Bangkok Thailand: The Grand Royal Palace

I’ve been to a lot of Royal Palaces, like the daeksuk and gyeongbok palaces of Seoul and the Forbidden City and Summer Palace of Beijing; yet it doesn’t tire me to visit any royal palaces around the planet. Palaces appeal to me like a bee on flower buds. I’m attracted naturally, but I don’t know why? Maybe I’m a princess during my past life? :p Anyway, what made this experience in Bangkok’s Royal Palace different is that this palace still serves the monarchs of Thailand. Unlike the other palaces that I’ve been to, most of them are considered as a museum and are not used for royal events.

The three different architectures Thai, Khmer (forgot the other one) Burmese???

The Palace in Bangkok still serves the present Royal Family, however, it’s not the royal residence anymore, that’s why tourist (like me) are allowed entry, but sometimes royal gatherings are held there.

A guard standing firm, very detailed and exquisite

Bangkok Royal Palace is a popular tourist spot in Bangkok, hence, a lot of people flock to this place. The crowd here reminded me of my visit in Forbidden City during Spring— people are just everywhere, I almost can’t breathe! I can’t take a decent picture without a stranger sneaking in. So, my judgment: The royal palace in Bangkok is crowded. Period. So, if I’m going to choose whether to go here or Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa In Palace, I will choose the latter— Just because I like peace and quiet  But, the Bangkok Royal Palace is a different experience all together. Due to the pushing of the crowd (which made it interesting :p), the temples inside (big temples can be found here), as well as museums (that houses war artillery/ weapons during the ancient times) But if great landscaping and beautiful view is what you wanted then a visit to Ayutthaya is a must.

But, a must see here is the hand painted wall that depicts a story (though I forgot the story about it).

the beautifully and meticulously hand painted wall

Like Ayutthaya’s Bang Pa In Palace (Summer Palace of Siam (Thailand) during the ancient times) you can see here various architecture from different cultures; hence you’ll see here buildings with Khmer (Cambodian) styles and European Style, however, the predominant here is Thai architecture. I also liked how the Western style kind of palace was made, I felt like I was in Disneyland!

Thai architecture is very detailed. What I like the most is the building which is made from hand crafted mirrors. They are cut with serious precision so that the sizes will be the same. I just love how detailed they do it.

Khmer architecture had greatly influenced Thailand in the sense that they have almost the same style (this is only based from my observation), but just look at the picture below: they had a miniature version of the Angkor Wat, which according to our tour guide, they want to create something like the Angkor Wat in Thailand during the ancient times.

Angkor Wat replica in Bangkok’s Grand Royal Palace

Angkor Wat replica in Bangkok’s Grand/Royal Palace

I suggest that anyone who will visit Thailand to visit at least once this Palace, since this is the symbol (icon) and the most popular tourist sight in Bangkok.

Details:

Entrance Fee: 500 BAHT

Operates Daily: 08.30 – 15.30

Address: Na Phra Lan Road, Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok

Dress Code: Visitors are required to dress appropriately. Thus the following dress – code (applicable to both ladies and gentlemen):
1. Shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, tight fitting trousers, as well as tights can not be worn as outer garments.
2. See-through shirts and blouses, as well as culottes or quarter length trousers can not be worn.
3. Sleeveless shirts or vests can not be worn as outer garments.
4. Sandals (without ankle or heel straps) can not be worn.
5. All shirt sleeves, whether long or short, can not be rolled up.
6. Sweat shirts and sweat pants, wind-cheaters, pajamas and fisherman trousers can not be worn.

TO SEE MY BANGKOK, THAILAND ITINERARY, CLICK HERE

BANGKOK THAILAND: AYUTTHAYA’S DIVINE TEMPLES

If Greece has Parthenon,  and Cambodia has Angkor Wat, then Thailand has its own Ayutthaya temples. Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand is the home of several temples that had survived the test of time.

BTW, I RATED AYUTTHAYA AS A PLACE NOT TO MISS IN THAILAND!

As per my own observation and also according to our tour guide, the city of Ayutthaya was once a flourishing and progressive city with a lot of hub for trade (since it is circled by three rivers). The Chinese, Burmese, and even Westerners went here for trade. This was once a place where a lot of people traded, lived, eat, pray and love (charot! haha)

In Ayutthaya, there are several temples, they are just a few meters away from each other. Basically, it’s a whole complex of temples. Just like Siam Reap’s Angkor Complex. BTW, I was unable to  delineate each one of the temple I visited here in Ayutthaya (I failed to pay attention  to our tour guide, because in a way the names of the temples are just so hard to remember, it is even harder to pronounce!)  so in this blog post you’ll see a mix of pictures of several temples found in Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya was once a populous and wealthy city, which has its own palace and villages, however, due to wear and tear, and don’t forget to include the occurrence of typhoons, floods and other natural occurrences, the only thing that you will see here are ruins, (well, except for some that survived the wrath of nature). Basically, what is left from this beautiful and once flourishing city are temples.  The palaces and village homes are wrecked by nature because they are only made from wood, unlike temples that are made from rocks, brick or hard/heavy materials, the materials themselves explains why temples can stand the test of time. In Thailand, the temples are made from red bricks, and some are rocks akin to the ones found in Angkor Wat.

temple complex in ayutthaya

While standing in front of one of temples in Ayutthaya, I was imagining that I’m in Angkor Wat since the temples and ruins look almost the same with that in Cambodia. However, unlike the temples in Cambodia (which is intact) here, most of what you’ll see are pillars and bricks. However, such fact did not make this experience less exciting since it is a different experience all together. And I just love the eerie feeling it projects! Moreover, it is nice to visit one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Thailand. According to Wikipedia, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, a vast stretch of historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 13, 1991.

The Angkor Wat-Like architecture seen in Ayutthaya, Thailand

The ruins show that this place is a prosperous city before, it can be implied from the different and magnificent structures built during that time. Through the use of your imagination, you might as well see how grand the place is during the 17th century.

Ruins of Temples in Ayutthaya

Well, for me, the most amazing part in Ayutthaya is the beauty of the ruins with nature as its backdrop. By the way, the photo seen below is one of my favorite parts of Ayutthaya, I just learned that the name of this temple (which is my favorite amongst the other temples) is Wat Phra Mahathat. This temple  has a lot of small Buddha’s on its side (although most of the Buddha’s doesn’t have a head or a hand anymore)  and on the center is the bigger Buddha statue, and according to our tour guide the Buddha in the center have different costumes during different seasons.

By the way, the cause of the missing parts of the Buddha is due to a Burmese attack in Siam some decades ago. The Burmese intentionally cut off the heads and some parts of the Buddha statues. Although there’s a lot of headless or hand less Buddha’s, the vibe here gives me goosebumps, so in a way I like it here.

Beautiful temple with Buddha

another view of my favorite temple

I was also amazed on the site where the head (statue) of Buddha is stuck in a tree root. This can also be found in Wat Phra Mahathat. This kind of thing made me remember tomb raider. Well Tomb Raider is shot in Cambodia but I don’t know why Tomb Raider occurred to me during that time.

The Buddha head that is stuck in a tree root

According to our tour guide, this particular head of Buddha was cut off during the Burmese attack. And during that time a monk is trying to hide it, so that he can preserve it, however, it’s so big that he cannot carry it, so he left it near the tree, and after some time, the tree roots wrapped the Buddha head. I was amazed by this, since it is somehow miraculous that the face of the Buddha was not covered by the roots of the tree.

The Buddha head wrapped in a tree root in Ayutthaya Thailand

By the way if you opt to take a picture with this tree, make sure that your head is lower than the Buddha head (so basically you should be squatting or seating), This is to show some kind of respect.

During our visit, there are only few tourist in sight, or let me say, there are none at all. Or maybe because it’s not a peak season… (May??) Anyway, this is a place not to miss, you’ll learn and appreciate the place your visiting if you know about its past. And this is a good place to start. It is really a wonderful place, even my 4 year old nephew enjoyed this place.

In Ayutthaya you can also see a recent temple complex where inside you’ll see a big Buddha statue covered with Gold (Though I’m not sure if it is covered with real gold)

Beautiful Thai temple architecture

The Golden Buddha

There are several ways to get here, it can be by van (which is the most convenient, especially if you have a tour guide), by train, by boat (for scenic views). Here is Wikipedia’s how to get there page. Since I have no idea on how to get there except riding our van (I paid a private tour– I’ll blog about it later.. ).

TIPS:

1. If you’ve never been to Angkor Wat, Siam Reap Cambodia, then this place will be exciting for you since the place is like the Angkor temples (well, more like Angkor ruins). And even if you already saw the Angkor temples, the place is still beautiful since it has beautiful parks, landscapes, and elephants on the “run” — err, elephants carrying people around with their driver…  

2. Bring and wear light clothing and comfortable shoes, and also clothes that will not show your knees or shoulders, it should be sleeved or else you will be forced to use their sarongs, which can cost you to up to P500.00 or 750 baht

3. If your tour includes a long tail boat, opt for the elephant ride instead, it is just so amazing and fun! If you are an animal activist (or protects the rights of animals) then instead of riding them, you can just feed them (It’s so much fun! promise!)

4. Don’t mind the vendors selling you souvenirs since usually they are a bit of a let down and also much expensive. Tell your guide to bring you in a market and start from there

5. Don’t forget to buy a sweet here (it’s ayutthaya’s specialty, however, I forgot what it is called)  It looks like hair, pancit/noodles (as thin as a hair strand) but with the color of a cotton candy, and you wrap it in something like a crepe or lumpia wrapper (for filipinos: it looks like a lumpia or turon wrapper. If you go to a market you’ll definitely find one. It really taste nice! and according to our tour guide the taste is different if you buy it in Ayutthaya.

TO SEE MY ITINERARY FOR THAILAND CLICK HERE

BANGKOK THAILAND: AYUTTHAYA: BANG PA IN SUMMER PALACE

On our second day in Bangkok, we went to Ayutthaya. It is the former capital of Thailand, just like Xian of China, Kyoto of Japan and Cebu of the Philippines. It is 1.5-2 hours drive from Bangkok. Quite near eh??

Beautiful landscape of Bang Pa In Palace

Honestly, I’m a history buff however, my history “buffness If there’s such a word” is only limited to palaces, emperors, empresses, kings and queens, prince and princess. period. no more than that. I’m interested with anything to do with royalties, palaces and their grand way of life— As a matter of fact, I wished to be a princess! haha!  My Addiction regarding royalties pushed me to go to this place to explore (and imagine) the life of being a Thai Royalty during the past ages.

Well, to tell you, Thailand has still their King and Queens, so, it became the first country that I visited having a royal family. And to tell you the truth, I was quite envious! ha!

The only thing akin to China’s Forbidden City in Ayutthaya (what I mean here is a complex in which everything is still intact; not yet in ruins) is the Bang Pa In Summer Palace. Just like the Summer Palace in Beijing, it is used as a vacation place for Thai Royal Families about 400 years ago…

“It  is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings as a summer dwelling. King Prasat Thong originally constructed the complex in 1632, and though it lay empty and overgrown throughout the late 18th and early 19th century, King Mongkut began to restore the site. Most of the present buildings were constructed between 1872 and 1889 by King Chulalongkorn” — according to our tour guide

What I liked here is the moat with a pagoda and a bridge, and also there are carps or mudfish (I’m not sure what kind of fish is in that water) You can feed them by buying a piece of bread.

The bang pa in architecture, a thai looking architecture in the middle of a moat and at a back is a western looking architecture

fishes living in the moat

Here you’ll find buildings with different styles and concepts. In Bang Pa In Palace they incorporate  European, Chinese and even Khmer in their architecture.  This made me think that Thai royalties are quite open to get styles and influence from other countries. However, aside from the buildings, beautiful and well-kept gardens awaits you in Bang Pa In Palace:

Cute Landscaping in Bang Pa In Palace. Elephants are believed to bring good luck in Thailand.

With my sis-in-law, mom, and nephew, at their back is the building with a Chinese architecture. Beautiful isn’t it?

Inside the building with Chinese architecture. You will also find that inside is also very Chinese (complete with red pillars and all).

the handpainted tiles in the Chinese looking architecture inside the palace

Western Looking Pagoda

Another beautiful pagoda amidst beautiful landscape

TIPS:

1. Wear comfortable clothing. Wear sleeved and below the knees clothing. Leggings are not allowed or else you’ll dress like my sister-in-law in the pictures above. A polo and a skirt will be rented to you or else you can’t enter the palace.

2. Bring water, since there are few vendors in the area.

BANGKOK THAILAND: A WONDER: MY ITINERARY

Well, I wasn’t able to write anything for the past few months, it’s because I’m really (really) (really) LAZY! *sigh. Anyway, I really need to write something here since it is almost a year after I enjoyed Thailand thus, I need to write before I forget everything that I enjoyed about that vibrant city.

Since it was my first time to go to Thailand last May 2012, and since I will be coming with my mom, nephew, and sis-in-law I opted to get a tour guide, to lessen the load n my part (It’s hard to be the navigator!, I’m sweaty and stressed the whole time! So I opted to get a guide *sigh). It’s not a package tour though, (just like lots and lots and tons and tons of my trips, I usually do my itinerary, find a guide and let that guide work according to what I want (I’m a spoiled brat so I want everything to happen according to my plan! *evil laugh)).

 

BTW! Thailand is the second city we went after Singapore during my family’s mini Southeast Asia Adventure. Forgive me but I don’t have anything to write about Singapore. Singapore is just too hard to put in words! All I can say is that it is vibrant, lovely and very city-like! That’s all!

But, Thailand is different, there is history behind it. What I mean by history is that, there’s historical sights, beautiful landscapes and CRAZZZY SHOPPING! When I say crazy, it’s really crazy! Haggle to death and you’ll enjoy this experience.

Anyway, I’m not here to compare two countries, but give you my insights as well as itinerary for your Bangkok, Thailand Adventure

Note: This is my itinerary, this will only serve as your guide. Your preferences might be different to what I like so… it depends on you if you wanna copy this, and if you do, and if you have questions, feel free to ask me and contact me.

1ST DAY: May 15, 2012.

We arrived Bangkok at 2pm, aboard an Airasia Aircraft from Singapore, then we transfer towards our hotel, Prince Palace Hotel in Khaosan Road. 2pm is really late to tour around the city since the attractions closes at around 4 or 5pm.  so what we did is to look around the hotel area and we realized that the place where our hotel is located is one of the biggest wholesale shopping malls in Bangkok. So, we shopped and shopped during that time *just imagine how big is the grin in my face. I’ll write about my shopping experience some other time!

2ND DAY: May 16, 2013; AYUTTHAYA EXPERIENCE 

Bang Pa-In Summer Palace: is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings as a summer dwelling. King Prasat Thong originally constructed the complex in 1632, and though it lay empty and overgrown throughout the late 18th and early 19th century, King Mongkut began to restore the site. Most of the present buildings were constructed between 1872 and 1889 by King Chulalongkorn.

Ayutthaya Historical Park: When King U Thong built Ayutthaya as his island capital some 650 years ago, the city was to last for 417 years. Over its long history from 1350 to 1767 there were five Thai dynasties and a total of 33 kings. When people from other countries came to the kingdom they remarked on its’ size and wealth and the beauty of the place. See ruins which have survived from this once magnificent city. Visit the Royal Grand Palace and the Royal Temple (Wat Phra Si Sanphet)

Viharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit: The viharn holds a large image of Buddha subduring the Mara which is 12.45 meters high and has a knee span width of 9.55 meters. it was built with brick and plaster and was covered with bronze 3-4 inches thick

Wat Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relics): is located almost right in the center of Ayutthaya City and A typical of the Ayutthaya ruins, large crumbling Chedi or Stupa surrounded by low laterite walls and rows of Headless Buddha Images. One Buddha Image-head is in a tree trunk. This is one of the old city’s most impressive edifices

Wat Ratchaburana, It was built in 1424 and the early Ayutthaya Prang is still standing has a beautiful stucco work. Found inside the prang crypt large quantities of treasure and religious objects

Enjoy a Private Long-Tail Boat to explore of the island of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. It is not only reveal the beauty and lifestyle of the people but also reflect the life at the time of Ayutthaya Kingdom when the Chao Phraya River served as a channel for trade

3RD DAY: MAY 17, 2012: BANGKOK CITY TOUR

Morning:      Visit The Royal Grand Palace & The Royal Temple are the perfect introduction

09:00AM     to Thailand’s Architecture, Culture and Tradition, You will visit the highlight attractions around this complex such as

The Royal Temple (Wat Phra Kaew, The Temple of the Emerald Buddha), The Golden Chedi, Pantheon of the Chakri’s Kings, A miniature replica of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Coronation Throne Hall and Royal Reception

Visit Wat Pho (The Temple of The Reclining Buddha) is the of the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok and still an important center for Traditional Thai Medicine and Traditional Thai Massages School

Afternoon:   Canal Tour, Take a long tail boat along the bustling Chao Phraya River and quiet Klongs (canals) Passing picturesque scenes of Thai River Life.

By the river see Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn: is an important landmark located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The main shrine, decorated with glazed ornaments and ceramics, rises 67 meters towards the heavens. Built during the beginning of King Taksin era, the magnificent temple reflects the glory of the Thai culture. The highest Prang in Thailand symbolizing Hindu-Buddhist cosmology

4TH DAY: Flight going to MALAYSIA

MY SINGAPORE 3 DAY ITINERARY

MY SINGAPORE ITINERARY

1ST DAY Singapore Zoo – you should not miss this, especially if you are traveling with children. It is so interesting that even I, as an adult was amazed on how beautiful and huge the place is. They presented a variance of animals and flora. The landscaping here are amazing, and also, what I loved here is that the animals are free to roam (except the carnivores of course!) I saw a lot of monkeys roving around the trees! I felt like I’m in a jungle!

I suggest, (and even the locals suggest) that you skip the night safari, since the Singapore day zoo is better! You will see a lot of animals and

the entrance of Singapore Zoo

At night: Visit the Merlion park. The one in front of Fullerton Hotel. The place is amazing since you will see the Marina bay sands from afar with lights on. I also loved how the durian-shaped theater is lighted-up at night. the view is just amazing. It is also a good time to rest your feet while you are savoring the beautiful city lights of Singapore. You Can also opt to visit the world reknown Marina bay Sands, the entrance fee is waived (or is free) for foreign visitors, just don’t forget to flash your passports.

the merlion and the marina bay sands

2ND DAY

RESORTS WOLD SENTOSA

Universal Studios If you are like me, who haven’t been to any Universal Studios abroad, then it is nice to visit this theme park. But, if you’ve been to other US then don’t waste your time here, since you might be disappointed. This is a small Universal Studios but amazingly fun!

the roller coaster in universal studios singapore

Then visit the Maritime Experimental Museum, it is nice, especially if you have kids. You’ll get a free ticket here if you purchase a ticket for Universal Studios. But if you need to pay, then skip it. What made me enter this museum is because I’m quite curious on what’s inside it. It’s actually beautifully decorated inside, and there’s a lot of wax-made mannequins depicting various cultures abroad (they are wearing national dresses, which made it more interesting). There are mannequins that depict the evolution of trade in China.

The park inside the Resorts World compound is really nice, especially during the night. Lights make the place so beautiful. Especially the fountain. And also you can watch the crane show (it is actually fascinating and its free!)

Alternative: If you don’t wanna go to Universal Studios, you can still enjoy your day in Resorts World Sentosa. It is fun and interesting as there are a lot of attractions inside, like man made beaches, the well-known aquarium etc.

3RD DAY

Visit the Ruffles, and walk through the city. No itineraries, just get lost in Singapore. We did this and it was fun (tiring yet unbelievable exciting!)

I’ll be adding something here, so better tune in!

Budget Place to Stay in Boracay, Philippines: White Beach de Boracay

Boracay is well known for its nice beach. It is said to be comparable to the beaches in the Carribean, with its powdery white sand and beautiful cobalt-blue waters BUT the good thing in this tourist destination, is that you can have a nice vacation without bankrupting your savings account!

beautiful.

Boracay might seem expensive to anyone, especially for most Filipinos, but because of its popularity, a lot of hostels, guesthouses or even homestays have already mushroomed all over the place, making it a not-so-expensive-place-to-be for your summer vacation!

One of these hotels that cropped up is the White Beach de Boracay. We availed of their early bird promo, by which we reserved our room about 1-2 months before our arrival. We decided to book it beforehand since our vacation will be during a very peak season, as it is would be in April. The room we stayed in is a quadruple, since we are “supposedly” 4 people traveling together. We paid P2000.00 each for the whole 4 days 3 nights stay.

facade of the garden view white beach de boracay, sorry for the blurry pic, my camera got water/fog on the lens

They have two hotel areas, the other one is situated in Station 1 near Starbucks, which they call as the white beach de boracay beach front view. While the other one is located between Astoria and D’Mall, this area is what they call as the garden view. We stayed in the garden view, since it is cheaper. Although it is not front beach per se, it is just 2 minutes away from the beach, and the serenity during the night is the best. no loud music. just the hum of the air condition!

The place has its own bathroom with hot and cold water, clean white sheets, television with cable and aircondition. There is no free breakfast, but the location is just a few minutes away from D’mall where you can eat your breakfast in the trusted-Andok’s Chicken (for affordable food) or buy bread in Julie’s Bakeshop and other groceries in D’mart.

However, there is no mini-bar but there is a refrigerator where you can put your groceries or liquors. There is also no hot-water boiler/kettle, but you can ask the caretakers who are staying behind the hotel building to heat some water for you.

When we arrived in the front desk/reservation office, which is situated in the beach front area,  the staff immediately gave us orange juice to quench our thirst. And they were very courteous.  They also gave us some snacks to eat. Then, after few minutes, we were guided by one of their staff to transfer to the garden view area. And then…. we immediately put sunblock on and enjoy the beautiful view of Boracay!

This hotel is a hassle-free, no-frills hotel. It is cheap, but clean, and beautiful. There is house-keeping, so you won’t have a problem of staying in a sandy room. Or if they don’t come that day, you can always ask the caretakers.

Boracay, Philippines: Cliff Diving in Ariel’s Point!

MY EXPERIENCE!

I’ve always been a daredevil, but my devil’s tail curled up when I saw the 15m high jump!

Ariel’s Point diving board. yeee

I know that I should do this. It is part of my bucketlist. It is a must-do. This is what I wasted my P1500.00 for. I should dive.

With this sign? I think I’m not gonna jump!

Well, yes, I always told myself that I can do it! But when I was in the board, I almost killed myself because of nervousness! I can faint in horror just thinking of what may happen to me… I’m a worry freak, so basically, I worry too much and worry of everything that might happen to me if I take the plunge! I worry if ever I hit a stone and die, or I worry if I can’t swim up and die by drowning. I was scared.

People are telling me to jump…. no, they are not telling me, they are cheering for me, telling me that I can do it… and somebody almost pushed me from behind. He is a guy from the Middle East, I looked at him with worried eyes and he said  “Don’t think just Jump!” I looked at the horizon, exhaled, then I did it. I flew for a second and two and it felt nice… except that I was gasping for air when my body was swallowed by the water. I felt scared but I felt proud. It’s an exasperating experience!

It’s true what the man said, If you think too much, you won’t know how good it is… It is good, and I will say that I will do it again!

ABOUT ARIEL’S POINT BORACAY

Ariel’s Point is basically a cliff-diving area, it is not located in Boracay itself, so you need to take their private boat towards the area, which is around 45-minutes away.

the boat and the floating hut

You need to pay and reserve for your slot for the next day,  and just come to the meeting point at 11am. The meeting point is in Station 1 right beside Obama’s Grill. And to reserve you should go to Boracay Beach Club, which is located right behind the meeting point. Just ask someone in the meeting area about where to pay and reserve for your cliff diving adventure, then someone from there will be escorting you.

the Boracay Beach Club registration office. Just behind the waiting area.

the waiting and registration area during the D-day

the waiting area

with free baller upon registration

the whole package costs P1500.00. It includes the ferry/boat ride, with unlimited drinks while you are cruising , buffet lunch, unlimited liquors and unlimited diving, use of small boats for island exploring and snorkeling gears as well as Merienda or afternoon snacks are also provided.

the view while cruising!

Other sight to behold during the journey towards ariel’s point

Approaching the cliff of Ariel’s Point Boracay

There are a lot of diving boards with different heights, 15m as the highest, then followed by 10m, 8m, 5m, 3m, and then the 2m. It seems safe but your mind will be crazy when you saw how crazy high it is! Well, it doesn’t seem high in the pictures!

Cliff Diving boards

when I took this picture. I’m shocked!haha

The trip starts at 11am then leaves ariel’s point at 4pm.

Anyway, the food is nice and there’s a lot of variety! Cold drinks, beers, water, juice are provided.

By the way, if you jump, make sure you have a straight posture, hands on your side, legs straight, so that it won’t hurt that much when you fall into the water Unless you are a professional diver.

If you cannot jump, because you are afraid, don’t worry there are a lot of things to do for the half day trip, like snorkeling, or visit the nearby island or just plain swimming! You can enjoy sightseeing too! The sight is awesome!

The beautiful and serene landscape. This is my favorite photo!

TIPS:

1. For girls, wear one piece swimsuit, since usually your 2 piece bikini might go out of place after plunging the waters and somebody might see your boobies. You don’t want that don’t you? My friend and some of the girls in our group experienced that! :S

2. If you have some food request, say your concerns during the time you are reserving and paying for your slot so they accommodate your needs

3. Register 2 days or a day before your target date, since Ariel’s Point is becoming more and more popular!

4. Bring a lot of sunscreen and don’t forget to go to the other island to see some species of starfish. There are a lot of starfish with different colors and shapes (though it still looked like a star!)

5. Eat some coconut in the nearby island, and chill for awhile. The place is beautiful and serene, so better yet enjoy the scenery, you can canoe yourself towards there or ask for the employees to transport you there.

HOW TO GET TO BORACAY FROM KALIBO?

UPDATED: MAY 2013

Kalibo is one of the main hubs towards Boracay. It is about  2 hours bus or van ride away from Caticlan jetty Port, where you will ride a boat (about 5-15 minutes ride) to get to the beautiful island of Boracay.

The Kalibo International Airport

Kalibo is a good choice if you are in a budget–except of course if there is an ongoing sale for Caticlan which rarely happens– It is a good way to save money, and of course the mountainous or forested scenery is a plus if you choose Kalibo. Manila to Caticlan fares (regular fares) are usually PhP 7,000-10,000 while Manila to Kalibo the regular fares are around P3000-P4500, so as you can see there is a big difference! *Advise: Wait for airline seat-sales because they lower the price for about 75% so you can save a lot.

After your arrival in Kalibo International Airport, you can see a lot of stalls offering a package of either bus or van with ferry ride. This package usually costs from 200-300PhP depending on the bus/van company. During my visit we opted to ride a van which costs P250.00 (the company that runs it is KIATA).

The stalls are located right in front the baggage-claim area.

The Baggage claim area, in front of this are the stalls

the stalls that offers van/bus+ferry ride packages and also the tourist assistance help desk

bus services

UPDATED PHOTOS AS OF MAY 2013

UPDATED AND NEW PHOTOS AS OF MAY 2013

Here is the van service we used (Kiata)

After 2 hours of traveling we were dropped off to Caticlan Jetty Port where we paid environmental fee, terminal fees and other kind of fees. We were also required to sign up in the visitors’ log sheet where everyone is required to sign in order for the local government unit to monitor the number of people coming into the island.

So, here are the other KIATA vans lining up for alighting passengers towards the jetty port

BEFORE YOU ENTER CATICLAN JETTY PORT, there are counters waiting for you at the side of the entrance. You should not go inside the jetty port UNTIL you already paid the things you need to pay, such as terminal fee, environmental fee and alike. If you are such a naughty kid “so makulit” you will be told to go out again to do what you should do, which only means that you’ll be hassled again because of the tedious security check. Save yourself the hassle of opening your bags and repeating the same procedure. So, Before you get inside please pay your dues…

THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED: 1. TERMINAL FEE 2. ENVIRONMENTAL FEE 3. PUMP BOAT TICKET

   Environmental fee:  P100.00 (updated May 2013).

Terminal Fee:  P100.00 (Updated May 2013)

*Students and senior citizens are given discounts, for environmental fee, you will only pay  P75.00 . so, present your ID’s!!!

Those that are exempted for paying the ENVIRONMENTAL FEE

TERMINAL FEE:

PUMP BOAT TICKET IF YOU DID NOT AVAIL OF PACKAGE RATES IN KALIBO

inside the caticlan jetty port

You also need to sign up your names if you are visiting Boracay, so that LGU’s will have information regarding the number and the names of the people who visited this number 1 tourist destination in the Philippines.

You will register here, put your name and signature in their logbook.

The ferry ride is just 15 minutes, so basically, after 2 hours and 15 minutes of travel you will arrive to the mesmerizing island of Boracay…

the ferry/fast crp that will transport you from Caticlan Jetty Port to Boracay

BUT! after that 15 minutes ferry ride, you still need to ride a trike (tricycle) which costs at around P100.00 or 2USD to get to the White Beach where most of the hotels are located. P100.00 is for the whole trike, so you won’t share it with anybody, it can carry up to 4-5 people. But, if you are really in a budget, you can share the tricycle with other people.  Our hotel is located near D’Mall (in between station 2 and station 1) so maybe if your hotel is in Station 1, the price will be higher.

Although it seems tiring to get to Boracay after deplaning in Kalibo… Everything just seems to go away once you catch a glimpse of the glistening sand and turquoise water of Boracay.

the beauty of boracay

HAPPY WANDERING!

Boracay, Philippines: Still a Paradise.

Boracay, Philippines is well known for its long stretch of fine white sand and as the place-to-be for parteyying.

the beauty of boracay

It is a paradise for sightseers, adventure-seekers and party-goers, if you fall into any of these categories, then this place is for you.

Some Infos you Might need to Know:

There are two (2) gateways to get you to Boracay through air travel. The first, which is the easiest and fastest way is to fly towards Caticlan Airport, which is 15 minutes away from the island itself, you just need to hire a tricycle to arrive at Caticlan Jetty Port and then ride a boat towards Boracay. The second is flying towards Kalibo International Airport. It is a cheaper way to arrive in Boracay, however, it is quite uncomfortable because of the additional 2 hour van/bus ride,. The air tickets towards Kalibo Airport is much more cheaper than getting a ticket to Caticlan.

Tickets Manila-Kalibo-Manila, regular fare is P3500.00 or $82USD, while Manila to Caticlan-Manila ranges from P7000.00 -15,000.00 ($163 – $350USD) regular fare. But, you can always spot an airline sale and get 50-70% slash of the regular airfare. Like my facebook page and I will always make sure that airline, hotel and other kind of sales will not miss you! —Yes! I’m proudly promoting my FB page! haha!

However, anyone seeking adventure may still opt for a challenging bus ride or an almost 24-hour ferry ride which most of us call RoRo. I’ve seen a bus there, it was Philtranco, I don’t know how it get there but it says ARANETA-CUBAO, haha! Maybe there is really a bus going there! Anyway, I’ll get details about it later.

There are 3 stations in Boracay, the 1st station has the best sand but the hotels here are more expensive than the other 2 stations. The 2nd station has the most party-places and more affordable accommodations. The 3rd station has rocky sand but still white, but it has the most affordable accommodations/hotels in the island.

SIGHTSEERS:

The place is scenic. –I don’t have anything to add anymore. It is beautiful, peaceful–in the mornings. and entirely different for beach lovers, in the sense that it is a long–very long– white sand beach. I walked towards the start until the end of Station 1 and I’m really tired after, I ended up sleeping the whole night!

beautiful.

The sand is pearl white especially if the sun is shining brightly. It somehow sparkles, and it is quite hard to glare at since it is really white. This is the 2nd time I see a bond-paper white kind of sand. It is indeed beautiful. And the sand is really cuddly. I love putting my feet beneath those sand. It is really soft to the touch! I just love the sand!

What I love in this island is its amazing sunset. It is so dramatic that I wanna cry.  No words can amount to what I felt looking at it! see for yourself!

amazing sunset

ADVENTURE-SEEKERS

There are a lot of water/land activities in the whole island, like para-sailing, jet skiing, cliff-diving, diving, reef/helmet diving, banana boat riding, ATV riding, horse back riding and so much more.

TIP: especially for the foreigners, don’t talk to those people who are selling you or offering you with activities since they will tend to increase the price 3x.

I tried the Cliff-Diving in Ariel’s Point and it was a -one of a kind- experience! It is awesome!!! I’ll post about my experience in Ariel’s Point later.

Ariel’s Point diving board. yeee

PARTY-GOERS

There are a lot of clubs and bars, you will love bar hopping, mingling or just plain having fun. The life there is really great, though the price is high.

If you wanna mingle, there is a club that organizes what they call as pub crawl. There you will meet other people, drink to your heart’s desire and simply enjoy the nightlife in Boracay… I almost tried this, but during our time it was cancelled since there are few attendees.

By the way, I’ll be back in Boracay this May!! If you are there then see you!

THIS IS MY FIRST POST FOR MY BORACAY SERIES. THIS IS AN INTRODUCTION!

 

HAPPY WANDERING!

Puerto Princesa, Palawan: Reliable Van Service

We met Kuya Edwin the day when we were touring the Crocodile Farm. He told us that the price of the van rental with driver going to the Underground River is P3,500.00 which is the uniform price for all van rentals in Puerto Princesa.

Kuya Edwin and his van

He owns a very brand new van. I was amazed on how new it was! There are plastic covers in the seats!!! Haha! Anyway, here is his contact number.  09173335340. Haggle as much as you want! He is really kind and he helps you all the way. He suggests places you should visit… and also he is really a very safe driver! He doesn’t speed up that much! He is really careful especially he owns the van being rented, so he is extra careful…

If you will look at his plate number is still not in rainbow colors (well, during the time of our visit), which is usually the color of the legal tourist vans’ plate numbers. He reasoned out that the van has already a pending registration with the tourism office and that he is already an operator ever since. The franchise of his old van will be transfered in this new van, he is just awaiting approval. So no worries about it! And he is Legit because Yannah the Wanderer had already tried and tested his services!!!

Here is his number: 09173335340

The brand new van!

TO SEE MY OTHER POSTS ABOUT PUERTO PRINCESA, RE: ACCOMMODATIONS/ ITINERARY ETC. CLICK HERE