What Else, Siem Reap?

If you thought Siem Reap is just about Angkor Wat and the temples, you are so wrong.  There are a lot Siem Reap can offer.  We are so lucky that our flight will be 10:30PM Cambodia Time so we have ample time to explore the place.  We rented a "tuktuk" to take us to different places in Siem Reap.  First stop is the Great Lake Tonle Sap. Since we need to check out from the hotel by 12nn so we decided not to ride the cruise. You need $20/person to ride the boat. 

Next stop is the artsy and crafty place: The Angkor Silk Farm. This is 20 min ride from Siam Reap Center.  You will see how a silk is made.  No entrance fee here.  They also have  a shop where you can buy everything made of silk. 

We need to go back to our hotel to check out.  I took a picture of how beautiful our temporary abode.  Welcome to Prum Bayon Hotel.  I don't have the rate because it's part of our tour package.

Prum Bayon Hotel.

We resume by visiting the Angkor National Museum.  You can't take picture when inside the museum.  You will know why because what's inside is meant to be seen by your own eye.  It's a high class and interactive museum.  Each part/room in the museum is amazing. You will really say, "I wish our country also have this kind of museum..." 

Angkor National Museum

A visit to a country will never be completed without a moment just feeling and hearing the city.  

You need as well to have a taste of their own cuisine and a night life. Chill and relax.  You deserve after a day of walking.  Try Koulen Restaurant. $12/head to have a buffet dinner here. You will sit beside each other.  You got to mingle with other foreigners as well.

Koulen Restaurant

Kitchen Angkor Chey Restaurant

My Vietnam and Cambodia tour is a package from Our Restless Feet.  Visit their website, www.ourrestlessfeet.com.  Don't hesitate to send your queries on their e-mail address, travel@ourrestlessfeet.com and they will answer you.  After this tour, I think I won't stop from exploring the world and seeing how diverse our culture and see the difference of each place from ours. 

Till my next blog. Feel free to comment. 

Amazing Angkor

A trip to history. A journey to memory lane.  It was an amazing place.  When we arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia, we were welcomed by our driver named Dara. He is so pleasant and warm. I thought because he was paid for this tour so he got no choice.  We checked in Prum Bayon Hotel and I feel the same warmth.  I knew it that the people in Siem Reap are simply welcoming and humble.  After 15 hours travel from Ho Chi Minh, we simply need a good dinner and go back to the hotel to rest.

Then, time to explore Siem Reap. Where else the perfect place but Angkor Archaeological Park.  First stop, Angkor Thom and the rest follows.

Not include in the package that we have so we added additional $30 for the gas because it's like 37 km from Siem Reap.  It's the oldest temple in the area: The Banteay Srey.

Then, we went to the rest of the temples in the area. 

Angkor Thom

Elephant Terrace and Leper King Terrace

The Famous Tomb Raider Location: Ta Phrom Temple

Tip: Please bring extra shirt, $1 (donations if you want to go near the buddhas), entertainers (optional) and a lot of water.

Finally, the Angkor Wat.

These are the view from the top if you will climb the stairs to go to the top of Angkor Wat.

Some are just sitting and see the beauty and grandeur of each temple.  They don't mind taking pictures.  When you roam around, you can really say how lucky the Cambodians for these ruins and temples.  A lot of restoration project going on the area sponsored by different countries. And, you need to have a good tour guide. We were lucky to have Sary as our tour guide. He is passionate introducing these treasures.

You have several ways to tour the whole park.  You can rent a tuktuk, a bicycle or car.  You badly need to have a good shoes.  You will need a lot of walking.  Of course, when you get into the temple don't be shy to light a incense candle and while you are praying, the yogi will tie a bracelet on your hand as good luck charm (see that red bracelet on the picture).  And, again, you will need a lot of water. 

One Fine Day in Saigon

This is my first trip outside the country and I decided to go to Vietnam.  Why Vietnam? And, why Saigon? Maybe, I am a fan of Miss Saigon that's why.  We left Manila at around 10:30PM Manila Time and arrived on the gates of Ho Chi Minh Airport at 12:33 Vietnam Time.  You guess it right.  We are an hour advance from Vietnam.  Someone took us to the hotel (included on the tour package) who doesn't speak English.  All actions, indeed.  Anyways, he took us to the wrong hotel.  Good thing our real hotel is on the same strip where that hotel is.  Please note of this: the front desk will take your passport.  No worries, as they say, your passport is safer with them.  You can walk around Ho Chi Minh without it.  They say it's usual in ASEAN countries. 

We have a quick nap and at 10AM, we will start a day of touring Saigon. Well, we woke up early. We are so excited to see the sights of this place. We had our breakfast in the hotel (ahuh,it's a free breakfast buffet) to have enough fuel for the day.  Here are some snapshots during breakfast. Motorcycle, vendor, tourists are everywhere in Saigon.  You need to learn how to say "No" in Vietnamese.  Say it, "Koh-me". 

Our tour started in Former Presidential Palace.  This is where you will see all rooms in every presidential palace.  All the best carpets, table, chairs and CHANDELIERS. You can find here as well the bunker where the president used during the war.  It's a underground that has a thick wall that it takes 5

Every room have different set of chandelier.

Next is the War Remnants Museum.  Collection of everything about war: during and post war.  Themes are Historical Truths, Requiem, The collection of documentary photos of Japanese photographers: Bunyo Ishikawa and Nakamura Goro, Imprisonment conditions during the war, Aggressive War Crimes, DOVE (Children Education Room) and The World People in support of Vietnam's Resistance. 

Off to Minh Phuong Art Co., Ltd. where there famous lacquerware produced.  Very intricate details of how they make a beautiful furniture and fixtures out of lacquer and designed using duck egg shells and mother of pearl.  This is a livelihood program for those who were victims of agent orange and differently abled people.  

We went to Chinatown. We were warned by our tour guide to be mindful of pick pocketer and snatchers. We visited the Thien Hau Temple.  The porcelain were imported from China. 

Vietnam have French influence.  And it made obvious by these two architecture: The Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Post Office.  We are amazed of how they preserved the authenticity of the cathedral yet so modern.  LED TVs are scattered each aisle for easy reading. 

You won't leave Vietnam without a taste of their cuisine.  We are so lucky to have a taste of the authentic one.  We took our lunch in Buffet Ganh in Saigon Palace Hotel.  To highlight, they soya bean or we call it "taho" that the caramel is made of simple sugar with ginger and lemon grass.  You might find it a wrong combination but it tastes really good.  I also have tasted a lotus flower salad, pancake that is so different from the usual pancake because it's crispy.  They don't have pastries except for rice cake if you consider it as one. As a coffee lover, don't leave Vietnam without a taste of their coffee.  It's really delicious.

Are you good in haggling? Try the Ben Than Market. I am annoyed by the place and the vendors or maybe, I am not really good in bargaining. There are stalls that has a label "Fixed Price".  I should've known myself and stick to these stalls.

To cap the day, why not have a taste of their own beer and enjoy the nightlife of Saigon. And, their mangoes. It really taste different. 

Crossing Borders: First Trip Abroad

Ticket, booked. Baggage, packed. Passport, checked. Tour service voucher, two thumbs up.  I am off to my first adventure outside of the country. Yes, this would be my first trip abroad. At first, I planned it out alone. I want to travel alone. I read blogs about traveling alone and I find it so interesting. I read articles about Vietnam and some stories are scary. Then, I shared it to my friends and they were interested as well.  I think subconsciously I really don't wanna go alone. 

 

Here it is.  Immigration time. I am not sure with you but I have fear not to be allowed to go out though it doesn't need a VISA. Few questions were asked like do you have a return ticket, where are you currently employed, well, all to establish that you will go back. There you go I saw the seal of confirmation that I can go out. It was a relief.  

 

When we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, I fear that I will be deported. A lot of questions popping out and getting ready for answers. Oh my!!! I am hearing the barrier. My time to face my fear. Smile and greeted him, "Good Morning!" He can't afford to give me a smile.  I think it's a requirement for them to have frowning face. Anyways, he asked for my return ticket while scanning my passport. And, again, I saw the seal screaming, "Welcome to our country!!!"  I am already happy with that.

 

Vietnam and Cambodia expedition will be on a separate blog.

 

Time to cross the border.  I am a little bit at ease because I know already how it is. We rode a bus to Cambodia.  The in-charge of the trip collected our passports. Imagine, a bus full of foreigners all heading to Cambodia.  In the middle of the trip going to the border, my name was called by the in-charge. My heart skip a beat. What the heck is going on? My passport? I raised my hand. He approached me. He explained that there's something with my passport.  It'll expire March 03, 2015. My trip is September 25, 2014. Do you have any idea what's wrong with my passport? Yes! It'll expire in less than 6 months which, in the first place, I should not passed Phil Immigration nor Vietnam Immigration for that. Then, why? That's my exact statement.  His instruction is I need to follow when we arrived the border.  Please imagine the agony and the torture in me during the travel. And it's like 2 hours more to reach the border.  No matte how well I compose myself but I can't.  I counted my dollars. I checked the cheapest flight going back in the Philippines. Hey… Wait, how can I get to go back to Vietnam. Oh, fudge! I am going to die.

 

Finally, the moment of truth. Bavet, Cambodia - The Border. I followed the in-charge. He taked to me and the demands of Cambodia Immigration Officer (I won't be disclosing it here).  Who knows it might be his demands. I don't know what I'm thinking.  All I want is to shout, "I  CROSSED  THE BORDER. I MADE IT!!!" A sigh and tears of relief when we left the border.  Good Lord, Almighty Father, Thank you.  I know you made it happen. You know that I don't mean no harm in this trip.

 

Lesson: Check your passport before leaving the country.  Ignorance of the rules excuses no one.

 

But, of course, this won't stop me from exploring the world if a chance will be given. Let us not be limited by our fear. I said to myself, this will just be the start of more adventure.

Let us continue crossing borders. It feels really good.

Memories of Dapitan and Dipolog

From Ozamis, we travelled to Dapitan.  Well, it's safe to say that this place is about Rizal and Rizal.  I can say you need to see their City Hall as well. It's Taj Mahal inspired. Very beautiful.

When we arrived in Dipolog via bus (again!), we were dropped somewhere and we rode to go to the City Hall of Dapitan.

You won't imagine that this place is a public office.  It's so beautiful. I had the chance to use their comfort room here and it's so mall-ish.

And I met some locales and they are proud of this architecture.

Your Dapitan Adventure will not complete without seeing this!

We need to rush this trip so we went straight to Rizal's place.  You can rent the pedicab to take you to all these places.  You can finish all of these in 3 hours.

Rizal Shrine, Dapitan

We visited their church, the big map of the Philippines and of course, the residence of Rizal, it's already a museum of his works, trousers, kitchen, room, study room, clinic, his women, etc. You have to see it yourself.

After this tour, we travel approximately 30 minutes to go to Dipolog.  We chose motorcycle to go to Dipolog.  In twos, that's 300.  But if you prefer to be alone on that motorcycle, you can 150 or if you are generous enough you can pay the driver 200.  We went to Dakak.

Bamboo Cafe, Dakak

Enjoy the serenity and tranquility of Dakak

Witness it's beautiful sunset

With me in this trip enjoying the amenities of Dakak

We are booked on a bedroom that's good for 10 people. I think we paid PhP7,999.  This is the expensive part of the trip. Part of it is an adventure in Fantasyland (like EK of Visayas).  You will ride their bus back to Dapitan and they will take you back to Dakak as well.

If you hate rides, you can enjoy locale's finest talent. Amazing show!!! When I say AMAZING, I mean it!

We went back to Dakak to enjoy the rest of the night.  For this night, there are parties held somewhere in the area but I skip it because I am suffering from back pains.  

If you are planning to visit all these places, here are our expenses:

600 - fare - Davao to CDO
100- fare - taxi to Agora
250 - fare - CDO to Mukas
25 - Barge Ride to Ozamis
200 - We rented multi-cab jeep to our host's house
300 - We rented a jeep for the whole day tour
350 - Boat ride to Dolphin Island and entrance fee
300 - Dolphin feeding, swim with the Dolphin
25 - Entrance fee in Hoyohoy
600 - Zipline and Horseback Riding
240 - Fare from Ozamis to Dapitan
50 - Tricycle ride for 5 to tour Dapitan
25 - Entrance fee in Rizal Shrine
300 - Motorcycle Ride to Dakak from Dapitan
500 - Lunch Buffet in Bamboo Cafe, Dakak
400- Breakfast Buffet in Bamboo Cafe
7,999-  Dakak Accomodation with Fantasyland Adventure (good for 10)
1,700 - Private transpo from Dakak to Dipolog Airport

My fave place in Dakak.  Actually, this is in Bamboo Cafe where we had our lunch and breakfast.

Till my next adventure!

Throwback: All About Ozamis

Just this year around February, we took our time off to Ozamis.  It's a planned travel with some friends.  After we made our itinerary, finally the day when we will breath our stress away.

We left Davao by 9PM going to CDO, then another bus ride passing some places like Iligan, Lanao, etc.  After 15 long hours and one roro ride, we finally saw the beauty of Ozamis City

This is just one of the views I saw from our bus ride.  And we started to feel hungry by this time.  The good Lord provided us with a good weather.  Well, in some parts.


After 15 long hours, HELLO OZAMIS!

Enjoy the feast of seafood. Thank you to our host, Somera Family

When a trip, we follow one rule: NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW.  

Inspite of zero visibility of where we should be going, unexpected big waves hugged our boat and almost near death experience sailing in the middle of a roaring sea, we braved it to see the dolphins in Dolphin Island. 

We cried for our lives during the trip but its all worth it.  This gentle creature made us appreciate our beach life.

We deserve a big lunch.  Try Palayan.  It's a resto in the middle of the rice fields. They served Filipino food.

Another place to visit in Ozamis City is the Suman Republic.  It's a place of all sort of suman and sikwate (chocalate drink made of cacao).  We are wet when we visited this place.  I think they don't mind.

Time to rest. Imagine the energy we have consumed from 9PM the other night.  Time to hit the sack.

Second Day - After the sea, what is next? Yeah, time to go to the mountain. Time to enjoy HOYOHOY. Enjoy our selfies, groupies, whatever you call it.  

You can enjoy their resto while your friends can enjoy the zip line.  If you want to commune with nature, do not skill this place.  Hoyohoy is a place for you.  To cap the night, it's a taste of Ozamis night life.

That's for our Ozamis Adventure and it happened in one day! Next, Dapitan and Dipolog Adventure.