Educational Tour

Students and Teachers of the Child Nurturing Center enjoyed a break from their usual classroom habit by visiting the Davao Crocodile Park in Pasay City (just accross The World Trade Center). The park which is based in Davao has brought in their animals to showcase them in this spectacular roadshow. Now, one need not spend money on airfare to visit their park in Davao.

Kids can interact with live crocs, iguana, orangutan etc. See their smiling faces? Not one bit afraid of these crawly creatures.

Next stop , the Aerospace Museum (Villamor Airbase Pasay City). The kids was ecstatic to see the museum's collection of airplanes . If it wasn't for the blazing sun outside they could have taken pictures of them sitting in a real airplane . And so they opted to stay inside where it is much cooler.

Then after having lunch the kids prepared to watch the Lights and Sound Museum Manila.
All in all, kids enjoyed the day bringing home with them new discoveries and knowledge .


Davao Crocodile Park Manila can be contacted at 271-2626 or 286-1054.

MANILA OCEAN PARK - NEW ATTRACTION!!!

Kota Kinabalu - wish you were mine

Kota Kinabalu is a city in Sabah Borneo. Many Filipinos work and live here. It's as if you never left Phils. when you get here. Just talk in tagalog and someone will answer you back - yes in tagalog also.
They say that Sabah is part of the Philippine islands. Who wouldn't suspect? It's very near our Southern tip and in fact some people from Mindanao just board an overnight ferry boat to get to the island. It's just sad that we may never claim this land ever again. But who knows?We started off this trip at the city center of Kota Kinabalu. From the airport it will take you 15mins. to get to the city (30 mins with the traffic). After unpacking we headed to the waterfront for some r&r. Good thing it rained that afternoon and so made the climate milder.
The waterfront at night is full of vacationers and malaysian yuppies out for a good time. It is lined with bars and pubs with Filipino Bands. Makes you very proud of our Filipino talents.Day 02 was spent on city sightseeing . Kota Kinabalu has a very small city and everything can be done on foot (if you have the energy for it). Or you may take a taxi to get to some places. Taxi within the city will cost around RM 10 (P 140 or $3). Be wary of taxi touts , they can be very demanding and rude. So, i recommend you walk. Besides it's good for your health.Must see sights:Museum Kopitiam - right at the backpacker's area in Gaya st. It's a coffee shop and musuem at the same time. It houses WW2 memorabilias .

Signal Hill Observatory - there is a short cut at the back of Lucy's Homestay in Gaya st. Near the Old Police station. Great during sunset.

Atkinson Clock Tower - near the old Police station. You will never miss it.
Manukan Island/Mamutik Island/Sapi Island - take a ferry from the Jesselton Ferry Terminal. To and From the islands are timed so make sure to ask about the schedule of the boats. RM 17 per person ferry ride per island. Pay one time RM 15 per person for conservation fee. You may also be needing some snorkeling gadgets and life vests (there's a fee also).
Tun Mustapha Gallery - just right outside the city. There's a revolving restaurant inside where you can view the city 360degrees.

City Mosque - right outside the city. Going to Tun Mustapha you will pass by the mosque.
1Borneo Mall - walk to Warisan Square (fronting the Seafood Waterfront) and wait for the FREE shuttle courtesy of the mall. It's 15 to 30 mins going there.

Mount Kinabalu - 1 hr 30mins to get there. You may take a tour package or you may share a taxi going to the park . RM 150 per taxi 2 way. Upon getting to the park you must pay entrance fee of RM15 per person and guided tour of RM 15. For those planning to go to the summit 3D2N package guided tour is for you.Tanjung Aru Beach - Food stalls and restaurants where locals go to eat and enjoy the sunset. Very near the airport.
Seafood Waterfront - for a dose of Sabahan nightlife. Lots of Bars lining the waterfront. One bottle of Tiger beer would cost RM 15 to 20 each.
Filipino Market - just fronting Le Meridien hotel. Buy your souveinirs here. Lots of hawker stalls at night. For budget travellers this is the best place to eat seafood for it is very expensive to eat at a touristy seafood restaurant such as Portview.


Water Esplanade - near Hyatt Hotel.
Gaya Street - on Sundays there is a street market. Backpacker's haven. Local eateries line the street.
UMS - University of Malaysia Sabah . On your way to 1Borneo or Mount Kinabalu.

Poring Hot Springs - full of locals and tourists. Must do here is the canopy walk.
Malaysia Monument - city center
Wisma Merdeka - city center



Must eat:
Bak Kut Teh - a soup with chinese herbs and spices with pork, and other innards. It supposed to make you well and strong. RM 17/good for 2
Tea Tarik - tea concoction with cream. superb! RM 3/glass
Milo ping - milo drink concoction. Tried this at home but never got the same taste. RM3/glass.
Tom Yam - may be with or w/o noodles. Best without the noodles coz noodles can make you full. Very refreshing taste. And with a good amount of prawns per serving. RM 5/bowl.


How to get there? Cebu Pacific and Air Asia flies direct to Kota Kinabalu . Check out their website for flight schedules

Shangrila Rasa Ria - Pure Indulgence

During our recent trip to Sabah Borneo i had a chance to visit Shangrila Rasa Ria in Kota Kinabalu. Ms Cathy Nepomuceno , the Director of Sales for Shangrila Rasa Ria was gracious enough to allow us this one day visit .


Upon entering the resort , you immediately get a feeling of never wanting to go back home again. First thing you notice is the big open air lobby with enough comfortable chairs for the weary traveller jaded with jet lag and tired from the Borneo's hot blaring sun.

The resort itself was huge! There are 2 wings the Garden Wing and the Ocean Wing. The latter is more spacious and yes it's more expensive but worth your every penny.
The resort boasts of a 3km white beach offering all sorts of water sports activity such as Banana Boat Ride, Water Skiing, para sailing, Jet skiing, wind surfing and Lepa Lepa (traditional wooden boat charter) .
Must do in the resort is indulge in their spa facility. The SPA at Dalit Bay (located at the Dalit Bay Golf Club) offers CHI Signature therapies and massages.

Everybody in the group was excited to see the Orangutans. We planned to go to Sandakan to witness the Orangutan feeding but due to lack of time we felt it wouldn't be possible (it's 7 hrs overland from KK to Sandakan). But i was truly overjoyed when i learned that Shangrila Rasa Ria has its own Nature Reserve wherein they take care of the baby orangutans in the wild and transfer them to Sandakan Orangutan Sanctuary when they grow older.Cute baby Orangs play with their trainers during feeding time. And that's when the viewing starts. We were at the viewing deck saying oohhh and wooooww and aaaahhh everytime the baby orangs do some tricks. Makes you wanna adopt one and bring home. LOL!


The Nature Reserve offer many activities for the whole family. To name a few Jungle walk, Bird watching, Nocturnal Animal walk, Ranger for the day and their latest add on is the Canopy walk. Now you don't have to go to Poring Hot Springs to experience this type of activity. FYI, this resort sits on a 64 acre land forest.
Well , after the show we were guided to see the room types both the Garden and Ocean wing. We cannot help but be amazed how huge the rooms are that you don't want to leave. One thing more, we were told that the refrigerator provided in the room does not have anything in it because they let the guests buy their own food stuffs at the resort's convenience store. I said that's great coz we never eat or drink anything at the hotel room's bar anyway because it's kinda expensive.

Ocean wing rooms even has a bath tub in the terrace! And take note: they use L'Occitane toiletries !! Only for those who can afford the Ocean Wing rooms.

Shangri La Rasa Ria address is Pantai Dalit Beach Tuaran Sabah Borneo

How to get there? From Manila Cebu Pacific and Air Asia flies to Kota Kinabalu . Check out their website for flight schedules.

For bookings and tour packages you may contact your travel agent or email me at viaje_royale@yahoo.com.ph. Send inquiries via our website

The creative in me.

I've been tinkering with adobe photoshop trying to come up with a nice email signature i can paste in my yahoo and gmail emails. With a few knowledge on the software (photoshop) i've victoriously created an email signature from scratch!!! Though, the design is quite simple but it took me 3 hours to laboriously tinker with every brush, filter, applications i can manage to come up with this.

Am so proud of myself. I have to squeeze my creative juice and make some more. . .

Siquijor Magic

There is really no magic, no witch doctors ("mangkukulam"), sorcerers, no supernatural beings, neither there is an aswang that lurks in the night. Few crimes has been reported in the island , if not for the bickerings between family clans which cannot be resolved by the local barangay.

Siquijor's peaceful sorroundings makes it a perfect solace for the tired soul.

Lovely Camiguin

New !!!!!! Jagna (Bohol) - Benoni Port (Camiguin) - Jagna (Bohol) route.

Paras Sea cat and Super Shuttle Ferry is now offering fast craft service from Bohol going to Camiguin. This is good news for people coming from Cebu and Tagbilaran, Bohol because they don't have to go to Cagayan De Oro to get to Camiguin.

From Tagbilaran Port/Airport:
1. ride a tricycle or taxi to Dao Bus Terminal. Look for V-Hire going to Jagna Bohol.
2. V-hire fare TAG-JAGNA Php 80/person . Be sure to be at the terminal before 11am for you to have ample time to catch the only fast craft going to Camiguin.
3. Travel time from TAG to JAGNA - 1 to 1/2 hours
4. At Jagna Port buy your ferry tickets - Php 400/person (one way, deck) ; Php 600 (one way, business)
5. Paras Sea Cat leaves at 1:30pm . Travel time to Benoni Port Camiguin - 2 - 2.5 hrs

This is the best route if you are coming from Bohol or Cebu. But if you are in Cagayan de Oro (or near it) still the best is to take the ferry from Balingoan Port (Misamis Oriental) going to Guinsiliban (camiguin). There are more ferries plying this route (and cheaper too).

There is also a DIRECT ferry from Cagayan de oro going to Benoni Port via Paras Sea cat (Fare:Php 400/one way)

For further reading click this link.

Colors of Khao San Bangkok Thailand

KRABI THAILAND

Langkawi, Malaysia to Krabi Thailand. What is the best route? From Langkawi take a ferry from jetty port at Kuah Town to Satun Thailand. There are three ferry times to satun from Langkawi. But we took the earliest departure which is 9am. It would take 45mins to 1 hour to reach Satun Thailand. Be sure to adjust your watch . Thailand is one hour behind Malaysia.

Cost of ferry ticket to Satun : RM30/person

From Satun, you go through immigration. Then ride the tuktuk to town to take a bus going to Krabi. From Satun town to Krabi town , it would take 4 to 5 hr bus ride.

Cost of Tuktuk from jetty port of Satun to Satun Town : TB20/person

Cost of Bus ride to Krabi : TB230/person

In Singapore and Malaysia you won't have trouble in communicating with the locals. But in Thailand, prepare yourself for not so many locals can speak english. But it's okay don't panic. . .

Yes, DON'T PANIC! Though this town was hit by a tsunami years ago, they've rebuilt it and has taken steps to protect the Thai people and tourists as well in case such natural calamity will occur again.

So, why go to krabi and not Phuket?

1. To stay in Krabi is much cheaper than Phuket. It's more quiet and less commercialized than Phuket.

2. From Krabi, you may also reach Phi Phi Islands by taking speedboat tours. Cost: TB 1000/person. They'll bring you to Bamboo Island, Monkey Island, Viking Island, Phi Phi Don, Ton Sai Beach, Snorkel at Phangan Bay, Maya Beach (scenes from the famous Leonardo Di Caprio's movie The Beach). They'll even provide Lunch, drinking water, cola, life vests, snorkel equipments. All for TB1,000!!

3. Watch Muay Thai competition.

4. Eat pad thai everyday.

5. Pose like Leonardo Di Caprio ala The Beach at Maya Beach.

6. Snorkeling is the national sport of tourists in Southern Thailand.

But what can i say? I love Southern Thailand, had a great time and will long to go back again in this beautiful area of Thailand

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