jeepneyjinggoy: must-see

Showing posts with label must-see. Show all posts

Guilty. I may have gone to places across the globe but I yet have to discover the wonders of my neighborhood, areas that don’t even need airplanes to reach. Today, exploring the best tourist attractions in the island is made more convenient as the regional tourism offices in partnership with the private sectors are paving the way for hassle-free trips to the best Mindanao destinations.

Lake Sebu Zipline at Seven Falls

Lake Sebu

“This is the great first move to reveal our best kept secrets to local and domestic markets.” Said Director of Tourism (DOT-XI) Regional Director Arturo Boncato on the launching of Destination Mindanaw. The pioneering program will feature key tourism areas of Davao Region, Socksargen, CARAGA, and Northern Mindanao to include sites like Lake Sebu in South Cotabato; Tinuy-an Falls and Enchanted River in Surigao del Sur; Dahican Beach in Mati, Davao Oriental; and tourist site in the island-province of Camiguin. More destinations will be added to the roster in the coming days.

Mati's Sleeping Dinosaur

The Waniban Island in Mati

“We are initially devoting four of out shuttle coasters as vehicles for the identified routes,” shared Alma Uy, owner of Davao Metro Shuttle, and Asianet Travel ad Tours.

The Uy's of Tagum, Davao del Norte, owners of Davao Metro Shuttle

Each tour has been packaged for two days only making it a perfect get-away for the weekend. Priced affordably, the cost covers transportation, meals, room accommodations and touring the featured spots of the destination with a tour guide sharing historic & cultural potpourri of the area.

The Gensan Fishport in the Sarangani Province

A must-see in Sarangani Province, the Gumasa Beach

Now, all I have to do is book and on the bus to take me to the places that has long been on my bucket list. This way, I am spared from forming a group and planning the trip with a risk of not pushing through.

One of the many picturesque shorelines in Surigao.

The Enchanted River of Surigao

Refreshing sight. The Tinuy-an Falls in Surigao

Traveling alone? No worries. Chances are there will be others who wish to see the beauty of Mindanao and you’ll get the chance to meet them as you board the bus. But in any case you find yourself the lone passenger, worry not for the trip will push through especially for you. Call it your very own chartered tour.

Make you next destination Mindanao. It will be mine.

Mindanao Tourism bigwigs with Asec. Arturo Boncato

For more lifestyle & travel stories, visit http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com/ and http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com/

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on November 24, 2013.

Laem Phromthep or the Phromthep Cape

FROM a distance, this island looks like a hill, a huge one at that, and it was named as such - "bukit," a Malay word that means "hill," or the name more familiar to everyone today - Phuket (with the ph pronounced with an aspirated P, please.)

Finally, convinced myself to see Phuket & visit Yashee, a friend, as well.

Formerly known as Thalang, or Cape Salang, Phuket is one of Thailand's southern provinces and the country's biggest island - just about the size of Singapore. But this I didn't find out until I arrived to the island one rainy afternoon via a very bumpy airplane ride.

Arrived on a rainy day

And just like any destination in the country, the arrival area is well-equipped with tourist's must-haves - maps, guides, information, Thailand is truly amazing!

The go-to man should you lose anything

All I know about Phuket is what I heard from others who made it there - it's busy, very busy and very, very busy, and it painted a picture of Pattaya in my mind. But the long ride from the airport to the opposite end of the island where Yashee lives dispelled my impression of the island. Phuket is h-u-g-e and the "busy" part was just in Patong City. It must have been the first area to boom in terms of tourism, where most of the region's income is derived from today.

Patong is the busiest spot in the province. But there is much more to Phuket than Patong.

Transportation -- a car or a motorbike -- is clearly needed to be able to navigate the big island and enjoy Phuket's sites. Here are the popular ones:

Two Heroines Monument in Amphoe Thalang. Built in honor of heroine sisters, Thao Thep Kasattri (Kunying Jan) and Thao Sri Sunthon (Mook), who successfully lead the islanders to repel Burmese invaders in 1785. Kunying Jan, after the death of her husband (and governor), and her sister, Mook, took the role of defense leaders and assembled what forces they had, cleverly disguising local women as male soldiers, to make it appear that Phuket's military manpower has increased.

Brave sisters honored

Thalang National Museum, near the Two Heroines Monument, was established in 1985, on the 200th anniversary of the Thalang War, The museum showcases a permanent exhibition of life in old Phuket, ancient artifacts, and materials used during war with Burma (Myanmar).

A glimpse of the old times inside the museum

View Point located midpoint between Nai Han and Kata beaches. This highpoint in the island will afford you of the scenic Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon beaches, as well as the Ko Pu Island across.

Breathtaking!

Laem Phromthep or the Phromthep Cape is a headland forming the extreme south end of Phuket. Its name is derived from "Phrom," Thai for the Hindu term "Brahma," signifying purity, and "Thep" Thai for “God.” The local villagers used to call it "Laem Chao," or the God's Cape.

Laem Phromthep aka God's Cape

The Big Buddha of Phuket, Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri or Ming Mongkol Buddha, at the peak of a mountain near Phuket Town. The 45 meter tall Buddha image is covered in white Burmese marble. Buddha, along with the rest of the temple, is still a work in progress.

The temple is still a work in progress

Wat Chalong is said to be the most important of the Buddhist temples in the province. It was erected in honor of two venerable monks, Luang Pho Chuang and Luang Pho Cham, who helped the injured of a tin miners rebellion in 1876.

Home to two venerable monks

Casa de Yashee F. Of course, you must personally know Yashee and be her friend to be able to step inside her exclusive parlor aka her residence. Luckily, her place is walking distance from a less touristy stretch of beach and this will be my home in Phuket.

The best place to be in the island

For more travel & lifestyle stories, visit http://jeepneyjinggoy.blogspot.com/ and http://apples-and-lemons.blogspot.com/

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on January 10, 2013.

Waking up to my first Gunma sunrise

Hello, Gunma! I had a good start on this leg of the Japanese adventure. A hearty welcome dinner, warm sake at a local bar, and a good night’s sleep in the first few hours in the prefecture. What a welcome. Plus, waking up to a beautiful sunrise promised more good times ahead in this stop after Tokyo.

Gunma was the center of horse breeding in its ancient past. Centuries later came the bullet trains, which made traveling across Japan and this prefecture quicker. From Tokyo, Gunma is just an hour's ride via the Shinkansen. It's not too far if you want to escape the busy city of Tokyo to delight in the verdant tranquility of nature. Perhaps take a refreshing dip in one of the many mineral-laced hot springs? Gunma is abundant with hot springs. In fact, the prefecture is known for its onsens.

Gunma is famous for its onsens

The hot springs are just one of nature's blessings. There are more. Gunma Prefecture is mountainous. Mt. Haruna, Mt. Akagi and Mt. Myogi, known as the "Three Famous Mountains of Jomo" (an old name for Gunma), the volcanic peak of Mt. Shirane, and the plateaus are outdoor sports and leisure destinations, be it golf, skiing, rafting, hiking, or cycling at any time of the year. It’s four seasons of fun in Gunma.

Gunma has its share of iconic water sites. The province is home to the iconic Yubatake, or "hot water field," the steaming centerpiece of Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. Pouring more than 4,000 liters of water per minute, Yubatake is one of Japan's most productive sources of acidic, mineral-rich hot spring water. The 2,160-meter summit of Mt. Shirane is where Lake Yugama resides. The vivid emerald green-colored crater lake has the highest acidity content in Japan, with water that dissolves iron.

Across Japan are temples and shrines, and Gunma prefecture has Ichinomiya Nukisaki Shrine, dedicated to deities of good luck and sericulture; the historic Myogi Shrine in Mt. Myogi features Edo-period buildings; and the 586-founded Haruna Shrine, dedicated to the gods of Water, Fire, and Agriculture, is in Mt. Haruna, one of the Three Mountains of Jōmō.

Yubatake, the "hot water field," spills 4437 liters of water per minute

Yugama Lake at the crater of Mt. Shirane contains the highest acidity content in its water in Japan

Another important figure in Gunma prefecture's landscape is the 1872-established Tomioka Silk Mill. Under the name Old Tomioka Silk Mill, it was designated as a National Historic Site in July 2005. A year later, in 2006, the main factory buildings were designated as Important Cultural Properties. In 2014, the "Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites," covering the locations of the Tomioka Silk Mill, Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm, Takayama-sha Sericulture School, and Arafune Cold Storage, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In love with Japanese food? In the Gunma prefecture, dig into udon noodles from Mizusawa, considered among Japan's best noodles. Don't decline an offer of the konnyakku, a traditional Japanese health food made from the corm of the konjac plant. It's low-calorie and high-fiber.

While digital photographs and memories can make for fabulous souvenirs, how about taking home a tangible keepsake and a lucky charm rolled into one? The Japanese Daruma dolls, the iconic good luck charm, originated in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, 200 years ago to help farmers. Today, the city produces about 80% of the dolls in Japan.

Take home a Daruma doll, it's a symbol of good luck & optimism

The local lore relates that a sage sat meditating for so long that his legs atrophied and fell off, thus the doll's oval shape. Because of the shape, the daruma dolls will usually rebound into an upright position when knocked off, which led to the daruma dolls becoming a symbol of optimism and persistence in the face of adversity.

Mountains, onsens, the food, and daruma dolls—Gunma Prefecture will capture the heart.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on November 24, 2011.