Hotel Sarangnova Kota Kinabalu

Hotel Sarangnova is a new hotel in Kota Kinabalu. Just walking distance to Hyatt hotel and the water esplanade. It's theme is based on birds found in Borneo. The interior is uniquely designed with a "bird poster" as its focal point.

Had the pleasure of meeting its owner and promised that i'd promote her new hotel.

So, here are pictures of it:

                                            Small receiving area of Hotel Sarangnova.

This is their double room (good for 2pax). I find their room small but we spent the whole day outside so what the heck it's just for sleeping. The room has lcd tv and safe. The door is operated on an electronic card key already. It also has a safe in the room for your valuables.

The bathroom is small too but since everything else is new i cannot complain much. One thing that turned me off was that they don't clean the room everyday unless you tell them so.

Hotel Sarangnova address is 98 Gaya Street Kota Kinabalu.

Their location is the best because it's close to everything. Restaurants, shopping malls , banks. Right accross is a pharmacy where you can buy snacks, toiletries, medicines, bottled water. Right beside the hotel is a famous cafe where tourists and locals merge . Just a stone's throw away is the Jesselton port , jump off for island hopping. You can easily hail a taxi outside the hotel.

Hotel rates are as follows:
TRP - RM 200 (approx $60/rm/nite)
DBL/TWN - RM 170 (approx $52/rm/nite)
SGL - RM 120(approx $37/rm/nite)

Tours of Kota Kinabalu are available through Viaje Royale Travel Services. Pls contact +63(2) 774-78-76 or email viajeroyale@gmail.com or viaje_royale@yahoo.com.ph for inquiries.

Or read my blog on Kota Kinabalu on where to go and what to do in KK.

Windbell Seafood Restaurant Kota Kinabalu

On a hunt for an inexpensive buffet restaurant while on vacation in Kota Kinabalu, i've come accross Winbell Seafood Restaurant from blogs and forums originating from Malaysia and Kota Kinabalu.

Always on the lookout for value for money restaurant abroad, this one perfectly satisfies my taste. Inexpensive, good buffet selection, well lit restaurant, attentive waiters, freshly prepared buffet selection, ample parking, and most importantly tatstes superb. II was impressed that even the owner was the one refilling the buffet table.

The Steamboat Buffet consists of seafood choices such as crabs, shrimp, fish fillet, shellfish among others. There are veggies, sausages, pork, chicken and other noodles too.

First, they ask you what soup would you want. The Tom Yam or the herbal soup. We chose both. Here is what the Steamboat Buffet Dinner looks like.

Just dunk all the fresh seafoods, veggies , pork, chicken, tofu etc into your choice of soup and voila you have a steamboat dinner. The taste of the soup is very refreshing and invigorating (to eat more hahaha) .
They also have a dessert table with fruits and local cakes / delicacies but nothing to rave about.

The cost: RM 25+ (approx $8) per person. If you order tea it's around RM1.00. Cheap and satisfying.

Here's us at the restaurant parking before eating . All hungry but with smiles on our faces.

Time out first to take pictures to send to our friends back home who are green with envy LOL.

Windbell Seafood Restaurant is located at 20 Jalan Selangor Tanjung Aru Kota Kinabalu.

It's 5mins away from the old airport. In fact, it's just at the back of the runway. It's also along the stretch of the Tanjung Aru beach. Just tell your taxi driver and he'd take you there.

Best time to go there is during dinner time so you can capture Tanjung Aru Sunset.

Word of advice: Bring mosquito repellant lotion for mozzies can be very nasty around this area.

And if you plan on going here best to talk to your taxi driver to wait for you because there are no public transpo around the area.

Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin

I looooove this place. Their staff are nice and friendly. They have good breakfast, good food. You get a welcome drink of fresh fruit juice upon arrival what more can you ask for?

See some of pictures we've taken during our stay.

                                            Deluxe rooms  in Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin

                                           Maximum level of Tranquility can be had at this resort

    Packages are available from 2 persons or more. Pls call +63 (02) 774-78-76 (Manila number) for rates and other inquiries.

Tour Package :
3D2N Camiguin Island Tour
Package Inclusions:
1. 2way private van Transfers from CDO airport to Balingoan port v.v.
2. 2way ferry tickets from Balingoan port to Benoni port v.v.
3. 2way port - resort v.v.  transfers
4. 2N resort accomodation (Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin)
5. Daily breakfast
6. Welcome drinks
7. Camiguin Island Tour with Banca hire to white island - all entrance fees included
8. Services of a tour guide/driver

ITINERARY:
DAY 01: Arrive in CDO airport; meet and transfer to Balingoan port
                Arrive in Benoni port; transfer to Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin resort; Check-in
               Afternoon free time for leisure
DAY 02:Breakfast in hotel; prepare for pick-up for early morning trip to White Island
               Then proceed to tour Camiguin Island - visit Sunken Cemetery, Guiob Church Ruins, Katibawasan Falls, Ardent Hot Springs, Sto Nino cold springs etc
              Afternoon may be spent for Pasalubong shopping
DAY 03: Breakfast in hotel; free time for leisure until pick-up for transfer to Benoni Port for ferry back to CDO Balingoan Port
                Upon arrival at Balingoan port you will then be transferred to CDO airport for your flight back to MNL.

**Transfer timings are based on airport arrival and departure.
**Other services and meals not mentioned are not included in the package.

CAMIGUIN

Since i've posted  some pictures and advertised tour packages going to Camiguin, a lot of people have inquired about it. So i'm posting this blog to provide some pertinent details on the Lovely Camiguin Island.

First of all, there is no airport in the island. It's best described as a pear shaped volcanic island lying in the Bohol sea some 54kms south east of Chocolate Hills and some 90kms north of Cagayan de Oro Airport, 120kms southeast of Mactan Int'l Airport and 10kms north of Misamis Oriental.

The only way to get to the island is through ferry transfer from Cagayan De Oro or Bohol.

If you are coming from Bohol, you must depart from Jagna (town in Bohol 1.5 - 2hrs ride from Tagbilaran) and ride Paras Sea Cat or Super Shuttle Ferry. Ferry ticket cost is P 400 per way per person.

Now if you're airplane ticket brings you to Cagayan de Oro, there are 2 ways to get to Camiguin. One way is to travel all the way to Balingoan Port (2hrs away from CDO) or better option is ride the Paras Sea Cat in CDO port.

Here are the schedules for Paras Sea Cat :

# Daily

    * Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin Island --> 8:30 AM
    * Camiguin Island to Cagayan de Oro --> 4:00 PM


# Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday

    * Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin Island --> 8:30 AM
    * Camiguin Island to Bohol, Jagna --> 11:00 AM
    * Bohol, Jagna to Camiguin Island --> 1:30 PM
    * Camiguin Island to Cagayan de Oro --> 4:00 PM
Ferry Tickets as i've mentioned is P 400/way each person.

Balingoan Port has more schedules in one day. It's up to you to find the most convenient and fastest and cheapest way to get to the island.

But whatever it takes, you will be rewarded . Camiguin is such a beautiful place with serene sorroundings, air unpolluted, timid people, nature at its best.

Every October a grand festival of Lanzones are held anda grand parade of the golden fruit id found prolific in the entire province.

Another festival not to miss is the PANAAD. It's an annual Holy Thursday and Good Friday activity. This is a gathering of different civic clubs in Camiguin and nearby regions for a yearly devotion to spend the Holy Week trekking to Mt Vulcan as an expression of patience and spiritual enrichment.

                             I got this map during one of my visits to Bahay Bakasyunan sa Camiguin. They were using it as a placemat . How ingenious. This helped us plan the day (eventhough we had our tour guide).

First thing on our agenda was to go to White Island. It's a strip of white sand bar some 10 mins by banca from the town of Yumbing or Agoho. I recommend that you start your day very very early to avoid raging heat of the sun. Make sure that you've finished your morning rituals for there are no toilet facilities in White Island.

There are no restaurants or day bed or sari sari store whatsoever. So bring your essentials.

After draining the space of our memory cards we headed off to SUNKEN CEMETERY to take pictures again? (btw we brought 4pcs of 4GB SD, 2 state of the art SLR and 1 Digital camera.) Then again to GUIOB CHURCH RUINS.

The ruins was the aftermath of MT VULCAN holocaust in 1871.

We wanted to go further to TUASAN FALLS but time does not permit us. And the road on the way to the falls was heavily draped with rocks from the mountains due to landslide.

We then proceeded to KATIBAWASAN FALLS (which is quite near to Mambajao) and then ARDENT HOT SPRINGS . Really enjoyed here. Water temp is about 40C , nice and relaxing .

One signage caught our attention while bathing in hot mineral water:

How about Indecent Proposals? LOL

Too bad we weren't able to visit MANTIGUE ISLAND but i heard it's more of a diver's destination.

Overall , we had fun. The place momentarily provided us peace of mind and total relaxation.

We're off to ANDA BOHOL. See you!!

Caramoan Tour Package

Caramoan Island can easily be reached by car, bus, or by air from Manila. It composes of many islands in Camarines Sur which is well loved by the "Survivor" series producers mainly because of the preserved beauty of the island and secluded from the public. In fact, most of its islands are uninhabited.

Now, it's concealed secret is out into the open. For the past 5 years many Filipinos traversed its roads to discover for themselves the hidden gem of Bicolandia.

 For most of my clients who call and would like to know more about this beautiful vacation place i've compiled the most frequently asked questions:

How to get there?
by bus - public buses that ply Manila-Naga route are available in Cubao Terminal or Pasay Terminal. These buses have regular fares (non-aircon), Regular aircon fares, Comfortec fares. It is best to buy your ticket ahead of schedule specially if you want to board the comfortec (with added comfort than regular aircon bus) bus.
(pls click the link for the complete list of bus companies to/from Naga and their schedules)

by air - Manila to Naga via Cebu Pacific or PAL or Air Philexpress  or Zest Air

by land - take your car and enjoy the scenic route going to Naga passing by the province of Quezon. The trip more or less would take around 10hours or so (depending on the stops you will make).

When is the best time to visit the island?
From November to June when the sea is calm and safer to cross between the islands.

What type of accomodation can we expect in Caramoan?
There are no luxury hotels in the main town. The most luxurious you can get is the Gota Village Resort and the rest are either homestay or small inns. Usually full board and lodging packages are being offered to fully enjoy the islands.

What can we expect to see and do during our vacation?
3D2N Caramoan Island tour package promises to be fun-filled and exciting.

Viaje Adventures: CoCo Grove Beach Resort

Viaje Adventures: CoCo Grove Beach Resort

CoCo Grove Beach Resort

Siquijor's finest resort, Coco Grove Beach Resort is located in the Municipality of San Juan in Siquijor. Many European / American tourists visit the resort each year and was rumored to be the venue for Jen Aniston and Brad Pitt's romantic tryst! How cool is that?

                                     CoCo Grove's pet MACKY will entertain you at the receiving area

CoCo Grove Beach Resort is tucked away in a little paradise in a quiet province of Siquijor. I found the place so serene , laid back and unruffled. Moment you step inside , tranquility overpowers your cluttered mind sorrounding you with expected peaceful retreat.

I recommend this to anyone who wants to get away from it all. Who needs to shy away from the limelight and papparazzi.

The resort offers 800meters of white beach sorrounded by turquuoise water. Aside from that , they also offer dive tours to Apo Island (one of the world's best top ten dive sites) , island hopping, relaxing massages, island sightseeing tours to complete your holiday.

I find this a perfect vacation not only for honeymooners but for families alike. The kids can do kayaking, banana boat, snorkelling or spend lazy afternoons in the game room.

                                                       CoCo Grove Bar and game room

          Did Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt really stayed in the resort? The staff just smiled back , keeping mum about it. I just imagine them sitting in this bar sipping Buko juice and having the grandest time of their life.

I found their accomodation rates reasonably priced. It ranges from P 3,000 (std rm) to P 9,000 (luxury villa).

                                              Coco Grove Luxury Villa (sleeps 4)

                                              CoCo Grove Beach Resort Newly Built Rooms

                                                               CoCo Villas room

                                                     CoCo Grove Beach Resort swimming pool

                                           Coco Grove Beach Resort 2 wooden guards

Tour packages to the mysterious island of Siquijor is available all year round. For group budget packages  contact us.

Bali Sightseeing- food, places to go

Our 4 day vacation in Bali was coming to an end but my list of places to visit was still long. Besides , i still need to shop in Matahari for some authentic Balinese spa products. We felt that stress is overtaking our bodies so our hosts Eva and Patrick suggested to let our hair down for the day and just CHILAX (chill out and relax).

For the day, we planned on getting our feet wet at the Hard Rock Hotel swimming pool.

Then, relax in their spa. . .

Try our skills (not that we have one) in surfing in Kuta Beach . . .

Go malling in Kuta (one of my fave activity). . .

Eat out at IBU OKA (Babi Guling - suckling pig or Lechon ). . .

For the night, the group decided to go bar hopping in Kuta , drink lots of Bintang Beer . . .

After a night of partying , there's no better way to end it by having a serving of hot steaming SOP BUNTUT . . .

For more inquiries on Bali vacation pls email me at viajeroyale@gmail.com.

Bali Countryside and Temple Tour

My love affair with Bali started 10years ago when my employer in the Philippines sent me over for a 2 week work trip . Stayed in Candidasa  but never really gotten a chance to visit Bali's famous temples.

I'm not passing up on the chance again. With my long list of itinerary for the day, we headed off to our tour of Bali.

But before i go on. Here are some tips to make your trip hassle free and enjoyable.:
1. Bring a SARONG . (If you wear long pants or long skirt you may only need a sash tied around your waist) If you wear shorts you must don a sarong. Bring your own or buy at stalls outside the temples or you may hire one before entering.
2. RESPECT their local customs. Don't do anything their gods may not like such as stepping on one's offerings.
3. Bring CASH. Most of the temples require an entrance fee or donation of sort. A little rupiah wouldn't hurt a bit. You may also want to buy souveinirs / handicrafts / paintings / fruits that would catch your fancy.
4. Be CAMERA ready . Bali is a picturesque place and you wouldn't want to miss capturing it's beauty.
5. LISTEN intently to what your TOUR GUIDE is explaining. He may have valuable information on a place that you would not find on any lonely planet book or internet forums.
6. Pocket some CANDIES . For the kids. Their smile is the greatest after handing out some candies.
7. Bring your SHADES, HAT, BOTTLED WATER, SUNSCREEN for protection against the intense heat of the sun.
8. Wear your most COMFORTABLE clothing and shoes. Coz you'll be doing a lot of walking. Believe me.
9. Learn a little of Bahasa (their language) such as Terima kasih (thank you) , Apa Kabar (how are you), Kembali (you're welcome), Selamat pagi / malam (Good morning / evening), Tidak (no), Selamat jalan (goodbye), Ke kiri / kanan (to the left / right), Berhenti !(stop!)Most of the locals are not very good in english. it pays to know a word or two of their language.
10. Be PATIENT  to determined vendors/locals who tries to sell you things even if you say no .

GOA GAJAH or the Elephant Cave located in Bedulu 27kms from Denpasar. It is near Ubud and one of the most famous tourist spot in Bali.

Before reaching Kintamani volcano we were told that we will pass by the Bas Coffee Plantation. Here we may order different coffee varieties and the famous LUWAK coffee . Luwak coffee is the most expensive coffee in the world. The beans are eaten by the civet cat , digested and collected as droppings. The digestion process makes this coffee special and delicious. I was able to drink one cup and i must say nothing beats its taste.

                                        Civet Cat - from it's poop comes the most expensive coffee in the world.

                                              Different types of coffee at the coffee plantation.

                                 Don't just drink their coffee, try your hand in cooking the beans!

               They segregate the male and female coffee beans. HOW in the WORLD would you KNOW!!!!!

So off we go to Kintamani volcano overview. We were in awe of such a picturesque setting . See our pictures to prove it.

                                     P.P.P.P - Picture postcard perfect pose (breathtaking background view )

                                               From the viewing deck you will see Lake Batur.

The highlight of our trip is the Besakih temple. It is the largest and most important Hindu temple in Bali. It is over 1000 years old. Prepare yourself to trek steep flights of stairs which leads up to the main Meru Structure.

                                                Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
       
Other temples we visited:
1. Tanah Lot Temple - you have to go here during sunset. The view is spectacular.
2. Uluwatu Temple - sits atop a cliff in Uluwatu (south of Bali).
3. Tirta Empul - it's waters is said to have healing properties.
4. Ulun Danu - second most important temple in Bali. It is located in Bedugul.
5. Taman Ayun temple in Mengwi
6. Goa Lawah.

So there you go folks! I recommend not to visit all temples in one day. You must arrange for at least 2 days of tour around the countryside for you to enjoy it.

Should you need help on arranging your Bali tours pls email me at viajeroyale@gmail.com or call 774-78-76. You may also text me at 0917-9955487 or 0908-8641572.