By Mr.Pancake on Sunday, 3 of May , 2009 at 9:43 pm
I was lucky this weekend. I got to attend a fun, relaxing and exiting weekend cruise. It was really a relaxing trip without any telephone and Internet. Really that is not totally correct. My mobile phone was working but at satellite rate and since I refuse to pay silly high rates for phone calls, SMS and Internet I was by all practical means cut of from the world.
For you that have never attended a Cruise I want to provide some background information. A Weekend or Mini Cruise is basically one, two or three night on board a luxury ship going from one port to another and returning. The marked for Mini cruises have increased at high rate for the last years and now you have offerings in Europe and the US that cost only from USD100 and up. Some packages includes 3 meals a day and for some packages you have to pay for your food.
My experience is that this Cruises now are really good value for money. You get 5 star hotel standard at less than 40% of comparable hotel rates. The ship included a big hotel with maybe 2500 rooms, in my case the ship had 12 restaurants and a few hamburger bars. So you can eat cheap or 6 course gourmet meals depending on your mood and your wallet.
My trip lasted for 2 night. The ship had 2 fantastic shows every evening and a number of other entertainments. There was a 160 meeter long shopping street inside with a number of tax free stores, a swimming pool and a cinema. I specially enjoyed the Massage and the bubble bath in the Spa and Fitness Center. I also tried the Sauna and spend a few hours in the Gym.
On my boat they did not call it Swimming pool, it is called Aqualand. It is a range of pools and fun for kids and grown ups. Really cool. For the younger population the boat also had Adventure Planet, Teen Plaza and Kids corner. For some adults the Casinos are very popular.
Since 1990 the cruise industry has grown at an average annual passenger rate of 7.4%. By year end 2009 the cruise market will reach 16 million annual passengers worldwide. Looking forward to 2011 that number is projected to reach 17.9 million.
Have you ever been to a Cruise or want to attend a Cruise. Please tell me about it by leaving a comment below.
By Blue Rose on Thursday, 30 of April , 2009 at 5:57 pm
We had notice that we have a weather change, and in our place, it’s raining since the last 5 days. It’s bad news to the people who can’t spend their summer on the beach. Actually I’ve just check the weather forecast today and I can see that the LPA (low pressure area) changes into a storm. And I’ve known that in about three months we will have at least 5 storms, can you imagine that. Sorry for all who wants to go on a summer escapade and sorry for us because Bicol Region is always the way of storm. I hope it will not go strong.
But speaking of summer escapade, at least we got to go for a swim last Sunday, and the weather on that beach is still fine. We left home at 3pm and we arrive at the place at 5pm, it’s a bit far but that’s fine. The beach doesn’t look like Boracay or Bohol with white sand and blue green clear water, but we don’t care, our happiness and the children’s happiness is the most important for us. Check out this picture of my cousins, aunts, nieces and friends having fun on the beach.
Now you see it’s always good to have a bonding with family and friends once and for all, we left the beach at 10pm and arrived at home by 12 midnight, but at least we’ve done it without any problem and bad weather, were still lucky.
Don’t you have any summer escapades, if you have, send it to me and I will post it, so that everybody can check it out. Good luck..
By Blue Rose on Monday, 20 of April , 2009 at 6:49 pm
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Mt. Isarog, Camarines Sur
Towering 1,976 meters above sea level and covering 10, 112 hectares, it is the haven of indigenous flora and fauna. Most of the rare exotic of orchids, medicinal and flowering plants, wild boars, deer’s, squirrels, monkeys and untamed rodents are found on the base of the slopes of the mountain. It is now the last Rainforest Mountain in Southern Luzon. Hundreds of waterfalls both known unknown, an unforgettable sigh to behold. The Protected Area Management Board has identified Malabay Falls (Naga City), Curry (Pili) Consocep (Tigaon), Hiwacloy (Goa) as tourism areas within the mountain. |
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Mt. AsogIriga, Camarines Sur
Towering 1,120 meters at Buhi side and 1,212 meters Iriga City side and overlooking Lake Buhi dormant Asog beckons to the adventurous mountaineers and feel rewarded discovering a three hectare sunken crater blooming with pine trees. It is home to the Agta, a tribal people of Bicol. |
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Lahuy IslandCaramoan, Camarines Sur
A 10-kilometer long island about 3 kilometers at its widest point. The island has long stretches of uniquely white fine sand. Barangay Gota has been known as a gold-mining community even before the war. At present only small-scale operation is in existence. At sitio Nipa, a spring 300 meters from the shore provides fresh water source not available elsewhere. A 40-hectare mangrove swamp near Barangay Oring offers a habitat for a marine wildlife.> |
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Animasola Island Balatan, Camarines Sur
A captivating scene of exotic rock formations and crystal clear water welcome visitors traveling off the coast of Balatan. |
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Tayak Lagoon Malarad Island,
Caramoan, Camarines Sur
The lagoon is accessible by swimming underneath the rocks on the beach side. Coral gardens are vast and colorful. |
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Isla de Monteverde Denrica, Garchitorena Camarines Sur
The island is covered with virgin forest, inhabited by birds, bats and iguanas. It is bordered by white beaches with clean and clear sea water. |
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Manila to Naga City Camarines Sur is 45 minutes by plane and 8 to 10 hours by bus. Then just a few hours travelling from Naga City and you can now access to this beautiful natural sceneries. Some of the places are accessible by car, and others are by hiking and trailing, exciting isn’t it? The most important is the feeling when you reach the place, it’s really a natures wonder, it’s so beautiful and you will feel that you belong. Also the place are not crowded, so you will feel like the rebirth of adam and eve in paradise. If you want to have a visit, just contact me.
By Blue Rose on Saturday, 18 of April , 2009 at 2:49 pm
Looking for a new place to enjoy and have fun this summer? One of the most hottest tourist spot now is located in Bicol Region, in Camarines Sur, it is the CamSur Watersports Complex.
Camsur Watersports Complex is a unique watersports park designed for wakeboarding, wakeskating and waterskiing. For beginner riders to the professional wakeboarders and skiiers from all over the world, CWC offers a 6-point cable ski system, coupled with restaurants, sand bars, spas, pro-shops and grand stands to hold guests. Riders can also enjoy their favorite water sports at night as the park will be equipped with spotlights that allow for it even to be open on evenings.
You can even buy lots of souviners and shirts with CWC prints.
Awards Night of 2nd World Wake Boarding Competion2009, last March.
Try it now..and I’m sure you will enjoy your summer escapade this time..
By Blue Rose on Saturday, 11 of April , 2009 at 6:19 pm
How’s your Holy Week? How and where did you celebrate it? Have you seen new things and happenings?
I guess just like most of the people, I’m also excited about holy week. You know, relatives will arrive, my friends will return from work, all along from different part of the Philippines, new gifts arrive from friends and relatives..that’s not a good reason, but reasonable…hehehe… Don’t you also long for it, or when you’re the one arrive from Manila or from other place your relatives are asking about “pasalubong” (presents). I guess it’s just natural and it’s in our culture since birth of Juan de la Cruz, isn’t it?
Anyways, I’m not going to talk about that, I’m going to talk about Holy Week. How do we celebrate Holy Week in our place? We celebrate, just like in other town, having drama about life and death of Jesus Christ, Crusifixion of some devotees, then what we called “penetensya” (penetence) people are hurting theirselves, and the most popular is the Saint Parade or we call it “Prusisyon ng mga Santo.”
Our town is one of the popular town in Camarines Sur, when Holy Week comes. Why? Because of our Meraculous Jesus Image lying in bed when he was removed from the crusifix, we call it “Hinulid” which means “putted in bed.” People from different part of the region or from Manila, visits this Image every Holy Week, or people here visit every first and last Friday of the month. 
I was so amazed when I go with the parade, because there’s a lot of people, me and my cousins wonder where all of this people come from. But that’s the way it is. I already tried celebrating Holy Week in Tagaytay City, but nothing compares in your own town, right. But I want to experience Holy Week in Bulacan, can anybody bring me there next time?hehehe.. I hope you like my story and pictures. Thank you.
By Mr.Pancake on Wednesday, 4 of March , 2009 at 12:56 pm
I have been to Bohol Island several times and the beauty still puzzles me. The fantastic colour of the water and the long beaches with the very nice sand takes your breath away. I don’t know if it is only me but i think Bohol may be the nicest place in the world to have a vacation. The Virgin Island is also located in the area, the Virgin Island have special beaches with fantastic white sand and are perfect for scuba diving or snorkeling in a fantastic environment.
Bohol is located between Leyte and Cebu and belong to the Visayas Island Group. From Manila the easy way to travel to Bohol is with a plane. There are several airlines flying so it is just to check the Internet or with your travel agency.
I personally prefer the beaches but the Chocolate hills is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the Philippines, in fact it is one of the main attractions in Bohol. This hills are around 30 meeter high and there is many of them. All the hills are covered with grass. In the summer the sun will burn the grass brown and you have the name Chocolate Hills. It is really something to see for your self as there is nothing else like it in the world. The is a stair case to the top of one of the hills. It actually have 213 steps. It is really a fantastic view from the top of the hill where you can see all the other hills. Having arrived at the top you can really appreciate the magnificence of the hills that look like giant moles. There is always a lot of people taking pictures of the hills due to their special looks.
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Actually a vacation experience unlike anything else awaits you in Bohol. If you look at the pictures the beaches is fantastic both during day time and in the evening. Sitting on the beach watching the sunset can really give you peach of mind. If your lifestyle normally are stressful and hectic a week in Bohol may make you to a new person. Bohol is a family oriented place that is popular for its hospitality, recreation, great food and a lot of vacation fun. Total relaxation is exactly what you can expect and even if you are not traveling with your family you will clearly enjoy your stay in Bohol.
Water fun in Bohol is not only restricted to the wonderful beaches. You’ll also have many wonderful experiences underwater since there are a lot of dive sites to choose from. Dive sites range from easy dives to sites requiring advanced diving skills. Divers will enjoy the wide bio-diversity of aquatic life they will encounter under these tropic waters
There is also a high number of caves in Bohol if that’s what you like.Those who are into cave exploring will find this as a delight. Feel free to explore the fact that some of these caves have historic significance. Please visit the Hinagdanan Cave close to Bingang north west in Panglao. The water is very cold in the bottom of the cave, but i have heard that swimming is not good due to risk for bacterial infections.
So have you been to Bohol? What is your experience with the islands? Please leave a comment and tell me. I love to hear your story.
