Tag: first-time travel
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First-time in Central Azucarera Don Pedro, Nasugbu
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This was the third weekend that I was getting out of the capital, Manila. This time we were to hold a workshop in the province of Batangas. We traveled before sundown of Friday to get to our venue, the Central Azucarera Don Pedro (CADP) in Nasugbu, Batangas. The guest house…
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First-time in Triple G beach resort, Laiya
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When the temperature rise in Manila people head off to the beach, whether it’s far-flung Boracay or a few-hour drive to Subic or Batangas, specifically in a beach in Laiya, Batangas (and in this case, it’s the Triple G Beach Resort.) The beauty of being in a tropical country, we…
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First-time acquaintances in Batanes
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In this particular trip, I realized that I have paid a lot of attention to the people I’ve been with and I met in the journey. I’m not sure if it was the isolation of Batanes from the rest of the Philippines, perched atop this archipelagic nation. Or, it must…
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First-time in Sabtang Island, Batanes
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Among the three main islands of the province of Batanes, Sabtang seems to be the most interesting because of the old stone houses that have been part of the Ivatan culture. We rose early morning to catch the boat that would take us to Sabtang Island. Alas, waking up at…
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First-time in Batan Island, Batanes
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For years, I had my eyes set on the northernmost tip of the Philippines. It was a place that only few has conquered because of its isolation and unpredictable weather conditions. It was the closest place to Taiwan and surrounded by the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. This…
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First-time in Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
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Zamboanga del Norte is in the island of Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines. And when one mentions Mindanao, tourists suddenly cringe and take a turnabout-face, especially when travel advisories label this part of the country as dangerous. The name Zamboanga alone may cause goose bumps to travelers.…
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First-time in You Jie Xiao Chao Restaurant
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…and Manila’s other hole-in-the-wall eateries It was another holiday in the Philippines as we commemorated the Day of Valor, celebrating the bravery of Filipino soldiers who fought during World War II. Supposedly, my friends and I were scheduled to go to Corregidor Island, the fortress of Japanese soldiers. Unfortunately, the…
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First-time Holy Week in Quiapo Church
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For a predominantly Catholic nation, the Philippines, time and again, has observed holy week religiously. Work often stops as early as midday of Holy Wednesday and everyone shifts to holiday mode. Even regular TV programming halts replaced with religious rites or spiritually-inspired shows. The workforce takes advantage of the long…
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First-time in Plantation Bay
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The Plantation Bay Resort and Spa always grace the pages of travel magazines. I’ve seen photos of friends who stayed in this luxurious resort located in Mactan Island, Cebu. I’ve been part of contests that gave out a few nights stay for free in this popular relaxation place. Sadly, I’ve…
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First-time in Danao, Cebu: work and vacation in one
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There I was again traveling alone. It usually happens whenever I travel for business wherein I would be left to my own devices. Having been used to working with non-profits, I often visited new and unfamiliar places without any welcoming party at the airport or a transport service. Sometimes it…
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First-time aboard the Amtrak train traversing California, USA
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I woke up one early June morning feeling restless. It was my last day in LA and I had to be in San Francisco before the day is over to catch my flight back to the Philippines. This was probably one of those moments when I wanted to do something…
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First-time in Cagayan de Oro City
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All of my trips to this southern Philippine city had always been for business. My first visit to Cagayan de Oro City, or CDO, as most Filipinos refer to it, was a decade ago when I was there to hold a training workshop with the local affiliates of the organization…
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First-time in Tune Hotels near the Kuala Lumpur Airport
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When I thought of Kuala Lumpur, what instantly entered my mind was the Petronas Tower, Malaysia’s poster image. Because of its prestige, I envisioned KL as an urbanized metropolis. But its distance from its international airport totally took me by surprise. Good thing we found Tune Hotels located right in…
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First-time in Hilton San Francisco, California
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When it comes to hotel chains, the name Hilton is not unfamiliar to tourists. Not only because it’s a nice family name but also due to the brand image it has carved in the hotel industry. My first nights in the US, specifically in San Francisco, were spent in a…
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First-time in Farmerbrown San Francisco, California
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Farmerbrown. The name wasn’t familiar to me before until I encountered it and it definitely stuck in my memory bank. Not only was the place where I had my first dinner in San Francisco, if not in the USA, but how I got there was in itself an interesting tale.…