bagtag:

Cagayan De Oro, 22-24 October 2010

Part 3: Limketkai mall, hunt for Vandep pastels, and hilarious advertisements at the airport

Link to part 1 | Link to part 2

Our last day at CDO was more for relaxation and pasalubong shopping. We had wanted to go to Camiguin and Ma. Cristina Falls but our schedule wouldn’t allow it so now we have every reason to go back (yay!). We wish we had been able to try the Motorelas which are like the tuk tuks of Thailand, a sort of cross between a carretela and a tricycle but we didn’t have time (and didn’t really know where they were going… haha).

We went to Limketkai Mall which is supposedly the first shopping mall in CDO. According to Wikipedia, it’s supposedly one of the biggest commercial complexes in the country. Nothing really special there - just a regular old mall. We didn’t get to really explore it though. 

After Limketkai, we headed down to the Vandep branch near our hostel and to our horror found out that there were less Pastel boxes available than we had set out to buy (we wanted to buy a lot…)! So we went to their main branch at Bulua (took a taxi) and bought Pastel (buns with YEMA filling, yum!) to our heart’s content. Since it was their main branch, they had more products and stocks to choose from so we recommend going straight here. It’s also on the way to the airport so you can just ask the taxi to wait for you while you shop. Aside from the Pastel, the must try are the siopao and bread sticks.

Waiting at the airport after check in can be quite boring. So pray that the airport you’ll be waiting in has its share of funny advertisements. Here’s an example:

For a financial loaning center (?): “We’re the fastiest and quickiest way to get a loan!”

The rest were videos with really bad and awkward acting and they were on loop so we were quite entertained for a while. The rest was really just the plane ride home (via a brand new Airbus) and the unique experience only in the Philippines (or whenever Pinoys are around) of passengers applauding after a good plane landing. 

All in all, the CDO trip was short but definitely one for the books (or blogs). The fun part really, was travelling with a great bunch of people and the new experiences we all got to try. 

Link to part 1 | Link to part 2

____________________________________________
SOME TIPS AND WORDS OF WISDOM:

Try to wait for airfares to go on sale (which they often do) though this usually means booking way way in advance. For this trip, we were booked 5 months ahead. Airphil, Cebu Pacific, and PAL all have flights to CDO.

You can either rent a van or grab a taxi from the airport to the city. The van is about PHP 700.00 - 1000.00 while a taxi would cost around PHP 250.00 - 300.00. 

Try the PASTEL and the LANZONES!

For rafting and zipline adventures, avail of the complete package from KAGAY for around PHP 1850 per head for a group of about 7-8 pax to maximize your whole day. 

Check out:

Kagay Whitewater Rafting
Dahilayan Adventure Park 
Contact number for bookings (KAGAY): +639177122323

When you go for the rafting and zipline adventures: pack only the essentialslike an extra change of clothes and a towel for after the rafting. Though you do have the option to leave your things in the jeepney. There are also changing (and possibly shower) rooms at the “take out” point of the course. It’s also better if you wear strappy sandals instead of just flip flops when you engage in the zipline or rafting. It’ll be nice if you have a water proof camera but they do have a designated photographer kayaking along with the rafts (CDs of the photos go for about PHP 250.00 each). We did have an option to bring our cameras in a dry sack but we didn’t want to risk it. We also brought food and some snacks for the rafting (for that added energy boost) but ask for dry bags from the staff to store these in because a soggy burger is not a happy burger to eat. 

ENJOY!

1:59 pm  •  24 November 2010  •  8 notes
Tags: bagtag CDO Travel  • See all tags

bagtag:

Cagayan De Oro, 22-24 October 2010

Part 2: Pineapples galore at Bukidnon, Dahilayan Adventure Park, Whitewater rafting, and LECHON.

Link to Part 1

We were able to book the whole day’s activities ahead which included transportation, Zipzone and Kagay rafting fees, as well as a hearty lunch buffet at Mindy’s, so no more worries for us. Check out the tips section below for details. First stop for the day was Dahilayan Adventure Park in Bukidnon which houses Asia’s longest dual zipline at 840 m. Getting there from the city takes about an hour and a half by van but the journey is worth it as the roads pass by the Del Monte Plantation where pineapples abound as far as the eye can see. This was seriously one of the highlights of this trip. Hectares upon hectares of pineapple fields set on a backdrop of Nat Geo worthy bluish mountains. Ah! It was a sight to behold. 

I really wish we could’ve stopped for a while to take in the scenery but unfortunately we were on a tight schedule. What was really nice at Dahilayan was the cool weather and the lush greenery. Trees. Trees. Trees. Zipzone offers three zipline rides: 150m, 320m,and 840m as well as a rope course and wall climbing. We tried all three ziplines which was amazing! The longest one was ridden superman style wherein you had to lay face down on a canvass hanging on the wires. If you watch your shadow zooming below you, it really looks as if you’re soaring through the air!

Up next was a good lunch at Mindy’s where we were advised to fill up on carbs so we’d have strength to conquer the rapids of Cagayan de Oro river. It was about another hour’s travel from the city proper to the “put in” point of the basic whitewater rafting course. We were six to a raft including the guides. When you get there they strap you up with life vests and a safety helmet, arm you with a paddle and throw you into the river! Kidding. 

There’s of course a short discussion on some safety reminders and guidelines and a gradual introduction to the water. The whitewater rafting experience was really made more entertaining because of our amazingly talkative and interactive guides. They had jokes handy during the lull time in between rapids and had names and stories for each one. 

Whitewater rafting was seriously fun. The basic course runs through about 14 rapids and takes about three hours. Maneuvering through the rapids wasn’t all that hard, really. Maybe the advance and extreme courses would provide more challenge. 

It was nice because we got the chance to float around the cold river during the parts where the water was calm. You even have the option to just float through one of the milder rapids! The scenery was also breathtaking. The cliffs covered with lush greenery that peek out once you round the river’s bend were just amazing to look at. Rafting is definitely a must when you’re in CDO. We even saw a lola (grandmother) cruising along at the raft ahead of us!

After an extreme day, we dragged our exhausted selves back to the hostel and prepared for our friend’s party. One thing every traveler has to try is to go to a friend’s province during a celebration or a fiesta. There will surely be lechon. 

And if you’re in Cebu or CDO, the lechon is TO DIE FOR. I (Lara) am not a big fan of lechon but the lechon our hosts served was so deliciously sinful I didn’t want to stop eating. Another great thing about going to your friend’s hometown is that you get your own personal tourguide and you have a chance to immerse in their culture. Our friend’s parents had a lot of stories to share about their experiences living in Mindanao and some insights about Muslim culture. Every travel experience should come with a few insights and new knowledge so that was a plus plus.

Link to Part 1

*Rafting pics were taken by official photographers of Kagay.

____________________________________________
SOME TIPS AND WORDS OF WISDOM:

Try to wait for airfares to go on sale (which they often do) though this usually means booking way way in advance. For this trip, we were booked 5 months ahead. Airphil, Cebu Pacific, and PAL all have flights to CDO.

You can either rent a van or grab a taxi from the airport to the city. The van is about PHP 700.00 - 1000.00 while a taxi would cost around PHP 250.00 - 300.00. 

Try the PASTEL and the LANZONES!

For rafting and zipline adventures, avail of the complete package from KAGAY for around PHP 1850 per head for a group of about 7-8 pax to maximize your whole day. 

Check out:

Kagay Whitewater Rafting
Dahilayan Adventure Park 
Contact number for bookings (KAGAY): +639177122323

When you go for the rafting and zipline adventures: pack only the essentialslike an extra change of clothes and a towel for after the rafting. Though you do have the option to leave your things in the jeepney. There are also changing (and possibly shower) rooms at the “take out” point of the course. It’s also better if you wear strappy sandals instead of just flip flops when you engage in the zipline or rafting. It’ll be nice if you have a water proof camera but they do have a designated photographer kayaking along with the rafts (CDs of the photos go for about PHP 250.00 each). We did have an option to bring our cameras in a dry sack but we didn’t want to risk it. We also brought food and some snacks for the rafting (for that added energy boost) but ask for dry bags from the staff to store these in because a soggy burger is not a happy burger to eat. 

ENJOY!

3:54 pm  •  19 November 2010  •  10 notes
Tags: bagtag travel CDO  • See all tags

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Cagayan De Oro, 22-24 October 2010

Part 1: Arrival, Mass specc hostel, Seafood dinner, and Divisoria Night Cafe and Market

Earlier this year, in anticipation of our friend’s birthday and future acceptance as a licensed chemist, we planned a little getaway to her hometown in Cagayan De Oro (CDO) for a back to back celebration. Fast forward to the future and about a month later, CDO, Bukidnon, and these people will never be the same.

The first thing we noticed about CDO was that their airport was uniquely perched atop a plateau (but don’t quote us on it being a plateau). Now while this could possibly pose difficulties for plane landings, it certainly provides an interesting perspective of the valley below and its surrounding areas. 

We were checked in at MASS SPEC HOSTEL located at Tiano Bros. cor. Yacapin St., a few blocks away from Plaza Divisoria at the city proper. This place is perfect for budget travelers at PHP 250 per bed with air-conditioning, Wifi, a shower, breakfast, and a TV! 

Our hostel was even more special because most of us in the group had a Chemistry background and ‘mass spec’ is short for mass-spectrometer which is an instrument we were all familiar with.

It’s also near Mindy’s (MUST EAT HERE!) which is a restaurant offering scrumptious lunch buffets for less than P200.00 per head! Also in our humble hostel is: The Institute of Cooperative Studies…

…building cooperators to build cooperatives. Now, who wouldn’t enjoy going home to this sight every night?

Our flight, aside from being horrendously delayed, was in the afternoon so it was pretty much dinner time when we got to the city. 

Dinner was provided by our gracious hosts, the Nieva family, whilst entertainment was provided by stories of the misadventures encountered by an earlier group (which included the celebrant) who went out on field the week before involving stalled vans with no headlights, dark roads, the sea, and territorial dogs to say the least.

After a great seafood dinner, we headed out to Divisoria Night Cafe and Market at Plaza Divisoria for some clothes hunting at the ukay ukay where “jockets” go for only PHP 50.00 each! The night cafe and market are set up in the Plaza every Friday and Saturday night. 

(sorry for the blurred picture - Lara)

Despite our bulging tummies, the lure of street food was too hard to resist as we managed to fit in chicken pops and hotdogs after going around the Plaza. Also around this area is Xavier University which houses a museum we weren’t able to visit. There are also lots of fast food chains along the stretch of the Plaza. After a tiring walk and a few good finds, we headed back to our hostel to get in some good Zzzs in preparation for our extreme activities the next day.

______________________________________________

SOME TIPS AND WORDS OF WISDOM:

Try to wait for airfares to go on sale (which they often do) though this usually means booking way way in advance. For this trip, we were booked 5 months ahead. Airphil, Cebu Pacific, and PAL all have flights to CDO.

You can either rent a van or grab a taxi from the airport to the city. The van is about PHP 700.00 - 1000.00 while a taxi would cost around PHP 250.00 - 300.00. 

Try the PASTEL and the LANZONES!

For rafting and zipline adventures, avail of the complete package from KAGAY for around PHP 1850 per head for a group of about 7-8 pax to maximize your whole day. 

Check out:

Kagay Whitewater Rafting
Dahilayan Adventure Park 
Contact number for bookings (KAGAY): +639177122323

When you go for the rafting and zipline adventures: pack only the essentials like an extra change of clothes and a towel for after the rafting. Though you do have the option to leave your things in the jeepney. There are also changing (and possibly shower) rooms at the “take out” point of the course. It’s also better if you wear strappy sandals instead of just flip flops when you engage in the zipline or rafting. It’ll be nice if you have a water proof camera but they do have a designated photographer kayaking along with the rafts (CDs of the photos go for about PHP 250.00 each). We did have an option to bring our cameras in a dry sack but we didn’t want to risk it. We also brought food and some snacks for the rafting (for that added energy boost) but ask for dry bags from the staff to store these in because a soggy burger is not a happy burger to eat. 

ENJOY!

10:56 pm  •  17 November 2010  •  8 notes
Tags: Travel bagtag CDO  • See all tags

Last photo I’ll be uploading from our CDO trip. :D This photo makes me remember the 1st time I rode an airplane. I think I was about 3 years old then. My mom said that I was really excited about it but when we we’re about to board and I saw the plane, I wanted to back out. Hahaha. Even so, I think I enjoyed that ride I took 18 years ago, if i remember it correctly. It wasn’t everyday that I saw the world from up top. :D Cheers! See the whole set.

10:23 am  •  13 November 2010  •  3 notes
Tags: Photography CDO Travel Kids  • See all tags

This is how overpopulated Metro Manila is. haha. Aerial photo of Pasig/Pasay City (see the building that says Pasig City? :p), just before landing. Click image to view full size. See the whole set.

7:24 pm  •  11 November 2010  •  1 note
Tags: CDO Travel Philippines  • See all tags