Nepal Tour Package

India Tour Package

Kamana Sanctuary Resort & Spa in Subic

 Kamana Sanctuary Resort & Spa

"Kamana" - a hindu name in origin meaning desire or wish.
Sanctuary - meaning safe haven or a place of refuge.
From its name, this resort in Subic literally means an answer to your desire or wish for a safe haven.

Kamana just opened in 2010 and is fast gaining popularity to those people seeking refuge from the city. Just 2.5hrs away from Manila, coming here would be a breeze because of the SCTEX.

The staff who showed us around told us that this resort is partly owned by Mr Tony Boy Cojuangco. 

Published rates are as follows (depending on the season):
Std 36sqm - Php 6,000+ - 7,000+
Deluxe 46sqm - Php 6,500+ - 9,000+
Deluxe with Loft 49sqm - Php 8,000+ - 9,500+
Hotel Suites 60sqm - Php 8,500+ -  10,500+
Casitas 70sqm - Php 10,600+ - 12,600+

Room rates comes with a breakfast for 2 and subject to 10% service charge.
2 Children below 6yo are allowed to stay in the room with the parents free of charge.

Here are some pictures of the resort. This building houses the standard, deluxe, deluxe with loft, and hotel suites:

Bridge leading to the Casita. See the lush forest fronting the Casitas rooms:

Casitas pictures:

All casitas are built standing on the water. The room is huge at 70sqm and has a terrace overlooking Grande Island. You will wake up by the sound of lapping waters sorrounding you. Ain't that sweet?

This is the resort restaurant:

We were not able to sample anything from their menu coz it was a brief stay so no reviews for that yet. But i've taken a quick browse thru the 6page menu and the prices are okay. Main dishes ranging from 300up. Iam not sure of the serving though. Not too expensive but not cheap.

Moving on to their infinity pool. Again, it is overlooking Grande Island but is quite small. I've seen 2 lifeguards ensuring safety of the children swimming that day which is good.

Their pool deck has loungers aplenty but with no umbrella that's why we cannot take a seat because all are drenched from the rain. Does that mean if it's sunshiny you'll get fried easily? LOL.


As for the beach, it is no good for swimming like all other beaches in Subic Bay. But Kamana Sanctuary has Kayak facilities and other water activities to offer to compensate for the ugly beach.

And since Kamana is a Spa Resort they naturally offer Spa Facilities. Sorry to say that i've not seen any of it so no pictures to cover. But i've seen a few massage therapists in the front office :)

Overall, with the resort promise of an all in one paradise may not be truly delivered as of this moment. Resort still lacks some amenities a weary soul is looking for in a vacation. And with a price tag of 150usd - 300usd per room per night you be the judge if it's going to be worth every penny.

Tip: It is better to bring your car when you intend to check-in at Kamana. Location is quite far from the main drag. There are no taxis or public vehicles plying around SBMA. Kamana Sanctuary has a shuttle to bring you to Subic Bay Freeport Zone on request though.

How to get there? Upon entering the Subic-Tipo gate just drive straight ahead and follow road signs leading to Nabasan Wharf. Turn right when you see a sign to Nabasan Pier/beach. This road is 3.3km long to the beach proper.

                          *Location Map taken form resort website

Resort Address:
Nabasan Beach Ilanin Forest
West District Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Contact #:
843-7851 - 52 (Makati Ofc)

Where to eat in Subic?

So where to eat in subic? I guess the top answer would be .... drumroll please. ... Your guess is as good as mine. On top of the heap is Meat Plus Cafe.

What makes Meat Plus Cafe in Subic the perennial favorite resto amongst visitors of SBMA? I think it's added value for money. Their menu mainly consists of steaks , tenderloins , baby back ribs , sirloin, barbeque beef , pork chop, burgers , some pasta dishes , grilled fish, sandwiches. They also have desserts such as chocolate cake (delicioso) , new york style cheesecake, apple pie , rhum cake and many more.

Included in the menu also is a combination (combo meal) of 2 offerings. More so like a little of something of this and that.

I cannot say that their price is cheap but for the price you get more of what you paid for. Their meat servings are big and yummy and savory. Eating at Meat Plus is always a delight to your taste buds. A sure winner for the family.

Even on a rainy afternoon, this cafe was jam packed with patrons mostly Manilenos including us. And we sighted something we haven't tried yet in the menu which is Beef Tongue (or Lengua) . This baby did not let us down. The meat was lusciously a melt in your mouth experience. There were at least 5-6 pieces of divine beef tongue smothered with yummy mushroom sauce. For 250pesos at that. We were definitely happy eaters that day.

                            Meat Plus Cafe Beef Tongue (Lengua) - Php 250

And we also ordered their classic Meat Plus Burger which still a bestseller for me. Two real medium sized beef patties with cheese and a coleslaw on the side. I like this simply because they're real burgers! No additives or enhancers. Just plain juicy grilled burger.

                         Meat Plus Cafe Burger - Php 135

As if we can still finish it off , we ordered the good old spaghetti with meatballs which we ended taking out.

                          Meat Plus Spaghetti with meatballs - Php 140

No vacation in Subic would be complete without eating at Meat Plus Cafe !!!

Meat Plus Cafe Subic
Address: Bldg 65 Sampson Road Subic Bay Freeport Zone Olongapo Zambales
             (fronting Freeport Exchange Mall)
Tel #: 047 - 2526090
Open everyday at 1000AM to 0900PM

Harbor Point Subic

Harbor Point opened last April 26, 2012 and is the newest mall in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. It is owned by Ayala Land. It's location is along Rizal Avenue Subic Bay Freeport Zone Olongapo City Zambales. It stand side by side with SM Olongapo but it's structure is most noteworthy because of its modern design punctuated by water features , al fresco dining , garden which can make shopping more pleasurable.

Here you will find both local and international brands. Not to mention my fave shoes Michael Antonio. Some well known retail brands such as Speedo, Nothing But Water , Mango etc ca also be found here.

Restaurants al fresco style include Friday's , Army-Navy , Max's, Starbucks , Cabalen and many more to open. They're constructing a riverwalk where restos are all lined up along the river for your dining pleasure.

                            Army-Navy Resto at Harbor Point Subic

                        Construction on going for Harbor Point Riverwalk

                                      Harbor Point Garden

                             Ample parking space. And it's FREE.

And the cutest feature Harbor Point can offer? It's the Family Lounge. For a fee, this lounge entitles everyone in the family to use it as a diaper changing room , breastfeeding room for mommies, it's where daddies can rest their tired feet, or change little girl's dress or just use it as a lounging area. Here's what it looks like:

So on your next weekend getaway to Subic, be sure to drop by Harbor Point for more shopping pleasure.

Water Leaf Inn Olongapo City

I need to stay in Subic for 3 days over the weekend and all hotels inside the former American base does not satisfy my budget. As we all are aware of, subic can be very expensive if you don't plan your vacation well. What with all the duty free shops luring you to shop, shop and shop till you've no money anymore. But that's beside the point, I am not on a vacation and i intend to find an accomodation that is set within my budget of 1000php (23usd) per night. With this target, i know i should probably be looking for a place to stay in the nearby town of Olongapo city or position myself in one of the resorts lining the Subic Bay.

Staying in a beach resort along Subic Bay does not appeal to me because of the sleaziness, a reputation the place has depicted over the internet. So now, my option boils down to looking for a hotel or inn at Olongapo city town proper. Olongapo, for those who may not know yet is just a convenient one jeepney-eight peso ride to SBMA. Or if you brought your own wheels then it's just  5-10 minutes to the SBMA gate.

Luckily, i've spotted a cozy new little inn called Water Leaf. Here's a picture of their reception area.

Water Leaf Inn opened their doors in 2011 and they do not have a website or any advertisement on papers or over the internet. They have a total of 10 rooms as of writing. All twn sharing rooms (good for 2pax). The owners have plans of extending and building more rooms according to the caretaker. 

Aside from being affordable they have a wifi that actually works! And with a strong signal at that. They kept it on 24hours a day. Am so happy with my connection. The room has hot and cold shower , cable tv, ref. No breakfast is provided with the rate. The room is a tight squeeze but nevertheless squeaky clean. You also get a complimentary bottled water upon checkin. Everything is basic. You get what you pay for.

This little inn do not have a menu. One drawback i have seen is food availability. When you want something to eat at night you have to call for food delivery. So make sure you bring all necessities when you check in or suffer from hunger. Their staff are very courteous and always willing to help you in anyway. You can even request them to buy you food from downtown but be sure to extend some tip.

How to get there? If you have your own transpo: From Ulo ng Apo (rotonda) make a left turn towards chowking. Then after passing a bridge turn right on the first street after that bridge. That's Oreta Avenue. Drive further away and you will see Subic water building on your left. Turn right on the first street passing the Subic Water building. After 5mins you will see Water Leaf Inn signage on your left.

If you arrive in Olongapo by bus (Victory Liner): Upon alighting from the bus, you will see BDO and Jollibee from across the street. You have to cross the street (BDO/Jollibee side) and ride a yellow jeep bound for Sta Rita Balic Balic. It is important that you tell the jeepney driver that you have to go to Balic Balic or else they would make a shortcut and will not passby Balic Balic. Tell driver to specifically drop you off at Water Leaf Inn.

Here's their contact numbers for your reference:

2012 Asia Tour Packages

Budget Palawan Package

For interested parties you may contact us at 7747876 or do send us your inquiry at viajeroyale@gmail.com.

Great tips for a more enjoyable trip to Universal Studios Singapore

 

TIP #1:Book your tickets in advance online or book through travel agency before you leave.

The most valuable information/tip for your Universal Studios tour is to book in advance. It will save you time and avoid disappointment of tickets being sold out especially during holidays and peak season.

TIP #2: Avoid weekends, school holidays, peak season (if you can :) )

Weekday Tickets - Monday to Friday (except Peak dates and Blackout dates)

TIP#3: Be early at the theme park so as not to miss any single ride.

Rides most enjoyed by the adult:

Battlestar Galactica , never got to try it coz it was under maintenance during our trip but even if it's open i may not have the courage to battle it out. It's for the bravehearts.

Revenge of the Mummy, this one is my fave. The drops and turns of the indoor roller coaster is just right for scaredy cat like me.

Jurassic Park Rapids Adventure , will surely get you wet. Prepare to buy a plastic poncho or bring your own to save money.

The Waterworld is an interesting live show with lots of stunts and explosions, comedic lines by the actors. Truly enjoyable but prepare for the long line.

Broadway Show Monstrocity is a live show with monsters at Pantages Hollywood Theater

Your little tots will surely love:

Lights, Camera and Action ; Donkey Live ; Shrek 4D-Adventure shows.

Bring them to ride the Canopy Flyer, Treasure Hunter, Enchanted Airways, Dino-Soarin, and King Julien's Beach Party go round.

TIP#3: Waiting in line

Waiting in line for most of the rides is 15 to 20mins. As i've observed , i waited the most at the revenge of the mummy. And the walk from the entrance going to the main ride is around 5mins. Be done with this ride in the morning so you can maximize your time.

TIP#4: Water and Food

Drinking fountains are located in the park. There are food stalls and a food court located in the Jurassic Park . Avoid long lines during lunch hours from 12pm to 2pm.

TIP#5: Clothing/Shoes

Singapore has a humid weather all year round. Dress in a very comfortable and light clothing to keep cool and pair it with comfortable walking shoes or sandals. You'll be in for a lot of standing in line and walking around the theme park.

Tip#6: Ask for the park's brochure.

This brochure would surely help you plan your action for the whole day. It also contains the park's map of attractions and show timings. Before you proceed, read and discuss with your group , design your tour to maximize your time.

Tip#7: Don't forget to bring your camera , extra battery and extra memory cards. Better be equipped or suffer the consequences.

My friend who visited the park recently found out he had a corrupted memory card. All pictures gone and he found out too late. Now he's planning another visit just for photo ops. :)

Tip#8: Don't leave the park without buying any souveinir (Well,I just had to). It's a reminder that you had great fun in the park.

 

TIP#9: How to get there?

If you just bought a tour from a travel agency then rest your mind because you've nothing to worry about. There will be pickup and dropoff service with the ticket you purchased. I highly recommend getting a tour if this is your first time in Singapore, or you have children with you.

For d-i-y tour here are your options:

A. By public buses - RWS 8, RWS 88 , 963R. Fare is around S$2.

B. By sentosa express - take an MRT train to Harbourfront MRT Station which is linked to Vivo City Mall. Then transfer to level 3 of Vivo City . Alight at the Waterfront Station. Fare is S$3 inclusive of Sentosa Island admission charge.

C. By MRT train - take a north-east line to Harbourfront station. You may then transfer to a RWS 8 bus or take Sentosa express.

D. By car - additional entry charges to Sentosa shall apply

E. By taxi - same as by car.

I hope you enjoy your trip to Universal Studios Singpore with this handy tips.

Indian Railways

This would be my ever first train ride. The Indian Railway system is composed of hundreds of trains plying all over the Indian continent. In Delhi alone, there are 3 or more railway stations and the NDLS (New Delhi Station) far being the busiest and the largest amongst them.



The most famous mode of transportation in India is the auto rickshaw, taxi and the train. Millions of Indians and foreigners ride the train to get to their destination. By far , it is cheaper than flying . Trains are most favorable for tourists because it is convenient and cheap. One can travel from North to South India, east to west india by just taking the train. Just don't expect european standard amenities because baby this is India!

Just like an airplane, you may choose your seating class inside the train. These are the classes:

Aircon Chair
Sleeper Class - non aircon. great if you travel during the winter
3AC tier - 8 bunk beds
2AC tier  - 6 bunk beds
First Class - most comfortable with 2 bunk beds. but slightly expensive.

I chose 3AC tier for most part of our journeys . It's cheap and you get to mingle with the locals as well.

Our journey to Agra is bound to set here. I chose for us to leave from NDLS to Agra Cantt because it is closest to our hotel (Pahar Ganj area).

                            Typical scenes at the Railway station

                                       3AC tier configuration - 3beds one side (lower/middle/upper) + 3beds on another side (lower/middle/upper) + 2 beds sitting parallel to the window. A total of 8 bunk beds .

Some locals show animosity towards us especially when we are claiming our beds. Remember, when the Indian Railways issue you a ticket , your seat number is also indicated as well as the position of your bed. For example : #31 lower. You are in seat #31 lower bunk bed.

If you wish to switch places , you may ask them politely. People have preferences in bed positions you know. I like the upper bunk because it is quiet, no people hanging around, no pesky kids crying, no luggages obstructing my view, in short i can sleep in solitude.

                             The upper and middle bunks in a 3AC tier .

We have saved some money by travelling the train during the night. Food may pose a problem because you do not know food safety bought inside the train's pantry. I suggest you buy food take out from the port of embarkation . Drinks such as Chai may be bought inside the train. It is quite safe to drink as long as it is hot.

The toilet inside the train is utterly disgusting! So word of caution: bring lots of wet tissues and alcohol/hand sanitizer. Water is scarce believe me!!!

If you don't want frequent trips to the toilet during your train ride then minimize water intake . In that case, you won't have to see how gross the toilets are.

Smoking is prohibited inside the train. But on one occassion during our train ride, it stopped for a while ( i don't know the reason why) and the locals disembarked for a smoke.

Overall, it was a nice enough experience. I did get a good night sleep.

Taj Mahal here we come!!!!!

Red Fort - Delhi India

We took breakfast early next morning at around 7am even though we know that Red Fort would be opening its doors to tourists at around 9am.

We did not arrange a tour of the city bec. we will be leaving for Agra in the afternoon anyway. Our trip to Red Fort would be the first close encounter with an Auto rickshaw driver . It was not pleasant i tell you. We contracted the driver for 200 rupees , after much haggling , to bring us to Red Fort and Connaught Place. But when we arrived in Red Fort he demanded for us to pay up! So i gave him 100 rupees and told him to wait for us to finish inside then he had to still bring us to Connaught Place afterwards then that's the time i would give him the balance of 100rupees. By then, the driver was making a scene already. Shouting pay! pay! pay!.

Losing our temper was the farthest thing on our minds. So we paid up even though it's not the original bargain. I expected this. Tsk Tsk Tsk.

Though, this didn't ruin our day. We had a pleasant visit at the fort.

Red Fort entrance fee (foreigners) 250rupees - approx 6usd each.

I will not give you boring historical stories about the red fort. Just enjoy the pictures and be immersed with the culture!

                               Taken from the main entrance

Aside from the foreign tourists, you may also come accross local indian tourists enjoying the sights.

And if you don't have the time to buy souveinirs in the market, all types of knick knacks may be bought inside the fort to be taken home to your family.

Or you may also visit Janpath Place for authentic Indian dresses . It is located in Connaught Place.

It is so hot in India at this time of the year that all we wanted to do was head back to our hotel and take a shower. In the afternoon we will leave for Agra. I am now excited to see the famous TAJ MAHAL.

It would take 3 hours of indian train ride from Delhi to Agra. This is my first train ride mind you. I fear for the worst but iam overwhelmed by excitement!!!

Some scenes in our train ride can be viewed here.