Philippines Budget Travel

The journey may be a bit too tough for us but the destination was all worth it. After getting lost in the beautiful island of Guimaras, the Poor Traveler and his friend finally found a place to stay.

Although not planned, we decided to just check in to Raymen’s Beach Resort along a strip of white beach called Alubihod in Guimaras. We were welcomed by courteous staff and were offered an air-conditioned room for two.

After settling down, we went out and explored the area. We were greeted by sparkling white sand and clear waters.

We did not dive into the water right away because we planned to have lunch first at the resort’s restaurant.

The Poor Traveler and his poor friend ordered chicken tinola worth P250. They said the each order was good for two. They lied. It was good for four to five people, haha. In fact, we had to stop gorging on that darn tinola for a moment to give our digesting system a little more time to do its job well. We spent 30 more minutes at the restaurant to finish the meal. Yummy, alright. It wasn’t native chicken but after a long, exhausting trip, anything chicken was gourmet to us.

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They say that we learn through our mistakes. Hell yeah, we sure did when we visited Guimaras earlier this month!

Not that Guimaras was horrible. It was AWESOME. But what the Poor Traveler learned was that if you want to avoid unnecessary spending, you should plan your trip ahead even when you are backpacking. Especially if you are backpacking.

A few months back, the Poor Traveler and another poor friend availed of one budget airline’s promo and got a pretty 50% off their fare. “Let’s go to Guimaras,” we exclaimed “so we could get a taste of the sweetest mango in the world.” How’s that for a goal? We were able to secure a pair of tickets to Iloilo, then Cebu, then Manila for PhP3,100. That’s already for both of us, which makes it 1550 each — three cities! Sweet, huh?

On October 3, Saturday, our itchy feet led us to Guimaras. The easiest way to get to Guimaras was via Iloilo City. When we landed, the first thing we noticed was that the Ilonggos were so courteous and charming. Hmm, aright, that wasn’t really the first thing we noticed. Rather, it was the airport. It was just so beautiful, we had not seen any provincial airport more delightful.

But what was more delightful was when we noticed that the Ilonggos were so courteous and oh so charming. The moment a van/shuttle driver approached us at the front of the port, he greeted us with a smile and led us to where he was parked. We spent a few minutes waiting for the van to be full and then we drove to Iloilo City. Fare was P50, cheap for a long yet comfortable ride. The van dropped us off at SM Iloilo but the driver did not leave until we got a cab. In fact, the van driver even went of his way to call a cab for us. It was really a kind gesture and honestly, unexpected. The Poor Traveler had never been treated by a driver like that.

When we hopped in the taxi, the driver asked us where to go. “To the pier, sir. We’re going to Guimaras,” was our answer. He asked for the specific resort in Guimaras we would stay in and said we had booked for a room at Baras Beach Resort. And then we were given another favor, he told us exactly how to get there. Sweet drivers in Ilonggo, anyone? The cab ride cost us P100, including the tip, which he did not ask for.

The Poor Traveler and his poor friend then explored the sea port to look for the ferry heading for Guimaras but we just couldn’t find it. Heck, there were no signboards. And we were too shy to ask! Another lesson there, never be afraid to ask for directions. It doesn’t make you stupid, it makes your life a lot easier.

One man noticed how “lost” we were and pointed us to the right direction. Another kind, helpful Ilonggo right there!

Before we boarded the boat, we called the Baras Beach Resort and a woman told us to proceed to Puyo Wharf after, where they would pick us up and take us to the resort.

The boat ride to Guimaras took about 15 minutes and cost P13 per person. We docked at Jordan port. From there, we rented a tricycle to Puyo Wharf for P250. A jeepney would be much cheaper but we wanted a private ride.

When we arrived at Puyo Wharf, we were surprised how deserted the place was. No one was there but us! Poor us! We would’ve thought it was scary but the beauty of the place was just too strong for any fear to exist.

And since the guys from Baras told us they would pick us up, we waited.

And we waited.

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After a typhoon-combo that the Philippines received in the last few weeks, flooding became the worst problem. It wasn’t long when people started trying to put a finger on what went wrong and started pointing fingers on whom to blame. Many claimed that one of the reasons the country was hit so bad was because of poor urban planning. Soon after, many of my friends began comparing the urban plan of Manila to Singapore.

Singapore may be tiny but it is a giant in terms of cleanliness, organization and beauty. Singapore may probably be the cleanest city in the world, A country that is famous for its jaw dropping skyline and a place where dreams are realized for most of us Asians. It is not just urban planning; many have looked up to Singapore for many things. I myself have always wanted to Indulge in the Uniquely Singapore experience.

Why do I wish to get up close and personal with Singapore? Let’s just say that I have read and heard about so many good things about this unique city that I want to experience it first-hand. It will not just be a trip that would spice up my rather boring life but also a learning experience for me. I want to see how things work and how things are done in Singapore, and hopefully get inspired, if not awed by it.

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Even in the middle of the worst natural disaster, we can still have fun.

And by “fun” I mean feeling good about yourself based on what you do for others.

On Saturday typhoon Ketsana ravaged and wreaked havoc in Manila, leaving me and my friends, who are also my housemates, stranded in the apartment.

No one dared to go outside as the flood began covering the streets. Water levels rose fast. Good thing we were at the seventh floor. Not to mention that the wind would certainly blow us away literally if we went out.

Minutes later, news about how horrible the situation had become reached us. We didn’t have TV or radio in the apartment but mobile Internet became a goldmine of information on what’s happening outside. With our cellphones, we were able to connect to the world outside for updates. The streets became vast parking lots as thousands were stranded in their cars. Houses were destroyed. People were killed. Our families and friends suggested that we do not go out until the situation became less dangerous.

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Come back later.

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