IN TRANSIT FROM BUTUAN TO BISLIG

Travel from Butuan to Bislig can either be by bus or by van and travel time is shorter by the latter, so our first option was to take the van.  Upon arriving at the terminal, the van was only a quarter filled and it must be full before it leaves.  It was already 1pm then and the barkers cannot commit a definite departure time.  We were anxious of travelling at night time so we transferred to a bus at Langihan Terminal.

Our bus was bound to leave for Mangagoy, Bislig at 2pm with expected arrival time at 7pm.  But before we left, we were contemplating whether to stay at Hinatuan for the Enchanted River or drop it for Bislig.  Well, we opted for the latter...  I just told myself that there is always a next time. 

I chose the front seat for a good shot of the sceneries along the highway.  The first of which was the Macapagal Bridge which I shared in my other blog.  Also, I want to trace our location against the map at hand.  

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AROUND BUTUAN CITY (PART II)

continued from AROUND BUTUAN CITY (PART I)

Lutong Bahay ni Aling Cora is a seafood dampa restaurant and is located just beside Gaisano mall.  One can choose from Tipid Meals of P49 to a “paluto” of your choice.

Among the delicacies served in the convention, my faves were the palagsing and salvaro.

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AROUND BUTUAN CITY (PART I)

I thought my adventure will wait for hubby’s arrival but on the second day, before the convention proper, I was invited by a group of PICPAns who’s staying also at Gloreto Hotel for a half-day tour around Butuan.  I learned that they had arranged for a multi-cab to bring us around for just P1100.

From Wikipilipinas: Butuan was the capital of Agusan del Norte until Year 2000 when Republic Act 8811 transferred the capital to Cabadbaran City.  Prior to the division of Agusan into Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur by virtue of RA 4979, Butuan is the capital of Agusan from 1911 to 1967.  It became a city in 1950 per RA523 as signed by President Elpidio Quirino.

With Butuan map as a guide, we were able to visit the following:

1.    Bood Promontory and Eco-park – we had a hard time locating the area as most of the locals is not aware of the “Bood Promontory” term, it was when we asked for “Ecopark” that they finally pointed us to the right direction.  The trip includes about 10-15 minutes of rough road and a short uphill drive.

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BALANGAY SITE MUSEUM

The Balangay Shrine Museum or Balangay Site Museum keeps the remnants of the earliest watercraft called “Balangay” or “Butuan Boat” which are large boats, built with wooden planks and pegs -- a National Cultural Treasure as declared through Presidential Proclamation No. 86.  

According to the tourism officer, balangay boats are usually made of dongon or sangilo wood, famous as hardwood but are floater wood at the same time.

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UNIQUELY VIETNAM

Well, for my Ho Chi Minh Vietnam trip, apart from what were written in my other blogs, here are my “personal’ take home notes based on my personal observations.

§  The conical hats that are still in use

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DAY 2 – THE CU CHI TUNNEL TOUR

We were referred yesterday by our hotel attendant to a tour operator for our Cu Chi Tunnel Tour.  Tours offered are either in big groups (in a bus) or small groups (in a van).  For this one, we chose the bus which costs only USD5 per head.  The fee covered the two-way transportation, the English speaking tour guide, a quick drop by to a lacquer workshop along the way, and complementary bottled water. 

From Wikitravel: Cu Chi Tunnels is located 40km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.  The tunnels are an elaborate underground community made up of 250km of tunnels and chambers below the city.  The tunnels were dug with simple tools and bare hands during the French occupation in the 1940’s and further expanded during the Vietnam War in 1960’s to provide refuge and a defensive advantage over the American Soldiers.  So despite all the bombings in South Vietnam, the Cu Chi people were able to continue their lives beneath the soil – where they slept, ate, wed, gave birth, planned attacks, healed their sick and taught their young.

We arrived at the tunnel past 11 in the morning after a 1-1/2 hour travel.  At the entrance, we were oriented with the rules, the restricted areas, and of course our time limit.

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DAY 2 – THE CU CHI TUNNEL TOUR

We were referred yesterday by our hotel attendant to a tour operator for our Cu Chi Tunnel Tour.  Tours offered are either in big groups (in a bus) or small groups (in a van).  For this one, we chose the bus which costs only USD5 per head.  The fee covered the two-way transportation, the English speaking tour guide, a quick drop by to a lacquer workshop along the way, and complementary bottled water. 

From Wikitravel: Cu Chi Tunnels is located 40km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.  The tunnels are an elaborate underground community made up of 250km of tunnels and chambers below the city.  The tunnels were dug with simple tools and bare hands during the French occupation in the 1940’s and further expanded during the Vietnam War in 1960’s to provide refuge and a defensive advantage over the American Soldiers.  So despite all the bombings in South Vietnam, the Cu Chi people were able to continue their lives beneath the soil – where they slept, ate, wed, gave birth, planned attacks, healed their sick and taught their young.

We arrived at the tunnel past 11 in the morning after a 1-1/2 hour travel.  At the entrance, we were oriented with the rules, the restricted areas, and of course our time limit.

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DAY 1 - AROUND HO CHI MINH CITY (PART II)

continuation from DAY 1 - AROUND HO CHI MINH CITY (PART I)

The Notre Dame Catheral

The Cathedral was finished in 1880 and was established by French colonists following the conquest of Cochinchina and Saigon.  It has two bell towers with a height of over 58 meters.  According to several online articles, initially it was called Saigon Church but in 1959, Bishop Phan Van held a ceremony to install the statue of Peaceful Notre Dame made with granite from Rome.  In 1962, after the Vatican anointed it as Saigon Chief Cathedral, it was called Saigon Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica.

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DAY 1 - AROUND HO CHI MINH CITY (PART I)

Ho Chi Minh City, previously called Saigon, was named after the Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader who led and established the communist-ruled Democratic Republic of Vietnam who defeated the French Union.  It used to be the capital of South Vietnam until the reunification of Vietnam in 1976.

The breakfast for the day officially marked my first foreign meal and since it was a buffet, I made the most of it particularly the coffee.  I tried several coffee mishmash and true enough, the aroma, the taste and the experience was truly one of a kind.  All credits to our lovely small hotel, the Saigon Sports Hotel which is now named Sen Hotel Saigon.  For best rates, check this link.

With tummies filled, we were ready for our itinerary of the day.  Actual rundown as follows:

10am – War Remnants Museum

12nn – Thien Hau Temple

2pm – late lunch

3pm – Lacquer Workshop

330pm – Reunification Palace

4pm – Notre Dame Cathedral

430pm – Central Post Office

6pm -- Pong Yang Water Puppet Show

730pm – dinner at Nha Hanh Ngon

830pm – Ben Thanh Market
 

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THE WAR REMNANTS MUSEUM

The War Remnants Museum is a three-storey building that houses collections of artilleries, armories, aircrafts, unexploded ordinances, bombs, tanks, pictures, etc.  It used to be called the “Exhibition House of US and Puppet Crimes”, and then renamed to “Exhibition House for Crimes of War and Aggression”, then finally “The War Remnants Museum” after the diplomatic relations with the US.

I was amazed by how they have preserved and valued the history despite the horror and fright that it caused in their lives.  As for them, the museum is a testament of how their elders fought for the future generation and for the young ones to value the life that they enjoy today --  it made them the proud Vietnamese of today.

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HO CHI MINH (SAIGON) VIETNAM TRIP

I was hesitant at first to blog about my foreign travels because I created this blog primarily to share our adventures as well as to help promote the beauty of THE PHILIPPINES... but after contemplating, here I am finally tipping my keys recounting my/our foreign escapades.

Vietnam was my first out-of-country experience and thanks to Cebu Pacific for offering promo fares.  The anxiety of being far from home worried of what might happen here and there were things that kept me jittering.  All the time, I kept praying for the Lord’s guidance and protection for myself and for my 3 kiddos and family that are all hoping for my safe return.

Well, for this trip being a first timer, I left all the researches and arrangements to my companions and I just went with the flow.  First lessons before boarding the plane as follows:  (a) pay travel tax of P1620, (b) terminal fee of P750; (c) fill-up departure card for the declaration of your travel details – where to stay, purpose of travel, duration, etc – to be surrendered to the PH immigration; then (d) go by the local immigration and pass their queries, if any.

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LOOKING BACK AT YEAR 2012

2012 in review

Climbed 10 mountains/hills, chased 10 waterfalls, chilled out in 5 beaches/resorts, wandered in 7 cities/provinces and travelled to hongkong, macau and shenzhen (almost)...

bunga falls  mt luho patar bolinao kalibo mt kalisungan

DAVAO puray falls 7 lakes of san pablo mt batulao cintai

mt humarap puerto galera butuan hinulugang taktak

mt dalugdul talipanan falls mt talamitam bislig

boracay tinuy-an falls MT ROMELO

pangasinan HONGKONG matabungka falls

taytay falls MACAU buruwisan falls sierra madre lucban

mt batolusong MT MANABU kilangin falls MT BALAGBAG

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