Malaysia Trip Day 1: Setting foot in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Early 2014, I purchased a ticket to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for 8 days from October 2 to 9 of the same year. However due to some unforeseen reasons, I was not able to proceed with my planned trip. Several days later, I was still feeling down and disappointed with the cancellation of that trip when an unexpected opportunity came – 5 days trip to Malaysia with my sister and a friend. So with only a few days to prepare, I was able to board the plane and spent 5 days of spontaneous travel around Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

On the morning before our departure, when I am supposed to double check my luggage and review our (unpolished) trip itinerary, I went to Quezon City for an important meeting. Right after that, my sister and I hurriedly hailed a taxi and endured an hour of traffic on our way to the airport. I thought that maybe, just maybe once we’re at the airport everything will be smooth sailing BUT to my dismay it was NOT.

We arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 4 (formerly known as Domestic Airport) an hour and a half before our expected time of departure. Enough time for us to check in for our flight, pay the Philippine travel tax and most importantly clear the Philippine Immigration. Let me tell you the tale of how hard Filipinos can take a vacation abroad. LOL.

My sister and I together with our friend, Anne approached the Philippine Immigration with all smiles. We went to different immigration personnel so I was quite worried about my sister since this was her first time to go out of the country. I just reminded her to answer truthfully and in a respectful manner. We were interviewed with the usual questions. Where are you going? What will you do there? How long are you planning to stay there? And the likes. Our friend cleared the immigration without much of explaining to do but never did I imagine that my sister and I will be detained for further questioning by another Philippine Immigration officer in a separate room. As far as I can remember, we have complete documentations to guarantee that we will be returning to the Philippines and not become some illegal alien on the country of our destination. We have a reserved accommodation in Kuala Lumpur, proof that I can shoulder my sister’s expenses for the duration of the trip, a return ticket back to the Philippines and other necessary documents.

Tra-Abel’s Top 10 Things to Do at Ilocos Norte

Ilocos Norte has always been part of my family’s list of places to go. We occasionally visit our relatives in Pasuquin and on top of that, some of the seminars and conventions I attended were held in Ilocos (Batac and Paoay). But that was 10 years ago. So when my high school friends came up with an idea to visit Ilocos Region in 2014, I immediately agreed.

Ilocos Norte is a province on the northern most part of the Philippines. It is famous as a local tourist destination where you can find a variety of tourist spots that offers different travel experiences.

Here are Tra-Abel’s top 10 things to do in Ilocos Norte:

1. Trek to the Refreshing Kabigan Falls

Entrance Fee: 20 per head

Tour Guide Fee: 100/group

Address: Barangay Balaoi, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

Personal Rating: ««««¶

Kabigan Falls is an 87-feet tall waterfalls located in Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte. Having been to plenty of waterfalls in the Philippines, the main highlight is the scenery that greets every tourists on their way to the waterfalls. One has to cross a small river (or is it a creek?), walk along the side of green rice fields and trek through a lush virgin rainforest. Another exciting thing about the trek are the FOOD stalls selling varieties of local delicacies such as tupig, empanada, kakanin and other mouthwatering merienda. The food stalls are situated 500 meters apart, in such a way that they serve as a pit stop to catch your breath and replenish your energy. 

Tra-Abel Guide to Ilocos Region

Ilocos is located on the most northwestern part of the Philippines. Plenty of tourists visit this region to learn and reminisce the rich history the place offers, home to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site - Vigan City, which boasts of Spanish-era mansions, the kalesa and cobblestone Crisologo Street. 

In addition to these historical treats, you can also find a century old lighthouse at Burgos and a century old baroque church at Paoay. 

Also, if one ventures beyond, Ilocos is home to stunning white sand beaches, enchanting caves and waterfalls, and exceptional rock formations. If these are not enough reasons for you to pack your bags and head to Ilocos now, then maybe the following reasons can make you. Ilocos is also where you can find the scenic Bangui windmills, the first in Southeast Asia, or surf the perfect waves of Pagudpud and partake into the adrenaline inducing adventures offered at Paoay sand dunes.

Tra-Abel Guide to Palaui Island, Cagayan

Cape Engano Lighthouse!

Palaui Island is located on the most northeastern tip of the Philippines in the province of Cagayan, where the last kilometer marker (642 km) up north of Luzon can be found. It is a small exotic island with a rich flora and fauna, home to the historic Cape Engano Lighthouse and surrounded by stunning and beautiful beaches and islets such as Anguib, Nangaramoan, Punta Verde, Crocodile Island and Dos Hermanas.

How to Get There

By Land

You can catch any bus from Manila bound to Cagayan (Tuguegarao City). There are a number of them both regular and air-conditioned. Here’s a list of the buses going to Cagayan Valley:

1. Victory Liner (From Pasay, Sampaloc and Cubao/Kamias Terminals)

2. GV Florida (From Sampaloc and Cubao Terminals)

3.  Five Star (From Cubao and Pasay Terminals)

4. Other buses with route Manila to Cagayan Valley: Auto Bus, Ballesteros Bus, Dagupan Bus (Most of the buses bound to Cagayan Valley can be found around Sampaloc and Cubao area)

From Tuguegarao City take a Van to Santa Ana Market/Poblacion. Approximate travel time is 2.5 to 4 hours. In Santa Ana Poblacion, you can opt to stay overnight in one of the budget hotels around the area or you can go directly to San Vicente Port by taking a tricycle. From the port area, you can hire a boat (see rates below) to Punta Verde or Anguib Beach where you can spend the night. This will actually depend on the time of your arrival at Santa Ana. For the tips on where to stay at Santa Ana, Punta Verde and Anguib please refer to the accommodations section of this post.

The uninhabited shorelines of Punta Verder in Palaui Island

Chasing Sunset at Phnom Krom Hilltop Temple

After a whole day tour of the outer circuit of Angkor Wat, I still have enough energy for a Cambodian sunset adventure. The famous locations for sunset viewing are Pre Rup and Angkor Wat. Since I just got back from Pre Rup, I decided to go to Angkor Wat to experience the sunset on this side of the planet. I hired a tuktuk to take me to Angkor Wat who is willing to wait for me and bring be back after dark or after the sun has completely set. We were a few meters away from the temple when I noticed the massive crowd in front of the temple. The driver told me that this was normal and he suggested if I want to try another site. At first, I was hesitant since I was alone and I don’t normally trust strangers (that’s what my mom taught me LOL). But without much of a choice, rather than squeezing my way through the crowd, I just agreed to the recommendation given by the tuktuk driver.

So off we went to this unheard name of the temple at the top of the hill. We drove past the pub street and night market, along the green rice fields until we reached the foot of a hill where a stairway can be found. It took us around 20 minutes and around 10 kilometers to get there. I was a little worried when we got there, since there were no traces of tourists in the area but mostly locals. The place reminded me of a secluded sitio or barangay in one of the remote provinces in the Philippines. The driver then told me to climb the stairway and follow the path to the hilltop where the temple is located.

Tra-Abel Guide to Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia, officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia and once known as the Khmer Empire, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Vietnam to the east, and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. (Source: Wikipedia)

The major tourist hub of Cambodia is Siem Reap while its capital is at Phnom Penh. The original plan for my 11 days backpacking tour around Southeast Asia was to spend 2 days at Siem Reap and 1 day at Phnom Phen before going to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Unfortunately due to time constraints and other factors, I decided to just spend 4 days and 3 nights at Siem Reap and go back to Bangkok,Thailand (Click here for a complete guide).

Border Crossing via the New Direct Bus from Thailand to Cambodia and vice versa

A few years ago, border crossing between Thailand and Cambodia was a real nightmare for tourists! Thanks to the direct bus plying Bangkok-Siem Reap, the border crossing got a lot easier and safer!

The New Direct Bus From Bangkok to Siem Reap (vice versa)!

The first step is to purchase your ticket.

There are two ways for you to do this. You can directly purchase tickets from Mochit Bus Terminal but remember to do it in advance for a safer bet and to ensure your seats. The alternative and more convenient way of purchasing a ticket is online through Thai Ticket Major. Between the two, I chose to book my ticket online through Thai Ticket Major weeks before my trip to Bangkok. This method is more convenient since my estimated time of departure to Siem Reap is the day after my arrival at Bangkok, hence, there might not be enough seats left for me if I personally purchase the ticket at Mochit. If you prefer to purchase your ticket online, like I did, here is the website where you can book ticket and process payments: http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/bus/index.

Tra-Abel Guide to Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand officially the Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is a country located at the center of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern extremity of Burma. (Source: Wikipedia)

Like any other wanderer, Thailand is my country of choice to start a solo backpacking trip for my Tra-Abel adventures. Based on lonely planet and other trusted travel sites, Thailand is one of the most backpacking friendly countries in the world. So after a month of planning, I found myself mingling with other backpackers there in Bangkok, Thailand. Read my entry on First Time Solo Wandering in a Foreign Land here.

Although my 11 days backpacking trip to Thailand and Cambodia was not enough to really experience what these countries has to offer, the time I spent there was really a time well spent.   

Let me share with you the adventures and misadventures I had when I was in Bangkok, Thailand.

Getting Around

Bangkok, Thailand is notorious for its traffic especially during rush hours, but fear not because there are different modes of transportation available that can help you get around and visit popular tourist sites in Bangkok without getting stuck in middle of the traffic. You can ride a boat, the train (BTS/MRT), taxi, bus or tuktuk! It's your choice! Read the full entry on getting around Bangkok here.

Activities and Tour

You will never be bored! There are lots of activities to do and sights to see at Bangkok. You can also try the organized tours offered by the different agencies to various tourist sites outside Bangkok! Here are some of the places I went to when I was in Bangkok, click on the picture to learn more about them.

CARAGA Northeastern Mindanao –Siargao (Day 1): Tra-Abel Enroute

Siargao Island is known to many as the surfing capital of the Philippines with a worldwide reputation for its “Cloud 9” waves perfect for surfing competitions.  So why the hell did I go there? To Surf-plang (surfing na may kasamang semplang)? Ahhmm, at first, YES, I want to try it but when I saw how big the waves were, I got scared! (There was a low pressure area (LPA) when I went there, so maybe next time. LOL)

How to get there

Montenegro Fast Craft!

Fast crafts and ferry boats are the most frequent and most affordable means to get there. Here are the trip schedules:

CARAGA Northeastern Mindanao – Surigao City: City of Island Adventure

For the second part of my CARAGA Northeastern Mindanao Tra-Abel trip, I visited Surigao City and Siargao Island, both are part of Surigao del Norte.  Surigao City is located at the Northeastern Tip of Mindanao and dubbed as the 'City of Island Adventures'. 

How to Get There:

By Land – Buses from Pasay City, Metro Manila have trips going to Surigao several times a week via Lipata Ferry Terminal. Daily bus trips from Butuan, Cagayan de Oro City or Davao City to Surigao City are also available at regular intervals.

By Sea – Passenger boats are available every day except Sundays from Cebu. Boats from Manila also have regular trips to Surigao.

By Air – Cebu Pacific Air flies daily from Cebu to Surigao every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday & vice versa. PALExpress (Philippine Airlines) likewise flies from Manila to Surigao every day except Wednesday and vice versa. Skyjet flies to Surigao from Manila every Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday and vice versa.  For more regular trips, you can fly to Butuan City or Davao City and from there take a bus to Surigao City.

Where to Stay:

CARAGA Northeastern Mindanao Series: Tra-Abel Trip Itinerary

In September 2014, an idea crossed my mind – to travel through the provinces of Caraga region in the Northeastern part of Mindanao. Caraga is composed of 5 provinces: Agusan del Norte (Butuan City), Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte (Surigao City & Siargao), Surigao del Sur (Bislig City & Hinatuan) and Dinagat Islands. This region hosts plenty of tourist sites and spots such as Enchanted River, Tinuy-an Falls, the surfing capital – Siargao, Sohoton Cove National Park, Britania Islands and many more.

Itinerary Map (source: wikipedia) 

Start   Placer, Surigao del Norte
1        Butuan City, Agusan del Norte
2        Bislig City, Surigao del Sur
3        Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur
4        Surigao City, Surigao del Norte
5        Siargao, Surigao del Norte

An opportunity to make my plans become a reality, came when I was assigned to perform audit fieldwork at Placer for one (1) month in October 2013. Placer is a small municipality of Surigao del Norte, 30 minutes away from Surigao City, the Capital Town.

Here’s my planned itinerary for the Tra-Abel Caraga Trip (2 weekends only - Sat&Sun)