What I Want to Do on Vacation

The crappy thing about traveling to the Philippines from the US is that you lose a day. We’ll be leaving Wichita tomorrow afternoon and we won’t actually arrive in Cebu until 11:30 AM on Saturday. We lose all of Friday traveling. Yuck.

Anyway, I think the plan is to go directly to Bohol from Cebu. I’m not sure yet if we will be staying in Tagbilaran or Panglao; or if we will be staying in one of the resorts or at Tita Esper’s house there. What I do know for sure is that I want to check out the following:

Tarsiers
Loboc River
Butterfly Sanctuary
Hinagdanan Cave
Chocolate Hills
Rice Terraces

I’m thinking that we will stay in Bohol for a couple of days before taking a ferry to Dumaguete and then finally going to Tanjay. There is supposed to be a big party on Friday night for mom’s birthday and Tito Cyrus promise me a tour of the geothermal power plant where he works (I think it’s the one in Valencia because it’s the closest one to Dumaguete). While in Negros, I also want to do the following:

Casaroro Falls
Dolphin Watching
Antulang/Bahura
Family Time

We plan to leave Tanjay a few days early so we can spend time in Cebu doing touristy-type stuff. Having lived in the Philippines, I never really got to visit the tourist attractions so this is my opportunity to do it. Plus, Brian’s never been to the Philippines so we want to give him the full treatment. The things I want to do in Cebu are:

Kawasan Falls
Sumilon Island
Casino Filipino
Tops Skyline Garden
Jetscape Adventures
Bantayan
Boracay

I know this is a long list. I doubt that we’ll get to do everything that I want to do during the two weeks we’re there. Though, if we don’t then we’ll have even more reasons to return. Maybe we’ll be able to spend three weeks next time.

September 30, 2009 | Posted by Ching under Things to Do, Travel

Leave a Comment

Where We Are Going

In case you were wondering where the Philippines is, you can wonder no more.

The Philippines is located across the Pacific Ocean, right below Taiwan.

We will be spending our time in Central Visayas.

More specifically, the islands of Cebu, Bohol and Negros.

Everyone has been really worried about this trip because of everything that’s been going on. Rest assured that mom, dad, Brian and I will be fine. Central Visayas is North of the political unrest and South of the recent Ondoy devastation. I’m confident that this trip will be a pleasant one, full of memorable adventures. Please keep checking our blogs and Facebook because we plan to update periodically throughout the trip (whenever we can find the time and connection to the internet at least).

September 30, 2009 | Posted by Ching under Family, Travel

Leave a Comment

Ketsana/Ondoy – How to Help

Please read this message from Jennifer Teves below.

Hello everyone!

I hope this won’t take much from your busy schedules but I am sure you already heard about the recent flooding in Manila and surrounding areas. As of this time, death toll reached 100 and dozens are still missing.

I hope you would not find it irritating if I am posting these donations sites for your benefit. I am not imposing or anything but it is better doing something than nothing, right?

Every single dollar counts. Feel free to spread the word if you want.

NOTE: This is just in case you are wondering how to help, how to give.
Red Cross — http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/Default.aspx?S=48&SS=972
Ayala Foundation USA — http://www.af-usa.org/

World Class Tayo sa Bayanihan

September 28, 2009 | Posted by Ching under News

Leave a Comment

The Devastation Captured on Flickr

September 27, 2009 | Posted by Ching under Flickr

Leave a Comment

Typhoon Ondoy Decimates Manila

Got this video from Yeni:

Praying for the safety of all those who are hurt and/or missing because of this epic calamity. Hopefully, things will be somewhat okay by Thursday. I know that the Visayan region did not get hit as badly, but they have been experiencing some really strong thunderstorms of late (at least according to the weather reports I get on my phone) possibly because of Ondoy. I knew that our visit would be during monsoon season, but I was hoping for a few sunny days at least.

September 27, 2009 | Posted by Ching under News, Travel

Leave a Comment

Brian’s Work Outing

Paintball at the Edge Paintball Adventures, North Ridge Road, Wichita, Kansas

September 26, 2009 | Posted by Ching under Games, Things to Do

1 Comment

Island Hopping in Visayas

This is where we will be in less than a week’s time:

The map above is of the Central Visayas region of the Philippines, which is where we will be spending our time this trip. Manila is not in the cards, unfortunately. We will for sure be spending time in Cebu, Bohol and Negros.

Mom is right. Brian probably won’t be needing any Tagalog on this trip. LOL.

September 25, 2009 | Posted by Ching under Travel

Leave a Comment

Lugar Lang!

I’d like to thank mom for reminding me about Manong and Manang, etc. I have to make sure that Brian knows how to use these properly and also Inday and Dodong and all of that stuff. However, I just realized that I forgot one of the most important and most useful phrases of all: Lugar Lang!

In doing some research I found out that tourists should avoid “private taxis” at all costs because these taxi cabs take advantage of tourists by charging 5-10 times the regular cab fare. Cabs that do not use their meters are to be avoided as well. Most of the cabs are metered so it shouldn’t be a problem to find one.

Cab fare is pretty reasonable: P30.00 to get in the cab, P2.50 for every half kilometer, and P2.50 for every 5 minutes they wait. However, the cheapest way to commute from one place to another is via jeepney. Jeepneys are everywhere and usually have specific routes. These routes are usually marked on the sides of the jeepney. Jeepneys are usually safe, but will tend to get cramped and overcrowded (with some people even hanging outside) during certain times of the day.

To hail a jeepney, one simply needs to wave their arm as the jeepney approaches. Drivers will generally stop unless they are completely full. To get off, just shout “Lugar lang!” If you don’t say it loud enough, the jeepney driver might not hear you and continue to drive off without stopping.

There are also several bus operators. Ceres and Sunrays are two such bus operators that travel to and from Cebu City. Traveling by bus is a cheaper alternative to taking a taxi cab.

I think mom and dad want to rent a car. I doubt Brian and I will do any driving on our own. We might just ride around with mom and dad or any of the other relatives. If we want to do some exploring on our own then we might just do it on foot or via jeepney or something. Unless, of course, we find a place to rent a little moped!

September 23, 2009 | Posted by Ching under Travel

Leave a Comment

Useful Phrases

I thought I would post some basic words and phrases for Brian to learn in preparation for our trip. Let’s see if he can learn these. LOL.

Useful Words and Phrases
English	Bisaya/Cebuano	Tagalog/Filipino
Thank You	Salamat	Salamat
Please	Palihug	Paki- (used as a prefix, e.g. Paki-linis means “Please clean”)
Yes	Oo	Oo
No	Dili	Hindi
Money	Kwarta	Pera
Wallet	Pitaka	Pitaka or Walet
Cop	Pulis	Pulis or Buwaya (slang)
How are you?	Kamusta ka?	Kamusta ka?
Fine, thank you.	Maayo, salamat.	Mabuti, salamat.
Help!	Tabang!	Saklolo!
Good morning.	Maayong buntag.	Magandang umaga.
Good afternoon.	Maayong udto (11a to 1p) or Maayong hapon (after 1p).	Magandang tanghali or Magandang hapon.
Good evening.	Maayong gabi-i.	Magandang gabi.
I don’t understand.	Dili ko kasabot.	Hindi ko naintindihan.
Where is the restroom?	Asa dapit ang CR/kasilyas?	Saan ang CR/banyo?
I’m lost.	Nasalaag ko.	Naligaw ako.
I’m tired.	Gikapoy ko.	Napagod ako.
I’m hungry.	Gigutom ko.	Gutom ako.
How much is the fare?	Pila ang pliti?	Magkano ang pasahe?
Where is my change?	Asa ang akong sukli?	Saan ang sukli ko?
Who’s there?	Kinsa na?	Sino to?
How much is this/that?	Tag pila ni/na?	Magkano ito/yan?
I have no money.	Wala ko’y kwarta.	Wala akong pera.
That’s expensive!	Mahal pud ana!	Mahal yan!
I don’t like this/that.	Dili ko ani/ana.	Ayaw ko ito/yan.
I like this/that.	Ganahan ko ani/ana.	Gusto ko ito/yan.

What other words and phrases should Brian learn? Any suggestions?

September 22, 2009 | Posted by Ching under Travel

1 Comment

Funniest. Book. Ever.

We went to Brian’s parents’ house today to deliver the replacement gift card to Brian’s mom. When we arrived, we found Brian’s dad cleaning out the closet. He pulled out this book, which I think belonged to Brian’s grandmother. It was printed in the 1930s — you know, before they used actual numbers on the copyright page and they were still using roman numerals. I flipped through the pages and read some sections aloud and we all busted up laughing. This book is hilarious!