December 30, 2015

Kansai International Airport

KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The Kansai International Airport (KIX) is a major international airport of Japan and the gateway to Kansai region and to the other parts of Japan. One interesting fact: the airport stands on a man-made island located in Osaka Bay.

KIX airport provides practically everything. I listed here the service facilities that would be helpful upon your arrival at KIX Airport.

Information Counters

This is where you go when you think you’re lost or doesn’t know where to start. The staffs are friendly and speak decent English. Information counters are identified by their (?) marks.

I remember the moment we arrived at the airport the first thing that we looked for was a Currency Exchange shop and just a couple of steps from this shop is the Information Counter. We went to the Counter to ask where we could buy tickets and rent a Wi-Fi router. They happened to be just a couple of steps away.

Tourist Information Center

Kansai Airport
Tourist Iformation Centre and Travel Desk

Basically, they provide tourist information (Kansai and throughout Japan) that you might need. They also handle tickets and hotel reservation; we bought our Kyoto City Bus One Day Pass here. For more information visit Kansai Tourist Information Center.

Currency Exchange

Kansai Airport

There are a number of currency exchange shops at the airport. Japan is a cash-based society; trains, buses, vending machines and most stores only accept cash. So exchange at least an equivalent of 10, 000 yen or higher. Don’t worry about keeping large amount of cash; Japan is an incredibly safe country.

Rental Services

Kansai Airport

Near the Tourist Information Center are the Wi-Fi router rental shops. Although there are plenty of Wi-Fi hotspots in Japan we still opted to rent a Wi-Fi router due to its convenience.

Wi-Fi routers are pretty useful specially when exploring; this will prevent you from getting lost (google maps). For us, we used the router for looking up nearby restaurants and food shops that are “must try” since we forgot to search for places to eat in Osaka and Kyoto beforehand.

Transport Services

Kansai Airport
Ticket Vendos for Nankai and JR Lines

There are a number of options to get to and from the KIX airport: bus, train, car, taxi and high-speed ferry. But it all depends on where you’re going to or coming from and how much are you willing to spend. As for us, we prefer the train and bus.

Train lines from the KIX airport bound for:

Nankai Line
Nankai Line

Namba Station – Approx. 34-45 minutes by Nankai Line
Osaka Station (Umeda) – Approx. 65 minutes by JR Line (Kansai Airport Rapid Service)
Shin-Osaka Station – Approx. 50 minutes by JR Line (Airport Express HARUKA)
Tennoji Station – Approx. 30 – 45 minutes by JR Line
Kyoto Station – Approx. 75 minutes by JR Line (Airport Express HARUKA)
Nara Station – Approx. 65-85 minutes by JR Line (with transfer at Tennoji Station)
Hyogo Station – Approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes by JR Line (with transfer at Osaka Station)
Wakayama Station – Approx. 30 – 45 minutes by JR Line (with transfer at Hineno Station)

Limousine bus services from the KIX airport bound for:

Osaka Station (Umeda) – 1,550 yen / Approx. 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes by Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise (KATE)
Kobe – 1,950 yen / Approx. 1 hour and 10 minutes by KATE
Kyoto – 2,550 yen / Approx. 1 hour and 25 minutes to 2 hours (depends on your destination in Kyoto) by KATE
Nara – 2,050 yen / Approx. 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 25 minutes (depends on your destination in Nara) by KATE
Wakayama – 1,150 yen / Approx. 40 minutes by KATE

The high-speed ferry has only one route which is KIX to Kobe airport; it costs 1,850 yen (930 yen for children). Travel time is about 30 minutes. While the taxi can be very convenient it is also a luxury. Price depends on the size of the taxi and standard fare ranges from 13,000 to 15,000 yen.




-goodnight-
donna

December 21, 2015

Kyoto City Bus Basics

GETTING AROUND KYOTO

Bus terminal outside the Kyoto Station.

The most convenient way to explore Kyoto is by bus. The city has a very extensive bus system which could be complicated and overwhelming at first, but they can get you anywhere as long as you know which bus to board. To help you with, you should get yourself a copy of the Kyoto City Bus Travel Map BUS NAVI (there are two sightseeing maps, the simplified one and the more detailed map). They are available at the Kansai International Airport and Kyoto Bus Information Center, outside the Kyoto Station. You could also download them from Bus Navi 1 and Bus Navi 2 and study them in advance.

Major Bus Routes

1) From Kyoto station to Kiyomizudera Temple/Gion: Bus Nos. 100 or 206
-From Hankyu Kawaramachi Station: Bus No. 207 and get off at Kiyomizu-michi

2)  From Kyoto / Hankyu Saiin Station to Ninna-ji Temple: Bus No. 26 and get off at Omuro Ninna-ji (the bus stops right in front of the temple)
Ryo-anji and Kinkaku-ji Temples can be reached from Ninna-ji Temple by Bus No. 59

3) From Hankyu Kawaramachi station to Ginkaku-ji Temple: Bus Nos. 5, 17 or 102 and get off at Ginkakuji-michi
-From Kyoto station:  Bus Nos. 5, 17 or 100

4) From Kyoto Station to Otagi-Nenbutsuji Temple: Bus No. C6

5) From Kyoto Station to Nijo Castle: Bus Nos. 9, 50 or 101

How to Ride the Kyoto City Bus

1) Kyoto buses have designated bus stops, which I find incredibly awesome because we don’t have that here. Here in PH, you can ride the bus anywhere! Going back, all bus stops have signs that display schedule of buses that stop at that area (written in Japanese and English). Major bus stops have signs that indicate the approach of the next bus.

Getting around Kyoto
Bus stop near Kawaramachi Station

Sign of an approaching next bus

2) Once your bus has arrived, get on the bus from the rear door and exit at the front.

3) Pay the exact bus fare when you get off. There’s a payment box beside the driver: within the flat fare zone costs 230 yen for adults and 120 yen for children (6-12 yo). If you think you're going to ride the bus more than 3 times, I recommend you purchase the Kyoto City Bus One-Day Pass. The One-Day Pass, which costs 500 yen, will let you ride the bus (only for the Flat Fare Zone) as many times as you want valid only for one day.

Getting around Kyoto
Ticket vendo

There’s a screen in the bus that displays the route and the next bus stop and at the same time there’s also an announcement of the next stop.

Getting around Kyoto


Getting around Kyoto


***Kyoto City buses are mostly green colored while Kyoto buses are beige. 





-goodnight-
donna

December 20, 2015

Kyoto Travel Guide


Kyoto Travel Guide


Kyoto is one of the most well preserved ancient cities in the world. It was the capital of Japan before the Imperial Court transferred to Tokyo. What I love about Kyoto is that I got to experience what Japan feels and looks like in the ancient times while offering me the convenience of the modern world. For instance, inside a temple built in 16th century is an ultra-modern toilet facility that has more buttons than your cellphone.

Speaking of temples, Kyoto has thousands and if I’m not mistaken 16 of them are listed as World Heritage Site. But wait, there’s more! Kyoto is also known for its stunning landscapes and traditional houses known as “Machiya”. I almost forgot, if lucky enough you’ll get to see Geishas and Maikos walking around Gion area. Although I find their make-up weird I still find them attractive. 

The City of Kyoto was our  first destination in the Kansai region. Well my first impression of Kyoto was it was mountainous. If you're coming from Osaka you know you're approaching Kyoto when you start to see farms and mountains especially when you're riding the Hankyu Line.

We allotted three days for Kyoto and on our first day it was snowing. I was wearing 4 layers of clothes but I was still shivering! Guys, I'm from a country where the sun feels like it's just meters away. Also, this is my first time to experience winter. It was hard. 

HOW TO GET TO KYOTO

Read Kansai International Airport entry.

KYOTO ITINERARY

Kyoto is one of the cities that offers wonderful places and experiences. I listed here the details of our three-day itinerary which could help you with yours. Read more...

Kyoto
Kiyomizudera Temple

GETTING AROUND KYOTO

The most convenient way to move around Kyoto is by bus. The city has a very extensive bus system which could be complicated and overwhelming at first, but they can get you anywhere as long as you know which bus to board. Read more...

Kyoto Bus Terminal just outside the Kyoto Station

HOTELS

February is a good time to travel to Japan (Kansai Region) though you have to prepare yourself for the cold winter. My friend and I are both budget conscious so we opted for a budget hotel, the Shin-Osaka Sunny Stone Hotel (will make a review on this). We decided not to stay in Kyoto because the rates are higher and besides, Kyoto is just 30 minutes away from Osaka via JR Special Rapid Services and 15 minutes via Shinkansen (but this is expensive). 

In general, check Tripadvisor, Airbnb and Couchsurfing. They have some of the best deals. 

BEST TIME TO GO

During winter when prices of airlines and hotels are cheap. On a serious note, you can visit Kyoto anytime of the year - every month’s weather offers a unique experience. It all depends on you what you want to see and experience. As for us, Japan is the nearest to the Philippines that have snow, so we went here during winter.

Higashiyama Area. Snow :)

TIPS
  • You can buy baked goods at family mart or any convenient store. For 100 yen you already have a decent bread for breakfast. Our hotel is just a couple of steps away from family mart so I buy food during the night and eat breakfast in my room before going out. Also, if you're on a tight budget, try all the food samples you'll see. :)
  • We eat breakfast and dinner in Osaka, it's cheaper and more convenient to us.
  • For day 3 (Arashiyama area), eat a heavy breakfast 'coz you'll be walking a lot. Bring a bottle of water and candies. Also, you don't have to visit all the temples I mentioned on Kyoto Itineraries but you need to see the Bamboo forest and the Togetsukyo Bridge. They're just charming.
  • Supposedly, our first stop (for Arashiyama) is Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple but we didn't know that we were right in front of its gate; it's exactly the last stop of the bus. It sucks because we walked pass the temple. Well, the first person we asked didn't know it existed. Too bad for us. :( Even if you have read all the articles and blogs on the internet and googled every travel guide, you will still get lost.
  • During winter, Arashiyama is colder than in any other part of Kyoto (I guess) so dress appropriately.
  • Wear comfortable shoes.
  • Bring a map. Maps are available at the airport, in stores and tourist spots. They're practically everywhere.  For free!
  • Don't be afraid to ask for directions. The locals are very much willing to help you out.
  • There are a lot of other places to see in Kyoto like the Fushimi Inari, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and  Museums. Plan ahead. 
  • The Kyoto City Bus is your best friend. 
  • Use Hyperdia for railway timetable.


-goodnight-
donna

Kyoto Itineraries


Kyoto is one of the cities that offers wonderful places and experiences. I listed here the details of our three-day itinerary which could help you with yours. If you got only one day for Kyoto you could follow our first day and for two days our first two days and so forth. We were coming from Osaka so I also included here the time of departure for Kyoto and what train and bus to ride. 

We opted to stay in Osaka because it would be an inconvenience to transfer hotels. But it's important to note that the hotel must be near to train stations; walking distance near. Our hotel, Shin-Osaka Sunny Stone Hotel, is just a walking distance from the Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station of the Hankyu line and Shin-Osaka Station of JR line.

We didn't follow our plan for day 1 because we woke up very late.


Kinkakuji Temple

Day 1, Higashiyama Area
  • Depart for Kyoto around 7 am. 
  • Take the JR line at Shin-Osaka Station to Kyoto.
  • Arrive at Kyoto Station around 7:30 am.
  • Take City Bus 100 or 206 and drop off at Kiyomizu-michi.
  • Walk to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Explore temple. In case you get hungry, outside the temple are food stores and shops lined up with free tastes!
  • Walk through Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka Slope.
  • Head to Kodai-ji Temple. Explore the temple.
  • Stop by at Yasaka Shrine
  • Eat lunch at Gion.
  • From Gion, take City Bus 12 going to Nijojomae. Walk to Nijo Castle. Explore Castle.  
  • From the castle, take City bus 12 and get off at Shijo-Kawaramachi. Walk to Nishiki Market. Walk straight (along Shijo street) then turn right. Shop and eat at Nishiki Market. 
  • From Nishiki Market, walk to Hankyu Kawaramachi Station (bound for Osaka) or take City Bus 5 going to Kyoto station. 
  • Bound for Osaka.
Expenses:

JR line, Special Rapid Services (Shin-Osaka to Kyoto) JPY 560.00
City Bus flat rate JPY 230.00
Hankyu line (Kyoto to Osaka) JPY 400.00
Food JPY 2,000.00
Entrance fees
Kiyomizudera Temple JPY 300.00
Kodaiji Temple JPY 600.00
Total  JPY 4,090.00

Day 2, Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji Area
  • Depart for Kyoto around 7 am. 
  • Take the Hankyu line at Nishinakajima-Minamigata Station to Kyoto (Saiin Station).
  • Arrive at Saiin Station (Hankyu line has a lot of stop overs) around 8:00 am.
  • Take bus 26 bound for Ninnaji Temple.
  • Explore temple. There are vendos inside in case you get thirsty.
  • Take bus 59 going to Ryoanji Temple.
  • Explore temple then take bus 59 and head to Kinkakuji Temple. This is my favorite, maybe because it's gold. Kidding. It's just beautiful. 
  • Eat lunch at Kinkakuji area. 
  • After lunch, take bus 204 going to Ginkakuji Temple
  • Explore temple.
  • Walk through the Path of Philosophy.
  • Walk to Honen-in temple. 
  • After exploring temple, take bus 5 (or 17 and 100) to Kyoto Station.
  • Bound for Osaka.
Expenses:

Hankyu line (Osaka to Saiin, Kyoto) JPY 370.00
City Bus One-Day Pass JPY 500.00
JR line, Special Rapid Services (Kyoto to Osaka) JPY 560.00
Food JPY 2,000.00
Entrance fees
Ninnaji Temple JPY 500.00
Ryoanji Temple JPY 500.00
Kinkakuji Temple JPY 400.00
Ginkakuji Temple JPY 500.00
Honenin Temple JPY 0.00
Total  JPY 5,330.00

Day 3, Arashiyama Area
  • Depart for Kyoto around 7 am. 
  • Take the JR line to Kyoto station.  
  • Walk to the bus terminal outside Kyoto Station and look for C6 bus stop or you could ask the police on guard at the station (ask for "Otagidera mae" or just show them the map and point Otagidera mae). 
  • Once you get on to the bus, tell the driver you want to get off at "Otagidera mae". 
  • Travel time is around an hour.
  • Supposedly, our first stop is Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple but we didn't find it. Read my post on Adashino-Nenbutsuji Temple.
  • Walk to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple and explore.
  • Walk to Gioji Temple and explore (and rest too).
  • Walk to Nison-in Temple and explore.
  • Walk to Bamboo Forest. 
  • Walk to Tenryuji Temple and explore. 
  • Eat lunch.
  • Walk to Togetsukyo Bridge and rest.
  • Take bus 72 or 74 going to Kyoto Sation.
  • If you still have the energy, walk to Kyoto Yodobashi and shop.
  • Bound for Osaka. 
Expenses:

JR line, Special Rapid Services (Shin-Osaka to Kyoto) JPY 560.00
City Bus JPY 460.00
JR line, Special Rapid Services (Kyoto to Shin-Osaka) JPY 560.00
Food JPY 2,000.00
Entrance fees
Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple JPY 500.00
Gioji Temple JPY 300.00
Nison-in Temple JPY 500.00
Tenryuji Temple JPY 500.00
Total  JPY 5,380.00


Total Expenses for three days: approx. JPY 15,000.00 (around PHP6,000)
*Breakfast, dinner and souvenirs not included.




-goodnight-
donna

December 14, 2015

Applying for Japan Tourist Visa (for Filipinos)

Applying for Japan Tourist Visa

japan

Anything could happen.

It’s not true that Filipinos are exempted from getting a visa when visiting Japan. The good news is, for those of you who wants to apply for a tourist visa, Japan has relaxed its visa rules for Filipinos which started last 2014 (around September I guess). But this doesn’t mean that the process will be very easy. You still have to accomplish all the requirements to be able to get a visa.

Below are the requirements you need to accomplish when applying for a Japan visa.

1.) Philippine Passport.

Of course this is the basic-est of all the basic requirements when applying for a visa. Make sure that it is still valid for at least 6 months and should be in the best condition. And remove those fancy passport holders please. 

2.) Accomplished Visa Application Form.


Note: Do not leave anything blank, put N/A for those that are not applicable to you.

3.) 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm photo in white background and must be pasted on the application form.

4.) Birth Certificate issued by NSO.

For those sloths like me, you may request for a copy online at e-Census. And it will be delivered at your door, no need to queue at the NSO office.


5.) Marriage contract if married. If you’re single like me, then skip to #6.

6.) Daily schedule in Japan. 

This doesn’t need to be very detailed; a simple itinerary would be fine.
Below is a sample itinerary.


7.) Bank Certificate.

Yeah! Show them what you got babe! You really don’t have to have a hundred thousand in your bank account for you to support yourself in Japan; you just need to show them that you have that amount before going there.
Tip: Be very friendly and nice, and then borrow from friends. J

8.) Income tax return (form 2316). Original and photocopy.

Once you completed those, you’re 80% done. Why? If you want the visa, try to provide all additional proofs that you think will make them give you a visa! Below are the documents I provided along with the requirements stated above:

1.)Certificate of Employment/Approved leaves. This is to prove that your main purpose of visiting Japan is purely entertainment. And to let your boss know that you are still going back to work and won’t be applying there.

2.) Roundtrip tickets. I only recommend this if the tickets are on-sale (piso fare). Regular fare is kinda expensive, it would be best to inquire for reservations. Then proceed on buying the ticket once you get your visa.

3.) Hotel Reservation. 
Search through tripadvisor, airbnb, and couchsurfing.

4.) Lastly, statement of account (postpaid plan, credit card etc.). I don’t know why but my friend highly recommends this. 

Now, you’re all set. The next thing you should do is to file your application through an accredited agency.

List of accredited agencies to process your application: 

We chose Reli Tours at SM Megamall to handle our application; the handling fee was Php 1200.00. I’m not sure if the applicant is required to submit the requirements in person but in my case I was asked to appear in person.

Once you submitted all the documents, go home and drink coffee or tea to reward yourself for what you have accomplished. Do not think of anything that has to do with your visa application because you’re just going to have a bad time. Just relax and wait and be optimistic.

Visa application process usually takes 3-7 days. Waiting for my visa was one of the longest 2 weeks of my life. We applied the week when the Pope visited the country so the processing time took a bit longer. A week after we submitted our applications, we were asked to submit a bank certificate again. Our travel agency told us that our account balances might not be enough. So I borrowed from my office mates and submit my bank certificate again. After three days of waiting, we finally got our visa. And of course, I returned the money I borrowed from my friends.

And that kids is how I got my Japan visa. Hoping for the best on your application!

-goodnight-
donna



Tarak Ridge: First Major Climb

Tarak Ridge: Adobo version

Mariveles
Tarak Ridge

This is one of my memorable climbs not just because it was my first major climb but I realized I can climb a mountain with major difficulty. Mt. Tarak  (1,130 MASL) has a difficulty of 4/9 and to be honest I wasn’t ready.  My last climb was back in 2012; I don’t exercise and I am usually sleep deprived. The night before our climb I slept at 12 midnight; I cooked adobo for our lunch and because internet.

I woke up at 3 in the morning to cook for breakfast. Yes, I am that nice. Hahaha! I was still sleepy but my nescafe 3in1 creamy white was doing its job well so I got that going for me. Our call time was 5 am but we left the house past 5. WOMEN, that’s why.

Our trek mates were getting impatient for waiting because we were an hour late. We arrived at Alas-asin at around 6 am. We paid the registration fee (which is left of the road) at the barangay hall then headed to Aling Kurding. You can walk from the highway or ride a tricycle to Aling Kurding’s. We chose the latter. Aling Kurding is an adorable old woman who guards Mt. Tarak. She’s been there for almost a hundred years yet she has the strength of a 30 year old woman. I’m just kidding.

With all seriousness, Aling Kurding lives at the foot of Mt. Tarak and that’s all that I know about her besides her being so nice. Her grand daughter, Ate Beth, was our guide that day. She has the strength of a horse. She has been climbing Tarak for a long time and what amazed me was she used slippers and she only brought 500 mL of water. Damn!

Anyway, let’s get back to Mt. Tarak. The trail has two parts: the easy at first which get harder and the hard which get extremely hard. The first part takes two hours and the latter takes one and a half to two. On the first part, the trail was easy but we walked through fallen trees and sometimes big rocks and giant roots. The moment you see talahib weeds the trail gets challenging: steep but manageable. Just be careful on holding on to plants because some are thorny.

Mariveles
When the going gets tough

After an hour of holding on to anything that looks sturdy we reached the Papaya River. It doesn’t offer a nice picturesque view but it’s a good place to rest – the water was refreshing and you can refill your water bottles here.

Mariveles
Papaya River

Mariveles
Papaya River

After our photo ops at Papaya River we decided to continue and boy it was hard! We have to stop every now and then because the trail, up to the ridge, was steep. You have to hold on to branches and roots of trees because you have nothing else. And every time I ask our guide, Ate Beth, how far the ridge is her response is always “One hour more.” She’s a joke.

Mariveles
View at Tarak Ridge

Mariveles
Tarak Summit

Well anyway, no matter how hard the climb was, when you get to the top it’s all worth it. The wounds I got from the thorns are worth it. The sprain didn’t matter because when you’re on top everything is just beautiful.

Itinerary:

0600H
Register at Barangay Hall
Ride tric to Aling Kurding
0630H
Arrive at Aling Kurding
0700H
Start trek to Papaya river
0900H
Arrive at Papaya river
Rest
1000H
Start trek to Tarak ridge
1200H
Arrive at Tarak Ridge
Rest and eat
1400H
Start trek to Papaya river
1530H
Arrive at Papaya river
Rest
1600H
Start trek to Aling Kurding
1800H
Arrive at Aling Kurding

How to get there:

For those coming from Metro Manila, ride a bus bound for Mariveles in Fivestar, Cubao. Look for Bataan Transit buses, their trips start at 1 am. Tell the bus driver that you’re going to climb Mt. Tarak. If he doesn’t know where that is, get off from the bus and go to Genesis. Kidding. J Tell them to drop you off at Alas-asin Barangay Hall.  

Major Expenses:
Guide – 900 (for the group)
Tric – 100/pax (roundtrip from main road to Aling Kurding)
Bus (from Cubao to Alas-asin) – Around 250-260/pax

Important reminder:

Unless you’re a pro, do get a guide. There are a number of mountaineers who get lost at Mt. Tarak (as per Ate Beth). Because Mt. Tarak is sometimes a troll.

Contact (Guide):
Ate Beth: 09495869556

-goodnight-
donna

November 2, 2015

I Don’t Usually Hike, But When I Do It’s The Highest in Cebu

I Don’t Usually Hike, But When I Do It’s The Highest in Cebu

Osmeña Peak

Welcome to Osmeña Peak – the most famous peak in Cebu, with exquisitely stunning view of pointed hills and of Cebu surrounded by the Cebu strait on the east, and yet not as challenging.

Osmeña Peak is just a 30-minute trek which is perfect for me and Alex because we don’t climb a lot. Reaching the summit might not be as tough as the other mountains but getting to the jump off point is a challenge.

We drove to the base via Kuya Loloy’s motorbike (he’s the tour guide I mentioned on Chasing Waterfalls with a Motorbike) and the unpaved and steep road going to the jump-off was the challenging part, we almost had an accident. We fell off from the motorbike after he loses control midway of the steep road. At least we only got minor bruises. 

Worth the minor bruises. 

Just awesome. 

That's how easy the trek is; I was only wearing slippers.

How to get there:

If you're already in Cebu:

-Hire a guide/driver (so someone could hold your things for you). Here’s our guide’s number (09254805221).

-Meet the guide/driver in Dalaguete (pronounced as Dalagit) town proper.  How to get to Dalaguete? Take a bus at South Bus Terminal bound for Oslob. Tell the bus driver you’re getting off at the town proper of Dalaguete . Or you could just ask Kuya Loloy, he'll call you. :D

*NOTE:
There is no entrance fee at Osmeña Peak; you just have to sign at their log book.

Bring a bottle of water (around 1 L). 


You could trek Osmeña Peak and chase waterfalls in one day. Just ask Kuya Loloy. :)


goodnight - donna

October 26, 2015

Chasing Waterfalls With A Motorbike

Chasing Waterfalls With A Motorbike

Because we actually chased waterfalls with a motorbike.

South Cebu is heaven for those who crave adventure: canyoneering, swimming with butanding, trekking/hiking, and chasing waterfalls. We’ve been to Oslob and swam with the majestic butanding and trekked Osmeña Peak (will make a post on this later). So we’re left with canyoneering and waterfalls. Canyoneering is an activity for those born with too much adrenaline in their body and we’re not one of them so we chose the latter. 

I think our tour guide likes surprises. I was expecting him to use his tricycle, which to my amusement could accommodate around 9 people, but he brought his motorbike instead. This is what we got for bargaining on his fee. Well there’s not much of a choice so we hopped on his bike and headed to the first waterfalls in our itinerary: the Kawasan Falls (Read more...).

Kawasan Falls

I have a separate entry on this one but to give you an overview, it’s one of those places that I regret going to not just because it’s far but because it’s not within my budget. It’s one of those things where you have to spend to experience its charm.

We traveled from Badian to Malabuyoc, not minding the heat of the sun, for our next stop: Mainit Spring. From its name, this spring is mainit (up to 42.6 C). At first, I didn’t understand why our guide brought us to a hot spring when it’s only 2 in the afternoon. What he didn’t tell us was there’s a waterfall nearby: the Montañeza Falls.

2nd level of Montañeza Falls

Montañeza Falls is quite an adventure. We climbed over huge rocks and passed through small caves. I find it hard to concentrate and appreciate the beauty of this falls because I’m terrified with going through small caves and narrow spaces. I just kept myself busy on the turquoise colored water. We hiked up to the main waterfalls only to find out there were tree debris and huge rocks obstructing the falls' basin. We just stayed on the second level of the falls which was 3 feet deep then headed to the hot spring. 

Mainit Spring with the Derpinas. 

With only two hours left before 6, we headed to Inambakan Falls in Ginatilan. Our guide said it’s like Kawasan but taller. I kept my expectations to its minimum because I can’t afford another heartbreak. We reached the jump-off point to Inambakan Falls in 30 minutes. The entrance fee was only Ph10 each (inclusive of a dog guide). Unlike in Kawasan Falls, there were no locals that would trick you into hiring them as guides then will ask for a fee. At Inambakan we have a dog guide and it's free. Hahaha! Also, it wasn’t as commercialized as the other waterfalls I’ve been to.  The trail going to the falls was quite easy and as you get nearer you could hear the sound of water crashing down the basin.

Inambakan Falls

The falls was indeed charming. It was so tempting that we immediately got into the water. The water was cool, cool as the locals of Ginatilan. J Our guide on the other hand was having fun jumping into the basin every few minutes.

Our last stop was the Hidden Falls in Samboan. It was named Hidden Falls because it was indeed hidden. Since it’s almost dark when we got there we decided not to swim. There were two official guides of the Hidden Falls that accompanied us. One of them was the barangay captain and he was very nice and cool. He only collected a total of Ph50 from us. J

Hidden Falls 

We trekked around 10 minutes to the falls. A small falls greeted us along the way and I thought it was the Hidden falls. I was ready to rest when our guide told us it’s not Hidden falls. Baka naman hanggang ngayon nakatago pa din yung falls. At hinahanap pa din.

We were guided on a cemented stairs that led us to the Hidden Falls. The water from the top falls silently that you wouldn't know there's a waterfall nearby. It has also a turquoise-colored water which I think is common in South Cebu.  It would have been nice to swim here but it was already dark. So time to go. 

My legs were swelling after our activity but it was worth it. Our guide brought us to Oslob to wait for the bus going to Cebu City. We slept throughout the ride. J

If you like to save on touring around South Cebu you could contact our guide Kuya Loloy (09254805221). You can haggle with him for his fee.

How to chase waterfalls: 

Go get a motorbike or hire Kuya Loloy. Tata! 



"Anyone who's seen a waterfall up close will agree that their majesty is almost indescribable."


goodnight-donna

October 21, 2015

Swimming With Whale Sharks in Oslob

I have always been fascinated with creatures underwater and enjoyed looking at their pictures in one of our encyclopedias when I was a kid that I wanted to see them with my own eyes.

My first time in the water with a bunch of colorful fishes, sea snakes and other marine life was in Camiguin Island. Then I realized that I wanted to see more; to experience more. When I bought tickets for Cebu, I think Alex and I were only excited for Oslob’s whale shark. Who wouldn’t be? Whale shark, locally known as Butanding, is the largest fish in the sea and the thought of swimming with them would be awesome.


Oslob’s whale shark encounter is the town’s main tourist attraction since 2011. The whale sharks are lured very near the shoreline with food so the tourists can swim and interact with them. My initial reaction upon seeing them was “They’re huge and beautiful”. Then I started to panic when one of them opened its mouth to eat. Suddenly, one of the boatmen grabbed me and took me near the Butanding and told me to stay there because he’ll take a picture of me. Still terrified, I posed for a photo. While in the water, I realized that I have nothing to fear about these giant fishes and they aren’t interested with me; they just swam around and eat. I thought they were shy and will swim away once we get near them but they were sociable. They seem not to care when we take photos of them while they’re feeding.



While it is one of the best experiences I had, I felt sad and guilty because an everyday encounter with humans might stress them out and the way they feed is not natural. Yes, there are rules that are being implemented before swimming and interacting with these giants (no sunscreen, interaction is limited to only 30 minutes, no flash photography, no touching of sharks, and swim within a distance) but sometimes they are not being followed. There were too many of us swimming with the whale sharks. What irked me is that some of the local tourists touched them and they were very proud of it. Kaya di umuunlad ang Pilipinas eh. Nyeta! I hope that the local government unit of Oslob will look into this issue.



How to get there:

From Cebu City:
-Take a bus at South Bus Terminal bound for Oslob. Tell the bus driver you’re getting off at the "whale shark". Alam na nila yun.
-Travel time is around 3 hours.
***Watch out for vendors that sell Cebu torta cakes: they look like ensaymada and mamon in one. They’re delicious!
-The bus driver will probably drop you off at the first resort in Tan-awan.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anyone from Oslob, two words “whale shark” and you’ll do just fine. 

goodnight - donna

October 18, 2015

Kawasan Falls: Are You Open Minded?

Kawasan Falls: Are you open minded?

Our tour guide, who we met in Oslob just after our whale shark encounter, told us that Kawasan Falls is somehow overrated and that the locals think of it as an opportunity to make money and they are abusing it.

I told him that from what I read, the locals who are guiding the raft in Kawasan Falls tend to ask fees that are somehow questionable. Then he added:

“The last time I brought tourists there they were asked to pay for 3000 pesos which is for the rent of the raft and the guide. They were so furious and went to the barangay captain to settle the payment but nothing was done. Yes, the falls may be stunning but we have lots of them here in South Cebu.” 

I don’t know why but I disposed his warning immediately. I told him we just want to see the falls and we’re not going to rent a raft because there's no need to.

Riding on his motorbike, we, together with Alex, traveled from Osmena Peak to Kawasan Falls. It was my longest ride using a motorbike.  Yet I’m still excited to see and experience firsthand the famous Kawasan Falls. He kept on telling us that if someone approaches us and offers to be our guide we have to tell him we’ve been there before and to say no nicely. 

We did exactly what he told us. When we got to the entrance of Kawasan, a number of locals swarmed around us and tried to lure us to hire one of them. They were so persistent. I wonder why they think of tourists as ATMs. Aliping sagigilid lang naman ako. Once they left us, we walked along the path going the falls. It was easy breezy! It's just disappointing that the surroundings smelled like soap and shampoo and there were trashes littered around. We paid for an environmental fee but it seems like the fees they collected stayed in their pocket or whatever. Nonetheless, we were still eager to see the falls.

Unlike the other falls we went to this one has restaurants and tables scattered near its basin which are pain in the eyes. Apart from that, they occupy almost 99% of the space near the falls which made us more frustrated. It’s like we can’t stay there unless we rent for a table. Can we not enjoy the falls as it is? Do we need to pay for everything? These people are too much; they do the all money-making scheme that you could think of. Kalokohan, punyeta! Sa inyo na yang turquoise colored waterfalls niyo. They’re like a networking scam that would offer you something really nice but will force you to pay more.

Out of disappointment we immediately left Kawasan and looked for a place to eat.

How to get there: Don’t go there. If you’re adventurous, try Canyoneering in Alegria. Our guide told us that it’s the best thing to try in Cebu (besides lechon of course). :D


I have nothing against the Kawasan Falls, it’s the people who maintain it that I’m annoyed to. 



goodnight - donna

September 30, 2015

Gio-ji Temple

Gio-ji Temple

Gioji Temple is a very small temple with a lovely moss garden and tall maple trees. Like Ryoanji Temple, it gives you a feeling of being at peace; of being connected to nature. I remember my friend is somewhat disappointed because the temple was so small and wasn't visit-worthy for him. The main hall of Gioji was equally small and is incomparable to those of Kiyomizu-dera and Tenryu-ji Temple. I guess I'm just interested with anything abstract or something different because I find this temple magical.

Moss garden
Moss garden and maple trees.

The secret of enjoying this temple is to just watch the garden: study the trees and the moss garden. Notice the different shades of green and how this adds beauty to garden.

Gioji
Path going to the entrance.

Gioji
Entrance of the temple.

Gioji

Gioji Temple

Gioji Temple

Giojo Temple

How to get there:

It's a 15-minute walk from Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple.

Opening hours and fees:

Opening hours: 0900H-1700H

Fees: Adults: 300 Yen
Children: 100 Yen

Map: Arashiyama Map


goodnight - donna