Destination Diary: Zamboanga del Sur

If you’re looking for a quick escape that’s still close to Zamboanga City for the year-end, Zamboanga del Sur is the best choice. Only about six hours away from the city, this itinerary is a two-day, one-night escape that’s very accessible and enjoyable for a family on a quick road trip.

Eriberta Spring Resort, Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur

1. Stop By Eriberta Spring Resort in Mahayag 

Now this is an understated jewel in the region. Located in Mahayag, Eriberta is owned by a family friend. Only an hour away from Pagadian, it’s set to be a go-to destination for people who want to unplug from city life. Because there’s weak signal for most telecoms in the area, it’s a great place to unwind and reconnect with nature.

Mini Falls in Eriberta Spring Resort

Accommodations are very affordable at only Php 800 for a cottage that can be occupied by 2-4 persons. Entrance fees are at only Php 50 per person. There’s a restaurant that can take orders which is very convenient for breakfast with a basic selection and instant coffee.

On February 14, the Infinity Pool and newer cottages shall start accepting guests that can accommodate up to 100 persons. However, reservations should be made two weeks in advance especially during the summer.

Mini clear pools in Eriberta Spring Resort

Most guests were Chavacano, because it’s really nearby and a good choice for a stopover on the way to Cagayan de Oro, especially during the year-end.

Mini Waterfalls in Eriberta Spring Resort, Mahayag, Zamboanga del Sur

If you’re someone who wants to unplug, go to Eriberta and experience the cold water spring to rejuvenate your tired body and soul from all the year’s activities. The trip will be worth it.

Eriberta has some fun stories for us, ranging from scary to the plain crazy. As for us, we’ve found another stopover and maybe we will be back before you know it. 

2. Dine at the Vine Cafe in Molave

After all the swimming and soaking, we decided to explore the rest of the area and get in touch with civilization (areas within cellular coverage), and came across Vine Café and Bed and Breakfast.

It has eleven fully furnished rooms and a café and bar on the ground floor, which is also an events place for the young. The establishment was also popularized by travel vlogger Kulas of Becoming Filipino. The interiors reflect a cozy bed and breakfast, and there’s a wide menu for meals and snacks too.  We ordered mostly comfort food and heavy meals, so that wound us up for our next stop. 

3. Experience the Christmas Icons Lights Display in Tangub Plaza

Maybe it was curiosity that led us to Tangub, but it was still a worthwhile stop during the evening. The city plaza has become an attraction for families who want to look at the Christmas Icons Lights Display. It is an annual display where replicas of popular monuments around the globe are arranged, decked with lights making beautiful showcases at night.

A walkable replica of the Cascada Monumenta

The replica is made of Capiz Shells

Capiz shells were used in the walk-in replica of Cascada Monumenta 

Each display charges an entrance fee, ranging from Php 10 to Php 20 depending on the size of the display. We spent a lot of time in the tulip garden display which mimicked the thousand roses display in Cebu.

Replica of a Holland flower garden with lit flowers

After walking around and admiring the displays, there are vendors selling cotton candy and peanuts and a corner offering meals and barbecue. 

All in all, it was a good time spent with my family and a road trip where memories were made. Plus, more stories to tell. I’m leaving you with a few reminders and observations too and greeting you all a Happy New Year! Here’s to more adventures in 2020! Thank you for your continued support!

Reminders:

• When taking photos inside the displays, be mindful of taking turns and respect elders. Don’t destroy the display just for the ‘gram.

• Be responsible travelers by disposing of trash properly and being courteous to those who you meet.

• Bring cash with you, not all establishments and vendors accept cards. Small denominations are convenient. 

Note: All input is based on my personal experiences in Zamboanga del Sur. This is in no way, a sponsored post.

*Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy A50.

If you liked this post, please like my

                       

Facebook Page

Instagram

Bloglovin

You can check out my YouTube video here

Destination Diary: Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bangkok and Siem Reap contrast each other. While the former has everything moving at a fast pace, the latter is living a very relaxed life. The former is so modern in terms of infrastructure and basic services, the latter has a problem with community drainage and still needs to figure out how to effectively generate employment for the locals.

However, Siem Reap is growing. Give or take five years, it may be unrecognizable except for a few landmarks. But surely, both cities never ceased to impress me, which is why Thailand is called the Land of Smiles and Cambodia is aptly known as The Kingdom of Wonder. The town is aptly called Siem Reap, which translates to the Defeat of Siam, back in the ancient days when these neighboring kingdoms would go at war with each other.

More and more Filipinos are visiting Siem Reap (evident with locals already greeting you “kamusta kayo” in the ticketing office and children offering souvenirs for “apat-isang daan”) and if you’re one of those who have next to no self-control of booking flights and a supportive boyfriend who also has the travel bug, here’s my guide for Siem Reap:

Weaving silk with different colored silk thread

Visit the Angkor Artisan Village and Silk Farm

Lying on the outskirts of town is an artisan village which provides livelihood to the community (Puok District). Imagine stepping into a workshop of weavers, where the same process is done very similar to how it was like a couple of hundred, if not a thousand years ago. The beautiful textiles produced from the silk worms were used to dress Khmer royalty in the ancient kingdom.

Founded in 1992 through a partnership between a European NGO and the Ministry of Education, Artisans operates vocational centers in Cambodia to train people in Khmer crafts. The Angkor Silk Farm employs more than 400 people.

I can only imagine what the Khmer royalty wore in their day. This photo is the closest that can show how they dressed.

Photo of Khmer People wearing traditional silk garments

The tour is free, and you can purchase silk souvenirs and apparel from the boutique at the end of the tour. Because it is very tedious and entails precise skills for extraction and weaving, now we know why premium silk is expensive. Of course, if you’re after premium silk, you might as well get it here. Naturally, cash is king.

Angkor Artisans Silk Farm Boutique

Neary Khmer Restaurant

Get A Taste of Khmer Dishes in Neary Khmer Restaurant 

We are no strangers to Khmer dishes, but we cannot ever pass up an authentic dining experience in Siem Reap. Our driver brought us here to try out all the Khmer dishes that we can think of, and the table was instantly filled and also instantly wiped out by hungry travelers. I would definitely come back here for those spring rolls and the salad.

Don't miss out on the spring rolls, pickled salad and pork while in Neary Khmer Restaurant

Go On A Temple Run: Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple, Ta Prohm

And we resume the temple run in Siem Reap, with the highlight of our visit, Angkor Wat, Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm. My advice is to go to the ticketing office a day early to save time the next day. Because the best time to go is at sunrise, all alarms were set for three o’clock the next morning. We had breakfast from one of the mobile restos in the area right across the parking lot. Breakfast consisted of a double toast with a side serving of deep fried potato, and I got a kale and mint smoothie to top up my coffee earlier.

We then proceeded to sit outside the bridge and film a time lapse of the sunrise. Shortly after, we explored Angkor Wat. Our group consisted of six people, but my parents opted to hire a guide to take them around for $25, us millenials went about our own pace, taking photos and considering the fact that we can always look up the facts and details online. In other words, we split up.

Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious monument and one of the 7 Wonders of the World

But whether or not you hire a guide, you still get to explore Angkor Wat and also take your time and enjoy while you’re there. There are monks who also visit regularly and can offer a blessing in exchange for a small donation. 

Receiving a blessing from one of the monks in Angkor Wat

Because we hired a van for the day, we were fortunate to have it waiting for us in the parking lot, refresh ourselves and proceeded to Bayon Temple.

Bayon Temple

Bayon faces up close from one of the towers in the temple 

From the gate alone, there is the serene, smiling face that welcomes visitors, and its distinctive features are the Apsara carvings in key areas of the temple. There’s a straight road leading to the temple, and here monkeys freely roam around as if they are already used to the presence of tourists. But it’s better to keep one’s distance just to be safe.  An hour or so is enough to take photos and explore Bayon. As usual, most information online can be looked up about the temple, but for added details, guides can be hired.

The bridge to Bayon features gods on the left side and demons on the right side, but some have been desecrated when Bayon was sacked during the war 

Monkeys can be seen on the street on the way to Bayon Temple

There are 216 serene faces as showcased in Bayon, and scholars have theorized that the faces are of King Javayarman VII who considered himself a god-king. While his ancestors were Hindu, he identified himself as Buddhist (Wikipedia/ Bayon).

Bayon Temple Gates 

Apsara bas reliefs in Bayon Temple

To our third and final temple, we headed on to Ta Prohm. 

Ta Prohm is the filming location of the Lara Croft Tomb Raider movie

Now Ta Prohm is known in Hollywood terms as the Tomb Raider temple, and Lara Croft fans will immediately recognize this from the movie.

An entrance to the temple's center, it looks like a portal to a blast to the past

Although not originally a part of the initial plans of the temple, centuries later, its most distinctive features will become that of the trees that are threatening the temple. It also has many beautiful bas reliefs and efforts are seen to help preserve it from the jungle that’s taking over.

The temple's stele records that the site was home to more than 12,500 people (including 18 high priests and 615 dancers), with an additional 80,000 souls in the surrounding villages working to provide services and supplies. The stele also notes that the temple amassed considerable riches, including gold, pearls and silks.[7] Expansions and additions to Ta Prohm continued as late as the rule of Srindravarman at the end of the 15th century. (Wikipedia/ Ta Prohm)

The jungle threatens to take over the temple and adds an eerie and magical touch to it

If you ask me which one is my favorite of the temples visited, I can’t give you a straight answer because it’s difficult to pick just one. All have their best features and special characters, like the Bayon faces, Apsara carvings, towers and intricate details. Each one is an attraction on its own and possesses its own kind of beauty.

After lunch in a nearby restaurant and having realized that we’ve finished our temple run, there I was, with a full belly and contented soul thinking to myself, it’s the best US$37 I ever spent. 

Make A Donation to Victims of Land Mines 

As Cambodia is a country still bearing the wounds of the Khmer Rouge, land mine survivors and orphans have turned to music to gather donations in order to survive. Walking around town, we have come to recognize that these performers play traditional, pleasant music for passers-by and have come to capitalize on willing ears who are able to spare a few dollars.

I was surprised to find out that these survivors were former soldiers who were fighting the Khmer Rouge back then. I also noticed that on the way to Ta Prohm, children who accompany the musicians are usually orphans who have lost their family members to land mines.

If you have a few dollars or riels, your donations can go a long way to victims of land mines. Not only that, they perform music that has been passed down from Khmer ancestors that’s full of history spanning thousands of years. We noticed that it’s only the instruments producing music as there’s usually no singing to accompany the pieces. But the music floating through the air is still beautiful as the Cambodian landscape. 

Artwork for sale in Angkor Wat

Young artists display their art pieces in Ta Prohm

 Buy Artwork From the Locals 

Most locals are taking advantage of the 1.5 Million tourists that visit Siem Reap annually. Students also find gigs to earn for university, and most have produced artwork to sell to tourists. In the temples of Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm, people display their art and anyone is free to choose their favorite pieces for purchase. 

Home decor for sale in Siem Reap

Shop For Souvenirs and Dine in Pub Street

After a day of temple run under the sun, it’s easy to be templed out. So we planned to visit Pub Street for some souvenir shopping and dining. There are rows and rows of restaurants, the real problem is deciding where to eat.

Pub Street in full swing at night

Because so many tourists of different nationalities have fancied staying in Siem Reap, one could see a pizzeria operating beside a Mongolian barbecue, opposite a Korean ice cream shop, situated beside a Chinese spa. Pub Street has become so diverse that the night scene has so much to offer a templed-out-but-happy person.

Cambodian Draft Beer in Triangle Barbecue and Restaurant

When in Pub Street though, ask for a glass of Cambodian Draft Beer. It’s all part of the Siem Reap dining experience, who knows, you will be able to pick a favorite from the menu.

 For a stay of two days, I can say that I like the peaceful Cambodian countryside and have enjoyed my stay in Siem Reap. Plus, I got to cross-off my Temple Run from my bucket list. Even if Siem Reap left me feeling in a good mood because of my fill of history, architecture and sightseeing, there’s nothing stopping me from coming back when circumstances permit in the future. 

Reminders

·  When visiting other nations, we are responsible for our own behavior and should observe proper customs as the locals do, as we are only guests in their country.

·  Be responsible travelers by disposing of trash properly and being courteous to those you meet, especially the elderly and locals. 

Note: All input are based on my personal experiences in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Our group made arrangements prior to our travel dates. This is in no way, a sponsored post.

*Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy A50.

If you liked this post, please like my

Facebook Page

Instagram

You can check out my YouTube Video here

Destination Diary: Bangkok, Thailand

With five other people in our traveling party, you can say that I'm the one constantly brainstorming, organizing and tying up the details for this trip-plus this is where my mandatory leave days went to. The plan was first to enjoy Bangkok. But later on, it expanded to Siem Reap. The new route consisted of Zamboanga-Manila-Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang)-Siem Reap and vice versa. Now that was a mouthful, and not for the faint-hearted. 

But we were able to maximize our time in Bangkok, and if you plan to visit this city anytime soon, allow me to give you a few ideas:

The Standing Buddha

Temple Run: Standing Buddha, Sleeping Buddha, Sitting Buddha, and Walking Buddha 

We were fortunate to be able to book a tour right from the airport for our first day in Bangkok. Of course, our tour included a driver, van, itinerary and English speaking guide, plus free bottled water in our vehicle. Not only that, we had exclusive use of our vehicle. We were a small party of six people, and even were allowed side-trips to anywhere else in the city such as gem shops and the best tailors in Bangkok.

The Sleeping Buddha (Wat Pho) 

So we started with the temple run from our hotel on our first day, with hotel pickup. We headed straight to the Temple of the Standing Buddha. Just a short distance from the gate we already got a sample of the small, crispy pancakes that were being sold inside for a quick snack. Devotees of the temple were already used to foreign visitors visiting and taking photos that they didn’t mind us there.

After that, we went to Wat Pho, or the Temple of the Sleeping Buddha. This one is popular among tourists (with an entrance fee of 40 Thai Baht), and that I’ve observed more tourists here than in the other first and third temples we visited that day. Shoes are not allowed inside so they have bins that have reusable plastic bags for visitors outside, just dump your footwear in them, go around the temple and then wear your shoes outside, leave the plastic bags in the receiving bins once you’re out.

The Sitting Budha

The Walking Buddha

We ended our temple run with the Temple of the Sitting Buddha and Walking Buddha, there are two figures under one roof. 

After our temple run, we asked our guide and driver to drop us off so that we can…

Entrance to Chatuchak Weekend Market

 Shop and Bargain Hard in Chatuchak Weekend Market 

We scheduled our visit to Bangkok on the weekend to take advantage of the Chatuchak Weekend Market. Although it is open on weekdays, it is not in full swing unlike during the weekends where all the stalls are open. During our visit, I don’t think we were able to circle the whole place. A lot can be bought in Chatuchak, from food, clothes, shoes, crafts, even cacti, gardening supplies and decors.

Figurines and houseware for sale in Chatuchak Weekend Market

I think this is one reason why my parents intentionally didn’t bring much clothes (so that they can shop) and brought a large luggage with them (so that they can shop) and exchange a lot of Thai Baht (so that they can shop). I know I’ll get a scolding after this post lol.

Note that Chatuchak is open during weekdays, but only around forty percent of the stalls are open, the market is in full swing during weekends. 

Muai Thai Shorts Stall in Chatuchak Weekend Market

Cacti For Sale in Chatuchak Weekend Market

Visit The Grand Palace Complex

You haven't been to Bangkok if you haven't explored the Grand Palace. Once past the main gates, the feeling of looking at all the buildings inside the complex is enough to be overwhelmed. It’s like a different place on earth altogether.

The Grand Palace Complex, Right: Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Inside, I felt like every angle is layered with gold, that there’s always something new to look at. There’s a beautiful temple inside the palace complex and visitors are expected to remove their footwear before stepping in. Visitors are expected to cover up and dress modestly as well. Entrance fee is at 500 Thai Baht per person.

The Grand Palace

Outside the Grand Palace gates there are shops and vendors showing off their artwork, I bought an elephant gilded painting for a bargain after the man selling it says he admired our Philippine leaders. If you’re hungry or thirsty, there are convenience stores and cafes along the avenue after the stroll in the Grand Palace grounds.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) Along Chao Praya River

Watch Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn) Light Up From A Rooftop Bar Along Chao Praya River on Sunset 

Because most attractions are within only walking distance of Chao Praya River, it’s the perfect opportunity to experience the lighting up of Wat Arun or The Temple of Dawn at sunset at a rooftop bar. There are only a handful of rooftop bars facing Wat Arun, and it’s advisable to be able to reserve a table ahead of time in order to enjoy the sunset and the cool breeze from the river. It’s also a tourist magnet, so you will be met with so many other people fighting for those Instagrammable spots against Wat Arun as the backdrop. Sitting by the riverside with a drink in your hand may just be the right way to end the day of exploration.

Taking the Tuk-Tuk to Khaosan Road

Experience A Tuk-Tuk Ride

No visit to Bangkok is complete without a tuk-tuk ride. These transportations are a fast way to get around the city, if you’re one who is into a little excitement at night in the city streets. We only went once though because we always take the cab to and from the hotel because our hotel is far from the city center but near Don Mueang Airport for our Cambodia trip.

A few notes though, negotiate before hopping in, ask the driver to drop you in the designated location (Bangkok Library in Khaosan Road for instance) and hold on to dear life. They go fast and can insert in the narrowest of streets, but it’s absolutely a fun ride.

Scorpions on A Stick at Khaosan Road

Experience Night Life in Khaosan Road (Take A Photo With Exotic Food Such As Scorpions And Crickets While You're There) 

Khaosan Road is like the place to be in Bangkok for the nightlife. There are a lot of things to do, like eat in the many restos, shop from street vendors, and even go for a massage or enjoy karaoke with friends. It’s also the place to find exotic fried food such as scorpions, crickets, and worms. All it takes is some Thai Baht and courage to find your fancy.

Hungry? You can order here 

Experience (And Shop Some More) in Damnoen Saduak Floating Market 

Damnoen Saduak is the first and biggest floating market in Bangkok and is often considered the most famous. There are other floating markets in Bangkok, but this has more shops and is described as a maze of narrow canals, and the best place to visit is in the morning. It’s about an hour and a half ride from our hotel and in the outskirts of Bangkok, already in Ban Yai Paeng district. Thankfully we had an English-speaking guide, a van and driver to take us there.

Your lunch can be bought here

Guests will have to use a longboat called sampans, wear a lifejacket and bring some cash when it comes to shopping from the vendors in boats and wide-brimmed hats selling souvenirs and fresh produce. Hungry or thirsty? Just call out to the vendors selling coconut ice cream or pork satay and fresh juices and they will paddle over, or your boat handler will maneuver your way to that vendor. Neat huh? This has got to be one of the highlights of my family trip in Bangkok.

If you've had enough of shopping, all you have to do is just sit and chat and watch the activities in Damnoen Saduak

I have to confess that I had fun here even if I didn’t buy much for myself. I’m aware of the overpricing of some wares here, but if there’s something to buy in the floating market, it’s the hand-carved décor and paintings of artisans from all over Thailand, and woven skirts for the ladies. My kuripot-self regrets not buying these here. 

Palm Sugar for Sale in the Palm Farm

Visit A Palm Farm and See How Coconut Sugar Is Made

If you’re someone who enjoys visiting cottage industries and see how local products are made and produced, the palm farm is one place to be. Producers show how palm sugar is extracted, and there are goods for sale after the mini-tour. Of course, fresh coconut to drink is also available. What to buy here are organic body care products that are coconut-oil based. Even if it’s far from the city, there are still foreign visitors who come here with a guide and transportation because it’s just cozy to be with nature for a change.  

Coconut-based beauty and wellness products derived from palm from the farm

Visit and Feed The Elephants in the Elephant Park 

Also far from the city is the Elephant Park. It’s popular with tourists with young children, (because it’s a good opportunity, so don’t miss it). There are many other activities to do here such as watching the Monkey Show and crocodiles, but the highlights are the pachyderms. Even if we were asked to go on elephant rides, we outright refused and just opted for feeding them and taking photos and videos of these creatures.

No elephant rides please,  but you can feed them instead

To explain, elephant rides are a form of abuse, because their spines are sensitive and prolonged burdening them will lead to long-term damages. To add, we don’t really know how these beautiful creatures are being handled by the park. Of course, I’ll leave this for another more in-depth post. I’m sure my animal-loving friends will agree. 

Icon Siam, The Mother of Malls

Shop Local and Branded in Icon Siam

And lastly, just a cab ride away, is Icon Siam. It’s a shopping mall that houses so many different brands, and the ground floor is just a beautiful array of local products- the display imitates a floating market with endless choices of food and goods featuring the One Town, One Product concept. Spending three hours is not enough in Icon Siam, also called The Mother of Malls, which is why we decided to go back and make the most of our last day in Bangkok here, before we caught our flight back to Manila via Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Brands and boutiques are upstairs

Food stalls in the ground floor imitating a floating market experience

Ground floor Icon Siam featuring One Town, One Product (OTOP) exhibits

We stayed for less than a week in Bangkok, as we had to fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia but it was always a full schedule every day. Of course, this is another experience for the books because of time spent with people I love, and in our subconscious, we keep thinking about coming back someday. 

Reminders:

• When visiting other nations, we are responsible for our own behavior and should observe proper customs as the locals do, as we are only guests in their country.

•  Be responsible travelers by disposing of trash properly and being courteous to those you meet, especially the elderly and locals. 

Note: All input are based on my personal experiences in Bangkok, Thailand. Our group made arrangements prior to our travel dates. This is in no way, a sponsored post.

*Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy A50.

Previous Post: 6 Things That Surprised Me About Bangkok  

If you liked this post, please like my

Facebook Page

Instagram

You can check out my YouTube video here