your e-mail address, Twitter and Facebook are two alternatives, as airlines are now utilizing social media to promote their sales. If you prefer to stay updated via RSS, there are a number of blogs focused solely on posting about airlines promos. People flock to the airline website as soon as the sale start, and for the first few hours, the website will be incredibly slow and sometimes, you can’t access it at all. What you should do is to either stay up late or wake up early: the traffic eases up around 3am, and stays that way until about 6am.

Be mindful of your dates
We usually base our trip dates on our non-working holidays. For those working with a strict schedule, this is probably the only time they can get out of work. However, before you book those dates, check the holidays of your destination! If there’s a public holiday in your destination, airlines would most likely not give out sale fares for these dates. Of course, if you’re flying in for a specific holiday or festival, book your ticket as soon as you get the confirmed dates to get the best deals (book your accommodation as well, since rooms quickly fill up during festivals). If and when possible, travel on a weekday, when there are less people traveling.

Study the airline’s route map
When airlines announce their promos, they usually publish the fares to specific destinations. Unfortunately, flights in and out of Manila are limited. However, a number of budget airlines fly to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, where there are more flights to various cities within the Southeast Asia and beyond. Don’t be discouraged that XXXXXX Airlines only fly to 2 destinations from Manila — they could be flying to other more exotic destinations from their hub. You just need to find an alternative way of getting there

Round trip isn’t the only way
Round trip tickets are always cheaper than one-way tickets on regular airlines. However, low cost carriers give you more flexibility in this aspect, as the fare for each way are the same, varying only on the taxes imposed on each airport. Your exit point doesn’t necessarily have to be the same as your entry point. For example, if you’re looking to travel around South East Asia from the Philippines, you can start your journey in Ho Chi Minh and end it in Singapore. A note on buying one-way tickets though: if you’re holding a Philippine passport flying out of Manila as a tourist, you need to present your ticket for the flight back to Manila, else they wouldn’t let you check in for your flight out.

Just because it’s not budget, it means it’s expensive
There are several ways of getting from Point A to Point B. Following my example above, you can either fly from Vietnam to Singapore to catch your plane home, or you can be adventurous and travel overland through Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. On the same vein, unless you’re traveling from a remote location, there would usually be more than one airline serving the cities you’re flying to. Do not constrain yourself with the budget airlines. Put your Google-fu to practice and research all the airlines serving the route and check each one for their fares. Yes, even the regular airlines. Last October, when I went to Bangkok, I flew via Philippine Airlines instead of the competing budget airline because the fare I was able to get from PAL is so much cheaper. Don’t limit yourself to the lite fares as well (carry-on only, no check-in baggage): check what’s the price difference between the lite fares to the regular economy tickets. You’ll be surprised that sometimes, there’s only a minimal price difference, or sometimes none at all.

Always read the fine line
Each promo have its own terms and conditions, which is often different from the terms and conditions for regular fares. Promo fares are usually non rebookable, non transferable non reroutable and non refundable. Other restrictions include limited or no baggage allowance or higher than usual re-booking fees. If you’re buying tickets for a trip more than 6 months ahead, consider investing on a ticket that will allow you to rebook without additional fees.

Hold your clicks!
In your haste to get that coveted ultra cheap fare, you might end up clicking “OK” after skimming through the text. Hold your horses and READ! There are pre-selected choices there for services that you might not need. These come in the form of check-in baggage allowance (if you’re backpacking, you wouldn’t really need that 15K baggage allowance now, would you? Unless you went crazy shopping in Bangkok…), in-flight meals, travel insurance, preferred seats, etc. Also, be mindful of the wordings, as they can be quite tricky — sometimes you need to click on Cancel instead of the usual OK.

I hope this tips help you plan for your next adventure. Wait, why are you still here reading? Go book your flight now!

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

Malaysia Airlines’ Airbus A330 that we rode from KL to Manila. Forgot to take a photo before another plane parked right beside it. Pfft.

Of course, the big question is, what’s the asterisk?

You know how those promos always have this asterisk beside the price or the item name with a teeny tiny print at the bottom of the page? The asterisk here is that the US$229 price tag is just the fare — taxes charged by each country is excluded.

So say you’re traveling from Manila to Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur and back to Manila. Your total fare computation will be something like this:

US$229 ASEAN Pass + US$33.50 Philippine Travel Tax + US$14.50 Malaysia departure tax (KUL to CGK) + US$14.50 Malaysia departure tax (KUL to MNL) = US$291.50

This excludes the tax you would have to pay at the airport in Indonesia. You would also need to pay the Php 750 airport tax when leaving Manila. A rough conversion of the total amount to peso comes to Php 14,000, which isn’t bad considering that this is for four flights on Malaysia Airlines, and not on a budget airline.

With flights from Kuala Lumpur to the following Southeast Asian cities: Manila, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Yangon, Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, Medan, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Bali, the ASEAN Pass is definitely a tempting deal. Of course, there are other conditions: the first segment of the trip must be confirmed upon booking, while the other three can be open dated. However, if you have settled on a date already and want to have your ticket reissued, a fee of US$25 will be charged for each reissuance. The pass is valid for up to three months, which is especially good for those who want to take their time traveling around Southeast Asia.

The Malaysia Airlines ASEAN Pass is available through the airline’s ticketing offices and appointed travel agents both in Malaysia and in Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. For more information about the ASEAN Pass, you can contact the Malaysia Airlines’ booking and reservations hotline at (02) 8873215 (Metro Manila) or (032) 238 1554/1502 (Cebu). You can also visit the Malaysia Airlines website for information and online booking.

Malaysia Airlines Manila
23rd Floor LKG Tower
6801 Ayala Avenue
Makati City
+632 887-3215

Malaysia Airlines Cebu
Bigfoot Center, 2/F-Annex,
F. Ramos Street,
Cogon Central (Ramos),
Cebu City 6000
Philippines
+6332 238-1554/1502

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

Read the complete advisory: English | Filipino

UPDATE (February 26, 2011): Anton of Our Awesome Planet recounts how he was able to get an extension to his passport’s validity. This is one option you can try if you need to travel within the next month.

UPDATE (November 30, 2010): Dyanie wrote about her Philippine passport renewal experience, which was pretty recent (at time of this posting). It’s a very easy to read recount of her experience peppered with pictures for every step. Her passport renewal took her an hour at the DFA. UPDATE (February 26, 2011): Dyanie has made her blog private

UPDATE (July 20, 2010): This post was written on September 14, 2009 for a renewal of a machine readable passport. There are several Pinoy blogs that recount their experiences with passport renewal that are more recent and more relevant given the changes with the process. I suggest you read the Pinay Travel Junkie’s guide to E-passport renewal, which was written on June 28, 2010.

UPDATE (March 4, 2010): The DFA has stopped issuing machine readable passports. All passport renewals are now for e-passports or the biometric passport. Please refer to Earl‘s guide to Phillippine E-passport renewal for details.

I just got back from the Department of Foreign Affairs office an hour ago. I have been out of the house since 6:30am, an ungodly hour for anyone working nights, just so I can be there in time for my 8:00am appointment. The entire process was quick, and I was out of the building by 8:30am.

So how was I able do this?

First, I made an online appointment through the DFA’s website. This is the most important step if you don’t want to wait for hours at the DFA. Notice that there are two choices: one for the recently introduced biometric passport and one is for the machine readable passport. If you are not traveling within the next 10 weeks, you’re okay to make an appointment for the biometric passport. If you are traveling within the next 10 weeks, I suggest you apply for the machine readable passport. [Edit March 3, 2010: It seems that the DFA is not issuing Machine Readable Passports anymore. If you are renewing your passport, you will be getting the new biometric e-passport]

The reason behind this is that the DFA will only process 100 biometric passport applications per day, and this 100 is only for those who made an appointment online. When I tried to make an appointment last week, the earliest date that they can schedule me is October 14, which would not work for me, since I’ll be going out of the country again before then. So I went back to the DFA website and made an appointment for the machine readable passport. I got into the September 14 slot, at 8:00am to 9:00am.

It is important to be at the DFA office within the time that has been allotted to you, else they will not let you inside. By the way, when going to the DFA, ignore all the touts loitering out in the streets, and even near the gates of the DFA. Ignore, ignore, IGNORE. You don’t need any of their services, as DFA has everything inside their compound, even a photo booth.

Before I go on, here are the things you need to bring with you when you go to the DFA to renew your passport:

• The print out of your DFA appointment confirmation. The guards will not let you in if you do not have this.
• Your old passport. If your passport is still the old brown passport issued prior to May 1, 1995, you need to bring supporting documents that shows your complete middle name.
• Photocopies of your passport pages. Copies of the inside front and back cover, the amendments page, and the latest departure and arrival stamps are needed.
• At least four passport-sized photos. Two photos will have to be attached to the form, while a third photo will be submitted to the officer at the last step.
• A completed passport application form. This can be downloaded from here. You need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to open the file. Be sure to print the form in a legal sized-paper (8x13inches). The DFA will not accept it some parts of the form are missing or distorted. If you have no access to a printer, you can just get a form at the basketball court right across the DFA gates.
• Ballpen. Either black or blue. No pinks, reds or greens, please.
• Adhesive. Glue or paste or double sided tape, whatever’s your fancy. This is for attaching your photos to the form.
• Wet tissue. For cleaning up your thumbs after affixing your thumbmark. You’d need to do this twice.

Steps in renewing your Philippine passport at the DFA:

1. From the entrance, proceed to Gate 2 for passport renewal. If you do not have the application form yet, go to the basketball court and pick up an application form from the Information booth (right across the entrance). Complete the form, attach your photos and stamp it with your thumbmark.
2. After completing the form, go out of the court and head to Gate 2. This is the gate for passport renewals. Since you made an appointment online, you can line up at windows 1 through 4. You will need to present your documents here for checking, and confirmation of your appointment. If you want to expedite the processing of your passport (normal processing takes 14 working days, express processing takes 7 working days), tell the officer here.
3. Once your old passport has been invalidated and your documents verified, you must then go to the auditorium to pay the passport renewal fee.
4. After paying, you must line up again for the final step. The officer will encode your details to the computer, and you will be asked to verify the information. After verifying, you will be asked for another passport photo, to sign another document and to affix your thumbmark once more.
5. That’s it.

You would need to go back to the DFA office once more to pick up your passport. But if you don’t have the time or don’t want the hassle of going back just to pick up your passport, you can authorize the courier to deliver it to your doorstep instead. If you want to take this option, go back to the basketball court and take your pick among the three courier services all vying for your business. Both LBC and Air21 charge Php100 pesos for deliveries, while 2Go charges Php99. All the courier services take 1 day to deliver. This means if your passport is released on September 22, it will be delivered to you by September 23.

Not that wasn’t so bad, was it? Since a personal appearance is required for ALL passport applications, there really isn’t much need to have your passport renewed through an agency or Pilipinas Teleserv. There are also plenty of signs at the DFA office, so you can’t lose your way from one step to the next (unless you’re Ryoga Hibiki).

By the way, in the appointment confirmation notice that I received from the DFA for the biometric passport, they said, “your picture will be taken by the ePassport processor so we suggest that you wear a decent attire with collar at the date of your application.” So does that mean there’s no need to bring a passport photo? I tried calling the DFA office, but I can’t get through (and I stupidly forgot to ask while I was there earlier, doh). If you have any other questions or inquiries about passport renewal, call the DFA passport information (Manila) at 556-4081 or 556-4082.

UPDATE (November 10, 2009): Turns out you do not need to bring a passport photo when you apply for a biometric or an e-passport, since they will be taking your photo at the DFA. This mean you have to be wearing proper attire when you go. Earl has a comprehensive guide on how to renew your Philippine passport to an e-passport in his blog. I suggest you visit it, as he noted that there are differences in renewing to a machine readable passport and renewing to a biometric passport.

UPDATE: Some information about biometric passports and validity of the green passport.

What is an e-passport? What is biometrics?

The answer comes from the DFA website:

An ePassport is a passport which features microchip technology. An integrated circuit (chip) within its pages contains the data that are essential in verifying the identity of the passport holder. These data include the personal data found on the data page of the passport, the biometrics of the passport holder, the unique chip identification number, and a digital signature to verify the authenticity of the data stored on the chip.

The chip technology allows the information stored in an ePassport to be read by special chip readers at a close distance.

Biometrics are the unique and measurable physical characteristics of an individual that include face recognition, fingerprints, and iris scans.

The Philippine Electronic Passport (or Philippine ePassport) uses the digital image of the passport photograph that can be used with face recognition technology to verify the identity of the passport holder.

It captures the fingerprints of the passport holder, for identification using the Automated Fingerprint Verification System (AFIS).

Source: DFA.gov.ph

How true is it that they will no longer honor the old green passports even if you still have up to 2012 to use it?

Again, from the DFA website:

Previously issued passports (MRP and non-MRP) are valid until their expiry. It is a good practice to make sure your passport is valid at least six months before intended date of travel to avoid any inconvenience.

For any other questions, head on over to the FAQ section over at the DFA website.

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

So how did I manage to pack relatively light? By not bringing so much stuff. Here are the contents of my bags:

Inside Viktor, my Victorinox Sorbonne backpack:

My Columbia gear: Titanium convertible pants, Titanium omni-dry shirt, Titanium soft-shell jacket. Aside from that, I have two more shirts, one tank top, two shorts, swimsuit, socks and underwear. I also have a sarong and a Sea to Summit micro-fiber towel. I limited myself to only two footwear in this trip: my Nike Free 7.0 runners (the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever had) and a pair of Crocs Athena thongs.

My toiletries are contained in a zip-lock bag, as are the various battery chargers (laptop, camera, two phones). I also have a separate kit for non-liquid toiletries (soaps, toothbrush, razor, etc.), which shares a space with a bunch of over the counter medicine and bunch of plasters.

As you can see in the photo, I have an Envirosax bag (I actually have two) and a photocopy of my passport and all my tickets and reservation confirmations.

Inside my Life is Good messenger bag:

The essentials: passport, credit cards, Team Manila wallet, Smiggle skull notebook, a couple of ballpoint pens, USB drive and card security thingy, two mobile phones (what the hell was I thinking?), an umbrella, a folding fan, and of course, my Pinky Street dolls.

I am using a Nikon D40 DSLR camera with a Nikon AF-S DX 18-135 mm lens. It comes with a lens hood, but stupid lens hood took a dive into the Chao Praya river in Bangkok while I wasn’t looking. Suicidal bastard. The camera is attached to a Pacsafe Carrysafe 100 camera strap, which is a lot more comfortable on the neck than the Nikon camera strap.

Since I planned on blogging daily, I decided to bring my laptop along. It’s an Acer Aspire One, a 10-inch netbook with 8.9″ display and weighs about 2.4 lbs. It has a 6-cell battery, that lasts for up to four hours. It’s considerably lighter than a full-sized laptop (unless you have one of those ultra thin ones), but if you also have a DSLR in your bag, it can get pretty heavy. When traveling from city to city, I keep my laptop in my messenger bag, but when I wandering around the city, I leave it in my room.

There are a bunch of other smaller things inside my bag that I didn’t bother taking out for the photo. Those are the things that weren’t really essential, which added to the weight of the bags. I think about a lot of what-ifs when packing, and ended up bringing things I don’t get to use. The common advice to avoid overpacking is to take out everything inside your bag and only bring half the things you stuffed inside your bag. Another is that if you don’t regularly use something when you’re at home, chances are, you won’t be using it when you travel, so better leave it at home.

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

Laos health questionnaire for incoming travelers

I was so paranoid when I was still preparing for the trip. I made sure I had a bottle of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and even bought a small bottle of 70% isopropyl alcohol to ward off the germs. I filled one section of my toiletry kit with Vitamin C tablets, Centrum mutivitamins, and over the counter medicine for colds and fever. I wasn’t taking any chances.

When I got to the airport on May 30, there were a number of people wearing masks, but majority aren’t. As with most trips, I stop worrying as soon as the trip starts. Still, I wasn’t taking chances. I wash my hands whenever I get the chance or sanitize it with alcohol after going to a crowded area.

I was so scared when I had that terrible cold after crossing the border from Cambodia to Thailand. I was still feeling okay in Siem Reap, but by Friday night, I had this really terrible clogged nose in Bangkok. I bought some medicine for it, and decided to just stay and rest in my hostel room instead of exploring Bangkok. I knew I had a flight in two day’s time, and showing up at the airport in my current state would have been troublesome.

That one day of rest did wonders, for the following day, I was out wandering the streets of Chinatown (and ended up finding a store that sells doll clothes and accessories!). I really was feeling much better, and come Monday, the clogged nose was reduced to sniffles, though I did get additional questions from the health inspectors since I had a cold.

That was pretty much the worst damage to my health during my entire trip. Getting enough sleep helped a lot, as well as my irregular ingestion of multivitamins. I did get a flu shot before I left, and I like to think it helped me avoid getting worse after that cold.

So back to the question: Is it safe to travel with the A(H1N1) pandemic? Yes, it is. Keep your immune system in tip-top shape and you don’t have anything to worry about.

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

But as I, along with thousands of Filipinos who’s been bitten by the travel bug, it is possible, even on a third-world salary. Here’s some tips that I personally practiced to keep me traveling:

1. Get a job.

Having a steady source of income really helps a lot. The five nights of the week that I work until the wee hours of the morning might be tedious, but I still love it because it means that I’m getting a paycheck at the end of the month. Half of the money I make each month goes towards my bills, with the other half for my personal expenses throughout the whole month. Whatever extra goes toward my travel fund. Of course, the better practice is to set aside an amount for your travel budget and control your personal expenses.

You can also aim for a job that gives you opportunities to travel. That way, you get the company to pay for your ticket and accommodation. Of course, you’ll be working most of the time, but see if you can file a leave and change your return date so you can spend at least a day exploring the city.

2. Go on a working holiday

Traveling in first world countries is really expensive. That’s why in most countries, they encourage hiring travelers who wants to earn additional money to fund their travel. Unfortunately, you might be required to have a working holiday visa, and most of the time, this visa class isn’t open for Filipinos. But if you’re holding a passport of qualified countries, this is one thing you can look into.

Here’s what I did that let me stay three months in Australia: my sister, who is raising two toddlers asked me to visit them in Australia. She paid for my visa application, my round-trip ticket, and since I was staying at their house, I get free accommodation and food. I even got a weekly allowance (since I was unemployed the whole three months that I was there). In return, I babysit the kids, do the laundry, do the grocery shopping and cook the meals. In between the chores, I had plenty of time to wander around Melbourne.

Most Filipinos have family and relatives overseas, so this is an option you can take. Though of course, they may not be open to shouldering all your travel expenses. But hey, if you can get free lodging and meals, that’s a big help already.

3. Sell your possessions on e-Bay

Well, not really. For extra moolah (or even just extra room in your bulging closet), sell some of the things you’re not using anymore. Have a garage sale. You can do it in your own garage, or do it online. As they say, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.

When Pinky Street dolls became an obsession of mine three years ago, I went crazy and hoarded as much of these cute dolls as I can. Since I have plenty of extras and a number of localcollectors don’t have a credit card or a Paypal account, I sell my extras to them, receiving payments via bank deposit. I was also able to sell some to collectors from all over the world, through the marketplace over the Pinky Street forums, e-bay and my own Pinky St online store.

4. Start blogging

As I mentioned before, I started Just Wandering with plans on monetizing it to augment my travel funds. I’m not making millions off this travel blog, but I get enough to let me buy dolls and doll clothes that I really should stop buying, and pocket money for my trips. Contrary to what people might tell you, earning from blogging is not as easy as signing up for a free blog and putting in Google Ads and waiting for the money to come rolling in. It does entail a lot of work and lots of learning along the way. After three years of travel blogging, I’m just getting the hang of it, though I’m still lightyears away from making my first million.

Here’s a couple more ideas you can do with a travel blog. You can do what (then) newlywed couple, Gabby and Mench. Instead of accepting gifts for their Moroccan-themed wedding, they set up an online Wedding registry where their friends and family can pledge for a certain portion of their honeymoon in Morocco. By the looks of it, I think the pledges were able to cover around 70% of the Morocco travel budget.

On a more traditional approach, Dave of GoBackpacking.com started a travel blog to chronicle his preparation for an around the world trip, and the actual trip itself. Monetizing the blog comes later on, and to further get additional funds for his trip, he got his readers to dare him to a challenge at any point during his RTW trip. If he manage to complete the dare, the reader who dared him would have to fork over the amount he pledged for Dave to do the dare.

Last note on blogging: always remember that content is king

These four are the ways I save and earn money to travel. Saving up for a trip often means sacrificing something (a friend of mine gave up Starbucks and movies for a year to help him save for his trip to Europe), but in the end, it’s all worth it.

I’d love to hear from you! What are your ways of saving up for your trip?

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