Typhoon Season/Rainy Days Travel Ideas: From Museums to Storm Surfing
28 July 2011
Just what every traveler doesn't want is for summer to end and be stuck at home during typhoon season. Here are a few tips from Tutubi to do during these no "starry, starry nights" with occasional rains, low pressure areas, inter-tropical convergence zones, tropical depressions and storms hounding the weather news.
1. Visit Museums
When was the last time you visited the National Museum? During elementary school days herded in and out of the bus on a field trip? Museums are the repositories of our country's heritage and showcases our culture, history and the richness of our biodiversity. Tip: There's still free entrance to the National Art Gallery, right across the National Museum, for you to catch a glimpse of Juan Luna's Spoliarium.
2. Learn New Languages
Tutubi studied Spanish and Japanese (Nihongo) in college, self-studied a little French and Cebuano. He can actually understand Cebuano and can speak it "gamay lang" just to haggle with vendors and ask directions from Cebuanos.
Just recently, he's heard about the free Korean language classes at the newly-opened Korean Cultural Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, he might give enrolling in the free Korean language class in Manila a try if the schedule permits.
3. Couch potato travel or the armchair explorer by watching Travel TV shows
Cheap and cozy travel watching travel tv at the comforts of home and help you plan your next trip. A handy Travel TV Show Schedules compiled by Tutubi (needs updates though). On Sunday mornings, Byaheng Bulilit, Pinoy T.A.L.K. and Easy Ride if you don't have cable TV channels like Living Asia Channel and Discovery Travel and Adventure.
Storm Chasers: Storm Surfing
For the adrenaline rush and dangerous one at that, when most people avoid the beaches during typhoons, a handful of adventurers actually paddle out on surfboards to meet gigantic waves on the surfing beaches facing the Pacific Ocean. Try the beaches of Bicol (Bagasbas Beach, for one) or those in Baler, Aurora (where the closing scene of Oliver Stone's Hollywood movie "Apocalypse Now" was shot). It's also during typhoon season where the world famous Cloud Nine waves of Siargao come alive.
Storm Surfing Philippines, a haven for storm surfers :P
1. Visit Museums
When was the last time you visited the National Museum? During elementary school days herded in and out of the bus on a field trip? Museums are the repositories of our country's heritage and showcases our culture, history and the richness of our biodiversity. Tip: There's still free entrance to the National Art Gallery, right across the National Museum, for you to catch a glimpse of Juan Luna's Spoliarium.
2. Learn New Languages
Tutubi studied Spanish and Japanese (Nihongo) in college, self-studied a little French and Cebuano. He can actually understand Cebuano and can speak it "gamay lang" just to haggle with vendors and ask directions from Cebuanos.
Just recently, he's heard about the free Korean language classes at the newly-opened Korean Cultural Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, he might give enrolling in the free Korean language class in Manila a try if the schedule permits.
3. Couch potato travel or the armchair explorer by watching Travel TV shows
Cheap and cozy travel watching travel tv at the comforts of home and help you plan your next trip. A handy Travel TV Show Schedules compiled by Tutubi (needs updates though). On Sunday mornings, Byaheng Bulilit, Pinoy T.A.L.K. and Easy Ride if you don't have cable TV channels like Living Asia Channel and Discovery Travel and Adventure.
Storm Chasers: Storm Surfing
For the adrenaline rush and dangerous one at that, when most people avoid the beaches during typhoons, a handful of adventurers actually paddle out on surfboards to meet gigantic waves on the surfing beaches facing the Pacific Ocean. Try the beaches of Bicol (Bagasbas Beach, for one) or those in Baler, Aurora (where the closing scene of Oliver Stone's Hollywood movie "Apocalypse Now" was shot). It's also during typhoon season where the world famous Cloud Nine waves of Siargao come alive.
Storm Surfing Philippines, a haven for storm surfers :P
Labels: Travel Tips
posted by GingGoy @ 9:56 PM,
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Asian Traveler Magazine's Photo Contest Infringes Photographers' Rights
25 July 2011
Just a heads up on the Asian Travelers Magazine's latest photo contest (with mechanics below) that do not respect photographers' rights.
Why? What's wrong with Asian Traveler Magazine's contest mechanics?
It's this line:
"Top 5 winning images will become the property of asianTraveler Magazine and may not be submitted for publication to other print or online publications."
For those budding photographers out there, photographers MUST retain all rights to their photos. The contest organizer may not be aware of the Photographer's Bill of Rights that onerous rule equates to rights grabbing.
For photographers- amateur, professionals, hobbyists and frustrated ones (like Tutubi)- be aware of your rights.
And for those who'd reason that you are not obliged to join if you don't want to, that's just the reason why PH is in it's current state-- apathetic Filipinos who won't lift a finger or howl of protest if an issue, however bad, doesn't not affect them.
Full text of Asian Traveler's photo contest
---
Asian Traveler
Theme: I Heart Pinas
To tickle our Filipino pride, we would like to know about the things you love best about the Philippines. Share with us photos of anything that makes you feel proud to be Filipino. Feel free to interpret the theme any way you want. Impress us with how you give meaning to things. ;)
How to join:
ONLY photos submitted via our Facebook fan page will be accepted as valid entries.
NO registration fee. However, a photo has to reach a minimum of 25 likes to be considered a qualified entry.
Maximum of three (3) photos per entrant so choose wisely from your materials ;)
Provide an ingenious title for your photo and a one-sentence justification per photo of how you see the relevance of your entry to the theme. Don’t forget to include the theme or keyword from it in your entries so we can recognize that it is an entry.
Low-res photos may be submitted, but JPEG copies with higher resolution may be asked from winning entries after the contest for publication purposes.
Criteria:
50% – People’s choice. The more likes an entry gets, the more chance of getting into the top pick. Remember you have to at least 25 likes to qualify for the contest. ;)
50% – Judges’ voice. Our panel of judges will consider the following factors:
Aesthetic appeal
Relevance to the theme
Title and caption. How you justify your material. Exhibition of unique creativity and wide perspective is an essential part of your entry.
Judges: Entries will be judged by the asianTraveler editorial board.
Awards and Prizes:
We will choose the Top 5 entries based on the above criteria. Prizes for each are as follows:
Grand Prize: 1000 worth of gift certificates in Chateau 1771 Restaurant
Other 4 best entries will get a free copy of asianTraveler magazine’s current issue.
Announcement of winners will be on August 8, 2011.
Winners will be notified via personal message. A list of winners and a compilation album of winning entries will be posted in our Facebook fanpage
Duration of the contest: The contest will run until August 5, 11.59pm (Philippine time).
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Previously published photographs will not be allowed to join.
Only photographs with necessary rights will be considered valid entries.
Photographers, writers, and members of asianTraveler’s editorial board and pool of contributors, past and present, are not eligible to join.
Top 5 winning images will become the property of asianTraveler Magazine and may not be submitted for publication to other print or online publications.
Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash.
Entrants will not submit any photograph that is unlawful or fraudulent, or that is defamatory, obscene, derogatory, pornographic, sexually inappropriate, violent, abusive, harassing, threatening, objectionable with respect to race, religion, origin or gender, not suitable for children aged under 15, or otherwise unsuitable for publication.
asianTraveler Magazine reserves the rights, at any time, to verify the validity of the entries and to disqualify any entry that is not in accordance with the Terms and Conditions. Any incomplete, indecipherable or illegible entries will be deemed invalid.
Winners will only be allowed to win once during the duration of the contest. If the winners do not respond in seven (7) working days upon the notification of winning entries, asianTraveler Magazine shall choose an alternate winner from the pool of remaining eligible entries in accordance with the criteria and rules stated herein.
Any decision of asianTraveler is final and no correspondence will be entertained.
Official rules are only those posted in the asianTraveler Magazine fan page.
Why? What's wrong with Asian Traveler Magazine's contest mechanics?
It's this line:
"Top 5 winning images will become the property of asianTraveler Magazine and may not be submitted for publication to other print or online publications."
For those budding photographers out there, photographers MUST retain all rights to their photos. The contest organizer may not be aware of the Photographer's Bill of Rights that onerous rule equates to rights grabbing.
For photographers- amateur, professionals, hobbyists and frustrated ones (like Tutubi)- be aware of your rights.
And for those who'd reason that you are not obliged to join if you don't want to, that's just the reason why PH is in it's current state-- apathetic Filipinos who won't lift a finger or howl of protest if an issue, however bad, doesn't not affect them.
Full text of Asian Traveler's photo contest
---
Asian Traveler
Theme: I Heart Pinas
To tickle our Filipino pride, we would like to know about the things you love best about the Philippines. Share with us photos of anything that makes you feel proud to be Filipino. Feel free to interpret the theme any way you want. Impress us with how you give meaning to things. ;)
How to join:
ONLY photos submitted via our Facebook fan page will be accepted as valid entries.
NO registration fee. However, a photo has to reach a minimum of 25 likes to be considered a qualified entry.
Maximum of three (3) photos per entrant so choose wisely from your materials ;)
Provide an ingenious title for your photo and a one-sentence justification per photo of how you see the relevance of your entry to the theme. Don’t forget to include the theme or keyword from it in your entries so we can recognize that it is an entry.
Low-res photos may be submitted, but JPEG copies with higher resolution may be asked from winning entries after the contest for publication purposes.
Criteria:
50% – People’s choice. The more likes an entry gets, the more chance of getting into the top pick. Remember you have to at least 25 likes to qualify for the contest. ;)
50% – Judges’ voice. Our panel of judges will consider the following factors:
Aesthetic appeal
Relevance to the theme
Title and caption. How you justify your material. Exhibition of unique creativity and wide perspective is an essential part of your entry.
Judges: Entries will be judged by the asianTraveler editorial board.
Awards and Prizes:
We will choose the Top 5 entries based on the above criteria. Prizes for each are as follows:
Grand Prize: 1000 worth of gift certificates in Chateau 1771 Restaurant
Other 4 best entries will get a free copy of asianTraveler magazine’s current issue.
Announcement of winners will be on August 8, 2011.
Winners will be notified via personal message. A list of winners and a compilation album of winning entries will be posted in our Facebook fanpage
Duration of the contest: The contest will run until August 5, 11.59pm (Philippine time).
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Previously published photographs will not be allowed to join.
Only photographs with necessary rights will be considered valid entries.
Photographers, writers, and members of asianTraveler’s editorial board and pool of contributors, past and present, are not eligible to join.
Top 5 winning images will become the property of asianTraveler Magazine and may not be submitted for publication to other print or online publications.
Prizes are not transferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken as cash.
Entrants will not submit any photograph that is unlawful or fraudulent, or that is defamatory, obscene, derogatory, pornographic, sexually inappropriate, violent, abusive, harassing, threatening, objectionable with respect to race, religion, origin or gender, not suitable for children aged under 15, or otherwise unsuitable for publication.
asianTraveler Magazine reserves the rights, at any time, to verify the validity of the entries and to disqualify any entry that is not in accordance with the Terms and Conditions. Any incomplete, indecipherable or illegible entries will be deemed invalid.
Winners will only be allowed to win once during the duration of the contest. If the winners do not respond in seven (7) working days upon the notification of winning entries, asianTraveler Magazine shall choose an alternate winner from the pool of remaining eligible entries in accordance with the criteria and rules stated herein.
Any decision of asianTraveler is final and no correspondence will be entertained.
Official rules are only those posted in the asianTraveler Magazine fan page.
Labels: Photography
posted by GingGoy @ 8:14 PM,
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5 Years, 774 Posts and 7 Links to Visit: Tutubi's First Meme
22 July 2011
More than five years blogging and 774+ posts and not a single meme as Tutubi is not really into memes that was the fad before Facebook became a byword.
But as a courtesy to Edelito, who tagged Tutubi, he gave in, just once, thus this post.
Your most beautiful post
Tutubi's most memorable trip to the Philippines' best beach:
Calaguas Island
Your most popular post
this is a "trade secret" but it's the second page clicked by visitors referred by the number one keyword of this blog: backpacking philippines :P
Backpacking Philippines Travel Guide
Your most controversial post
Nothing really controversial in this blog but a SEO experiment is still getting one or two hits a day.
Your most helpful post
Still the best Pagsanjan Falls guide there is:
Pagsanjan Falls
A post whose success surprised you
Thought of posting the information when Tutubi was unable to get it from any other site: HM Transport/Green Star Express Bus to Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
A post you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved:
Few people really follow and emulate Jose Rizal these days. Students are just forced to read his two novels in high school and a Rizal course in college, fed down the throat to comply with the Claro M. Recto-backed Rizal Law.
Tutubi has been all but a few of the 27 Rizal Shrines listed by the NHCP and DOT, even before the "amazing race" was launched last June 19.
Lakbay Jose Rizal@150
The post that you are most proud of
just read why ;P
5 Years of Blogging No Quid Pro Quo
No one to tag as he's not really into this, just feel free to post your own.
link bait courtesy of Tripbase
But as a courtesy to Edelito, who tagged Tutubi, he gave in, just once, thus this post.
Your most beautiful post
Tutubi's most memorable trip to the Philippines' best beach:
Calaguas Island
Your most popular post
this is a "trade secret" but it's the second page clicked by visitors referred by the number one keyword of this blog: backpacking philippines :P
Backpacking Philippines Travel Guide
Your most controversial post
Nothing really controversial in this blog but a SEO experiment is still getting one or two hits a day.
Your most helpful post
Still the best Pagsanjan Falls guide there is:
Pagsanjan Falls
A post whose success surprised you
Thought of posting the information when Tutubi was unable to get it from any other site: HM Transport/Green Star Express Bus to Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
A post you feel didn’t get the attention it deserved:
Few people really follow and emulate Jose Rizal these days. Students are just forced to read his two novels in high school and a Rizal course in college, fed down the throat to comply with the Claro M. Recto-backed Rizal Law.
Tutubi has been all but a few of the 27 Rizal Shrines listed by the NHCP and DOT, even before the "amazing race" was launched last June 19.
Lakbay Jose Rizal@150
The post that you are most proud of
just read why ;P
5 Years of Blogging No Quid Pro Quo
No one to tag as he's not really into this, just feel free to post your own.
link bait courtesy of Tripbase
Labels: Blogging
posted by GingGoy @ 8:54 PM,
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AirAsia Japan: Cheap Flights to Tokyo via Narita Airport
21 July 2011
This is a bit of good news as Tutubi has long been wanting to visit the Land of the Rising Sun all his life:
AirAsia Japan is a new Tokyo-based joint venture low-cost venture of Japan’s All Nippon Airways and Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier AirAsia
AirAsia Japan, the first low-cost carrier out of Tokyo's Narita International Airport, will begin offering and flying domestic and international flights in August 2012. Ticket prices reported hald of regular fares of commercial airlines.
If AirAsia X's flight from KL to Paris may probably be Tutubi's gateway to his future backpacking Europe tour, AirAsia Japan may be his cheap ticket to Tokyo, Japan.
Tutubi's actually eyeing a flight to Osaka via Cebu Pacific, take the shinkansen to Mt. Koya, the old capital city Kyoto then Tokyo, then a flight back to Manila.
But it's just a plan...and Tutubi's planned travels rarely materialize unlike the unplanned ones. :P
AirAsia Japan is a new Tokyo-based joint venture low-cost venture of Japan’s All Nippon Airways and Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier AirAsia
AirAsia Japan, the first low-cost carrier out of Tokyo's Narita International Airport, will begin offering and flying domestic and international flights in August 2012. Ticket prices reported hald of regular fares of commercial airlines.
If AirAsia X's flight from KL to Paris may probably be Tutubi's gateway to his future backpacking Europe tour, AirAsia Japan may be his cheap ticket to Tokyo, Japan.
Tutubi's actually eyeing a flight to Osaka via Cebu Pacific, take the shinkansen to Mt. Koya, the old capital city Kyoto then Tokyo, then a flight back to Manila.
But it's just a plan...and Tutubi's planned travels rarely materialize unlike the unplanned ones. :P
Labels: Airlines
posted by GingGoy @ 9:46 PM,
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Malipano Island off Samal Island, Davao del Norte
14 July 2011
A small island off the coast of Samal Island, owned and maintained by Pearl Farm Beach Resort, Malipano Island hosts the most expensive accommodations in Pearl Farm with its houses on stilts facing Davao Gulf.
Pictures of Malipano Island, part of Samal Island (who wouldn't love szure blue skies enhanced with a polarizer?)
the floating bridge on the beach of malipano island
the lonely kayak on the beach with the mangrove. again, the problem with day tours is that you get to resort during the unholy hours, best to sleep and lay back but not to hit the beach
the expensive Samal Houses of Pearl Farm Beach Resort. No chance to even have an ocular inspection of the interiors
you get to a beach resort and sleep on a hammock to stay away from the heat of the summer sun
on the pontoon bridge made of rubber to catch the speedboat to Pearl Farm Beach resort's parola for lunch
Malipano Island is part of IGaCoS or Island Garden City of Samal, politically a part of the province of Davao del Norte, though it's usually mentioned part of Davao City.
Related Posts:
Pearl Farm Beach Resort
Davao Zipline
Kadayawan Festival
Pictures of Malipano Island, part of Samal Island (who wouldn't love szure blue skies enhanced with a polarizer?)
the floating bridge on the beach of malipano island
the lonely kayak on the beach with the mangrove. again, the problem with day tours is that you get to resort during the unholy hours, best to sleep and lay back but not to hit the beach
the expensive Samal Houses of Pearl Farm Beach Resort. No chance to even have an ocular inspection of the interiors
you get to a beach resort and sleep on a hammock to stay away from the heat of the summer sun
on the pontoon bridge made of rubber to catch the speedboat to Pearl Farm Beach resort's parola for lunchMalipano Island is part of IGaCoS or Island Garden City of Samal, politically a part of the province of Davao del Norte, though it's usually mentioned part of Davao City.
Related Posts:
Pearl Farm Beach Resort
Davao Zipline
Kadayawan Festival
Labels: Beaches, Davao Del Norte, Davao Region, Islands
posted by GingGoy @ 9:56 PM,
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Balimbing (Starfruit): Pinoy Slang for Political Turncoats
13 July 2011
During the 80's, this sometimes sweet, sometimes sour fruit that Tutubi finds on the slopes of the Sierra Madre mountain, growing wild between lanzones and santol trees in Paete, became a slang word for political turncoats i.e. politicians jumping from one party to another as if plainly changing clothes, usually transferring to the ruling administration party.
Why balimbing? It's simply because the balimbing has many sides, in reference to traditional politicians' many faces, showing compassion to the poor on the outside yet evil and contempt in the inside.
Balimbing, Starfruit in English, is star-shaped and a bit sour and sweet.
If only Filipino voters would be smarter, politicians would not have
made lives of the people better, instead of making life worse.
"Keep 'em poor and stupid" is the trapo's motto still
Why balimbing? It's simply because the balimbing has many sides, in reference to traditional politicians' many faces, showing compassion to the poor on the outside yet evil and contempt in the inside.
Balimbing, Starfruit in English, is star-shaped and a bit sour and sweet.If only Filipino voters would be smarter, politicians would not have
made lives of the people better, instead of making life worse.
"Keep 'em poor and stupid" is the trapo's motto still
Labels: Fruits
posted by GingGoy @ 9:51 PM,
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Ilocos Delicacy: Sweet Candon Kalamay
05 July 2011
An Ilocos kakanin you usually notice being peddled in the Ilocos Sur capital city of Vigan, Candon Kalamay is a kalamay variant whose recipe consists of the usual kalamay ingredients of sugar, rice flour and coconut meat, with the sticky sweet traditionally wrapped in banana leaves, but now wrapped in plastic strips or polysterene.
Tutubi chanced upon this pasalubong vendor near Baluarte in Caoayan town peddling Candon Kalamay and another Ilocos delicacy (to be posted later). Each packet of Candon Kalamay, wrapped in brown paper, costs PhP20.00 (still expensive for Tutubi)
Candon Kalamay in bite-size portions
Other well-known kalamay variants include, Bohol kalamay, baguio kalamay (popularly known as sundot kulangot), Iloilo kalamay, Nilubyan of Tarlac made from pounded green rice and Mindoro kalamay using grated coconut and flavored with peanut butter or vanilla.
Candon City celebrates Kalamay Festival in March of every year.
Tutubi chanced upon this pasalubong vendor near Baluarte in Caoayan town peddling Candon Kalamay and another Ilocos delicacy (to be posted later). Each packet of Candon Kalamay, wrapped in brown paper, costs PhP20.00 (still expensive for Tutubi)
Candon Kalamay in bite-size portionsOther well-known kalamay variants include, Bohol kalamay, baguio kalamay (popularly known as sundot kulangot), Iloilo kalamay, Nilubyan of Tarlac made from pounded green rice and Mindoro kalamay using grated coconut and flavored with peanut butter or vanilla.
Candon City celebrates Kalamay Festival in March of every year.
Labels: Delicacies, Ilocos Region, Ilocos Sur, Pasalubong
posted by GingGoy @ 9:01 PM,
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