Kiha Beach, An Amazing Resort in Maldives

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If you’ve seen my previous article, I decided to feature Maldives. The Maldives have recently opened for tourism. A lot of tourist destinations were affected financially by this pandemic. So I decided to help feature tourist destinations and places where travelers could stay. 

Luckily, the management of Kiha Beach partnered with me to promote their luxury guest house. It is located on the western side of Dharavandhoo Island, Baa Atoll. Maldives is composed of atolls. What is an atoll? It is an island or a series of islets formed by ring shaped coral reefs that is surrounded by a lagoon. 

So let me tell you about this beautiful guesthouse in Maldives. They allowed me to use the images that they have so I can share with you this marvelous place for you to consider when you visit Maldives. Kiha Beach has an area of 60,000sq ft that can accommodate 30-40 guests at the same time. This place boasts a restaurant, a common lobby and reception for guests and an outdoor swimming pool.

As mentioned in my previous entry, some resorts and establishments do not sell alcoholic beverages for the reason that this resort is located on a local island where a local community can be found.

I personally recommend this place because it’s right within the budget even though it says that it’s a luxurious guesthouse. Just by looking at the pictures alone, you’d agree with me that it is indeed luxurious. But when I checked their rates based on contracted rates from 2020 to 2022, it ranges from $90 to $245 during off peak season, $120 to $230 during the peak season and $100 to $240 during the manta season; tax included. Not bad for travelers right? Of course, the higher rates are for family rooms. 

What are their room types?

  • Standard Room – Good for 1-2 persons with double or twin beds
  • Deluxe Room – Good for 1-2 persons with double or twin beds
  • Ultimate Room – Good for 1-2 persons with double bed
  • Family Room – Good for 2-3 persons with double and single bed

Please note that a green tax of $3 is charged per person per day. This is similar to environmental fees when we visit a conserved island or place to keep the environment clean and maintained.

If you want a hassle free booking, go to the link below for the best rates and pay with however you want. Can I also mention that their rooms are so big that you’ll be surprised for what you paid for? Seriously guys, I have been to resorts in other countries like Fiji but the rooms here are bigger and cost the same.

 

 

For kids aged up to 6 years old, they are free of charge in terms of accommodation (bed sharing) and meal depending on the chosen meal plan. They also have a mandatory New Year’s Supplementary dinner that costs $45 for adults and $25 for kids. A rate for an additional person for an extra bed is $15 per night and $18 per meal.

Transfers are definitely needed because you will travel from Male to Baa Atoll. Below are the rates for transfers:

Via Domestic Flight

  • Rate per adult (12 years old above): USD 175
  • Rate per kid (2 years old – 11.99): USD 85

Sector: Male to Dharavandhoo return Dharavandhoo to Male No. of Flight: 4-5 flights everyday with travel time: 20 minutes 

Things you must know for payments:

All rates are applicable for all prepaid bookings with reservation/booking. 50% down payment is required upon confirmation and the full cost to be settled before the guest’s arrival date. Payments are accepted in cash only. Please make sure that you have cash available when settling for the remaining balance.

Please take note of the bank account details for pre-payments:

USD ACCOUNT DETAILS

Company Name: Penions Maldives Pvt Ltd 

Bank Account Number: 7730000002438

Bank: BANK OF MALDIVES PLC

Swift Code (BIC) – MALBMVMV 

For cancellation or postponement, you must submit a written request 15 days prior to cancellation or postponement.

Do you think that Kiha Beach only offers accommodations? This hotel has so much to offer! They have activities offered and gears for rent to make the most of your Maldives travel experience.

Below are the price lists for diving and other activities:

Book your stay now!

 

Are You Ready To Visit Maldives?

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The Maldives is a country of islands in the Indian Ocean, that ranges across the equator. The nation is contained 1192 islands that stretch along a length of 871 kilometers. While the nation covers a zone of around 90,000 square kilometers, just 298 square kilometers of that is dry land. 

The country’s special topography entrances the guest.  The nation is contained 1192 islands that stretch along a length of 871 kilometers. Reefs that offer groups of shading, little gem like islands rimmed with the whitest of delicate sand encompassed by the most clear shallow waters that one can envision.Just 200 of the islands are occupied, and a limited handful on every one of the atolls are resorts and a portion of the islands are utilized for industry and agribusiness. The islands are assembled into a twofold chain of 26 atolls.

The magnificence of the Maldives isn’t just over the water. The Maldives is home to around five percent of the planet’s reefs that accompanies a blast of shading contributed by delicate and hard corals that structure them. The reefs are home to 1,000 types of fish. Baited by the rich supplements that stream in with the ebbs and flows, huge pelagic fishes, for example, manta beams and whale sharks additionally make the Maldives their home.

Check out this amazing video of the Maldives and plan your next trip to Maldives.

Since reopening, Maldives welcomed 100,000 tourists. It took a stab in tourism and experienced a huge decline in the number of travelers visiting the nation caused by COVID-19. Backpacking is now again possible when traveling to Maldives. Interacting with the locals, experiencing the culture and island-hopping is possible but with precautionary measures.

Local hotels are now operating to welcome guests and tourists. So instead of staying at luxurious hotels, go for a low budget travel. This is the perfect time to help small businesses get back on their feet and recover from financial losses brought by the pandemic. 

 

Use local ferries and staying at guest houses in local islands will not only help offer you a low-budget travel but you will also be experience an authentic and culture-rich life of the locals in Maldives.

Some helpful information about the Maldives before visiting:

  • Maldives is a Muslim nation. The are designated swimming areas for those in bikinis. Let’s respect that.
  • Alcohol is only available at resorts that a licensed to sell alcohol. So don’t try to sneak in alcohol or it will just be confiscated.
  • Dry season is between November and April while wet season is between May and October. If you’re up for bigger waves and like to surf, visit during the wet season. It’s also cheaper to travel during the off peak season.
  • Use public ferries to save money for trips from one island to another. 

At the moment, I have no information if you can arrange for private boats of local fishermen to take you to nearby islands and sandbars. It’s best that you arrange this with the people at the guesthouse. Other than Fiji, Maldives is one of my dream destinations too. I will post more information about Maldives regarding the latest updates on tourism. Ugh! I can’t wait to travel soon! Meanwhile, I will coordinate with travel guides in Maldives to help you.

Cheese dela Cruz

3 Day Itinerary in Thailand

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 This post contains affiliate links which I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. This commission will help me raise funds to give back to the community as this is the purpose of this website.

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Sawadee ka! This is my second blog about Thailand. Recently, I wrote about 14 Things To Know Before Visiting Thailand. This time, I’m writing about the places we visited when we went there a few months ago.

Here is our itinerary when we visited Thailand.

Day 1:

We arrived at the airport at 3:30 in the morning, Thailand time. Don’t forget to echange your money to Thai Baht! I recommend that you look for that forex which is the first one you will see after you’ve exited the arrival area. They have the best rates and their signage is in green color.

We claimed the travel sim that we bought through Klook and booked a car via Grab to take us to our hotel. Since we arrived too early, we went to 7 Eleven to buy food for breakfast. We went back to the hotel and ate our breakfast. We decided to leave our luggages at the reception area so we could start our tour early.

As a first time user of Grab there, I was surprised with the promos and discounts available when booking a ride. Of course, we took advantage of the discounts and headed to our first destination.

  • Wat Arun is the first temple we visited. We had our pictures taken wearing traditional Thai costumes. The rate was 100THB per person. The entrance fee is 50THB.

  • We took a ferry to cross the river which costs 4THB per person to get to our next destination. The ride was really quick since we were just crossing the river. It’s funny that you can actually swim across the river had it been allowed and if river is clean.

  • Since there were four of us, it didn’t hurt our pockets to experience a tuktuk ride. We paid 25THB per person to take us to our next destination which is the Grand Palace. The gate entrance was too far and hurt our feet. The fee to enter costs 500THB.
  • Across the street is where Wat Phra Chetupon and Wat Pho Reclining Buddha are located. It has an entrance fee of 200THB.

  • After an exhausting walk, we rested for a bit and went to MBK Center. It’s an airconditioned commercial center where you can buy goods and other things that you can also see at night markets and other bazaars.
  • Talad Rot Fai Market Ratchada. It’s one of the biggest night markets in Bangkok with so may stuff to buy and street food to choose from. Of course, we didn’t miss the pad thai and mango sticky rice lol. We didn’t try the insects hahaha!

Day 2:

  • We dropped by Erawan Shrine first to offer prayers. For 30THB, we got a set of garlands, incense and candles to e offered to the 4 faced buddha. I will come back to say my gratitude once my prayers are answered.

  • It’s the weekend! We checked out Chatuchak Weekend Market. It was too big and the prices of the items being sold are cheap. There are lots of food to eat as well that’s why we decided to have lunch here.

  • Madame Tussauds Wax Musseum. It’s inside Siam Discovery. We bought our tickets at a discounted price through Klook. I recommend that you download the app as you can get better prices here.

Day 3:

  • We rode the bus going to Pattaya. We agreed to stay there overnight to experience the beach and see other parts of Thailand. It was a smooth 2 hour ride going there. We checked in and ate lunch near the beach. The lady who owns the coffee shop was very nice and offered drive for us to The Sanctuary of Truth. If you are a fan of Money Heist, you will definitely not skip this place. The intricate design is truly captivating. I’d like you to see it with your own eyes.

  • Our next stop was the Colosseum Cabaret Show. The show was about an hour. The performers were amazing. I recommend that you watch a cabaret show in Thailand. I think I shared a picture of the show on my previous blog. I’d leave you curious about the show hehe.

I hope you learned somethingaout our trip. Actually, there are more places to visit. Mostly aren’t for free and can be really time consuming. If you want to see it all, stay in Thailand for a few days more.

 

 

 

Cheese dela Cruz

14 Things To Know Before Visiting Thailand

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This post contains affiliate links which I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. This commission will help me raise funds to give back to the community as this is the purpose of this website.

I recently visited Thailand and went to see Bangkok and Pattaya. One thing that I can say that’s different from my home country is of course, the churches. Instead of churches, they have temples. The facade of each temple is so unique. 94.5% of the Thais are Buddhist. But I am not going to talk about their religion lol. I am here to share information that may help you before traveling to Thailand.

I haven’t gone to all provinces of Thailand so let’s just focus on Bangkok and Pattaya. Here are some things that you must know before going to Thailand. Hopefully, I can visit Phuket soon.

  • Buy a travel sim at the airport. It is best that you have a spare phone to use for wifi connection. There are sim cards that you can use depending on the days of your stay in Thailand. It can also be used in any part of country so there is nothing to worry about. You can also use it when booking a ride via Grab. We booked a ride from the airport going to the center of Bangkok as it is cheaper than the airport shuttles or vans most especially when you are arriving in the middle of the night.

  • Temple visits are not free. You can actually visit 5 temples in one day. The entrance fees can range from 50-500 Thai Baht. What’s common in the temples are the Buddhas in different positions. Some are standing, sitting or reclining. The intricate designs of the temples are making each attractive. But if you are not a fan of temples and Buddhas, I suggest that you try to visit at least one. In visiting 5 temples, prepare to spend 1000 Thai Baht.

  • Wear comfortable but not revealing clothes. In respect to their religion, never wear short shorts and tops that bare more skin. It is a temple and not a tourist spot after all. It is hot in Thailand, but make sure to wear pants, sarong and sleeved shirts. Flats are your great friends because it’s a long and tiring walk. There are shops outside the temples where you can buy boho pants and sarong but in order to save money, better bring comfortable pants on your travel.
  • Book hotels near the river side. All the great happenings and places of interests are mostly located near the river side. If you are saving some money for the transportation and you are okay with walking, there are plenty of clean and good hotels, dorms and hostels with breakfast around this area. The temples, the weekend market, night markets, commercial areas and bars are located nearby. Not only that you save money, include time and energy too.

  • Don’t negotiate for the fare before riding the taxi. Download Grab app as another option. I was told by a local not to ride a cab if the driver does not use the meter. To avoid this, just get on the cab and tell the driver where you are going. Do not give them the opportunity to negotiate for the price. Let them use the meter. If they didn’t, just get off and find another one. Better yet, book a ride via Grab. If you are in a group of 4, the sedan will be good enough for you. It is safe and you will immediately know the price just like when you’re booking a ride through Uber or Lyft. Uber is no longer available in Thailand. Fare in Pattaya is much higher than in Bangkok.

  • Never make disrespectful comments about the royal family. It is common to see photos of the family around the country and it is highly discouraged to comment about them most especially if you are not going to say something nice at all. They give high respect to the royal family. Better not say anything about it when you see one. You’ll get used to it anyway.
  • Never touch the monks you see walking around. It is said that they are divine and that touching them will lose their divinity when a woman touches a monk. So keep your distance from them as much as possible. Not exactly avoid them, but best not to be in contact with them.
  • Don’t miss a chance to visit night markets and the weekend market. Not only that it is fun to look around and buy stuff at night markets, you will also enjoy a variety of foods like insects, exotic foods, Thai foods and so much more. This is another exhausting thing to do so make sure that you are well rested before going to one. The weekend market is also a must to see place in Thailand. Chatuchak weekend market is the best place to buy thai products. What you see in night markets are also available there. It is also easier to haggle at Chatuchak than night markets.

  • Ditch floating makets if you aren’t buying anything there. It is kind of expensive to add this to your itinerary. When you ride a boat, usually the boatman will not leave a certain store until you buy something. This is not included in the cost of the trip. But if you plan to experience it though, there is nothing wrong to see one of their floating markets.

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  • Always bring a small trash bag. I’ve noticed that there aren’t plenty of trash bins so it’s est that you keep your trash first and just dispose it when you get back to the hotel or when you’re lucky to find one.
  • Always find hotels near the beach when going to places like Pattaya so you don’t have to pay extra just to go to the beach. It’s always comfortable and efficient to stay near the beach. Since transportation is more expensive otuside Bangkok, it is best to just stay at hotels near the beach. It is also nice to drink at night along the shore with friends and meet new people too.
  • Never miss a cabaret show. Your travel will not be complete if you mised this opportunity. Be amazed with the amazing talent of drag queens as they dance and showcase different talents during the show. There are plenty of places to choose from and the prices vary. But it’s worth paying for so, check it out!

  • Convenience stores have the same price as the grocery stores. If you need to buy snacks or anything, 7 Eleven sells items for the same price. The stores are everywhere so it’s easy to buy stuff when you need it. When you go to the grocery, bring a grocery bag because they do not provide bags for the stuff you bought. They encourage people to bring their own bags which is actually good to not use plastic and paper bags.
  • Always wear a smile. Thais are used to foreigners but, they love it when they meet people from a other countries who are also friendly. They will also help you learn some basic Thai phrases and greetings. They will also give you a crash course about Thailand if you are being friendly with them. 🙂

Having a little fun with my friends while in Thailand. To be honest, we’re amazed with how they talk and we struggled to copy their accent. It’s really wonderful how different nations speak different languages and are still able to connect and communicate.

Friends, I hope you find this information helpful. Apologies if it took a while for me to add another post. I recently posted safety traveling tips to prevent sickness during your travel. Don’t forget to read it as it is important to stay healthy when you are not home.

Traveling to the Philippines in August, Yay or Nay?

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is post contains affiliate links which I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. This commission will help me raise funds to give back to the community as this is the purpose of this website.

Hey ya! It’s great to be back! I missed posting some of my recent travels here in the Philippines. Because I was busy lately and I have other priorities at the moment, I haven’t really considered traveling abroad. Recently, I went out with some friends. I must tell you that it was an adventure of a lifetime. If you’re a traveler you’ll understand where I’m coming from with this article. In the Philippines, they say that August is not usually the best time to travel, make decisions, get married and so on. Reason being is that, August has the most unpredictable weather all throughout the year. Sometimes it rains, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s also a superstitious belief here that making decisions in the month of August may affect your future.

So, is it really a good time to travel the Philippines and hit the beaches in August? The answer is yes and no. I have done so many travels during the month of August. Usually, the tickets are also very cheap because of you know what lol! It’s the off peak season because of the unpredictable weather. It’s also the time when you will need a lot of patience at the airport due to cancelled and delayed flights.

A few weeks ago, I went to Bataan with some friends. We booked our stay through Agoda to experience glamping at Playa La Caleta. We were so excited to go there however, we have to travel by boat in order to reach the resort. The resort staff informed us that the resort was closed for the weekend due to the bad weather and that no boatman would want to travel because the waves were 4 meters high. We totally get it. No beach. No glamping.  What a bummer! But…because we love to travel, we still went to Bataan and decided to stay at a different resort with no boat travel required.

Before heading to the resort, we first went to the market to buy food. We were so amazed with the public market because it’s clean, organized and they accept debit card payments. Wow! It’s the first time we’ve seen a market like that. Unfortunately we didn’t experience using our debit cards as we have our cash. It was still raining and we thought that creating videos for our trip would be really fun since we couldn’t do anything at the moment.

Feel free to watch the video we created to entertain us and take away boredom lol.

After going to the market, we went back to the terminal and rode another public transport going to Bagac, Bataan. Finally! Bagac! We rode a tricycle and agreed to pay 100 Pesos per head to get to the resort. We weren’t expecting that the resort was a bit far. There were roads that we need to get off the trike and hike because it was too steep and slippery. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our travel even though it was raining and we couldn’t swim. We just ate, drank and laughed the whole time.

To be honest, the bad weather made us bond more! So if you are going to ask if it’s okay to travel in August in the Philippines – I’d still say yes and no. No because it can be dangerous most especially if you are traveling to mountainous areas as it’s prone to land slide and beaches that have big ocean waves. Yes because you can have a perfect time with friends and do crazy stuff together. Keep in mind that you need to know the condition of the place first for your safety.

By the way, here’s the list of our expenses during our trip per pax:

  • Bus from Genesis Cubao, Quezon City to Balanga, Bataan: 217Php
  • Tricycle to the public market and back to the terminal: 20Php
  • Food (seafoods, meat, vegetables, chips, liquor, water, ice, charcoal and soda): 500Php (includes lunch, dinner, breakfast and appetizers)
  • Public transport to Bagac, Bataan: 48Php
  • Tricycle going to the resort: 100Php
  • Overnight stay at the resort: 643Php
  • Tricycle going back to Bagac Terminal: 100
  • Public transport to Balanga, Bataan: 48Php
  • Bus from Genesis Balanga to Pasay terminal: 229Php

Total budget is 1905 for everything per person. There were 7 of us who traveled and we were stuffed with shrimps, crabs, grilled meat and so much more! That’s $40 USD for everything!!! You can spend less if you plan to spend less on food.:)

 

Bali: 4-Day Itinerary

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This post contains affiliate links which I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. This commission will help me raise funds to give back to the community as this is the purpose of this website.


Plane tickets were bought immediately to my excitement upon learning from my friend that there was a seat sale. Bali is one of my dream destinations.


The day we arrived at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport was indeed a great day since it was bright and sunny with no alert about the volcano erupting soon. We immediately checked in and freshened up to prepare for lunch and sightseeing.

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So, here’s our 4 day itenerary to help you with your tour in Bali:

Day 1:

  • Lunch at Kedunganan, Jimabaran – They call it a fishing village. If you head to Bali, welcome yourself with fresh catch seafood. A visit to the seafood market is a must try. We haggled for shrimps and fish that’s enough for the two of us. I must say that the seafood are cheap but fresh. They also have sharks if you’d like to try it. After buying our food for lunch, we approached a shoreline store that offers cooking and grilling services. We bought fresh coconuts while waiting for our food. We both had a delightful lunch!

 

  • GWK Cultural Park – After lunch, we headed back to the hotel and rested for a bit.  We walked a few good minutes to get to the bus station after the hotel staff gave us the direction. Big statues and people in costumes welcomed the tourists. The place is really big and showcased the culture of Bali. Wearing sarong is a must before getting in. It’s paying respect to the place.

  • Uluwatu Temple – After visiting GWK, we rode a taxi going to this majectic temple. Of course we have to wear sarong again as this is a sacred place to the people in Bali. They call it Pura Luhur Uluwatu. It’s a long walk but the view of the ocean was awesome. There were monkeys around and when we got there, it was time for prayer. We also saw a group of men who were playing brass musical instruments.

  • Kelan Tuban, Jimbaran – Dinner time! So we headed back to the fishing village. We had dinner again and watched a cultural dance and experienced lighting a floating lantern. The dinner was sumptuous! I had a cold Bintang beer while we’re having dinner by the beach. It’s a stretch of seafood restaurants and the people are very accommodating. The restaurant staff helped us get a taxi back to the hotel.

Day 2:

  • Sari Wisata Budaya Barong and Kris Dance – prior to heading to Bali, I’ve made arrangements with one of the locals to tour us. His name is Made Rudi. A very nice guy who toured us, shared interesting stuff about the culture, the place, the locals, and taught us some Indonesian words. We had so much tie with Made Rudi and let us chose the places that we’d like to visit. This guy was very helpful and organized. He brought us to this show and enjoyed the Barong and Kris dance. It’s one of the cultural shows you must see when you visit Bali.

  • Tegenungan Waterfalls – Then he took us to Tegenungan waterfalls. It’s another tourist destination. There’s a path going to the falls and you’ll see a lot of tourist swimming near the falls. This place is located at Kemenuh, Sukawati. It’s a two-tiered falls where the biggest is at the bottom.

  • Lumbung Sari Coffee Luwak – After the visit to the waterfalls, he brought us to Lumbung Sari to experience Luwak Coffee. The friendly staff and brought us diffferent variants of tea and coffee as samples to try and toured afterwards. We bought coffee to bring home since it was good to share the great tasting coffee with family and friends.

  • Polo Ralph Lauren Outlet – Because my friend and I were so quick with the tour, we had plenty of time and Made Rudi decided to take us to the outlet for some shopping. I bought a cap since it was hot. The items being sold are really cheap. They even offer free coffee and juice for shoppers and sell Balinese products too!
  • Warung – It was time for lunch and our guide took us to a nice warung which is a roadside diner in Bali. You will find warung at different places where you can eat a very low price. We ordered ribs and homemade ice cream to cool us since it’s a hot sunny day. Made Rudi really knows how to treat his clients really well. He brought us to amazing and must see places in Bali.

  • Goa Gajah – After a satisfying lunch, he brought us to Goa Gajah. It’s another temple beside the rest house of their previous leader. This is located at Gianyar. I must say that all the places of interest in Bali are pretty huge and you have to have strong legs for long walks. There you will see different statues and sculptures. It’s Instagram worthy my friends!

  • Pura Tirtha Empul – We then visited Pura Tirtha where the precious water can be located. You must wear proper attire before entering and experience the blessing of this holy water. No swimming allowed.

  • Tegalang Rice Terraces – This is in Ubud Bali. It’s time for us to head back to Jimbaran. We took a stop at the rice terraces and tooks some pictures. It was a bit rainy and muddy so we decided not to walk around the terraces. We took pictures of the view and said hello to oher travelers.

  • Ketut’s Place – According to Made Rudi, there was a shot from Eat, Pray, Love movie that was taken here. I’m not sure if that was the scene where Julia Roberts was getting some advice from an elder. Again, I am not sure, but the place is really amazing. It has small temples, room for travelers and a pool for guests.

  • Ubud Palace – Since we’re already in Ubud, aside from rice fields, you will find Puri Saren Agung here. It’s in the middle of the busy commercialized part of Ubud. There are plenty of restaurants around and we also found a big store where we bought souvenirs at a very low price. They accept credit cards too!

  • Bebek Teba Sari – If you visit Bali, make sure you drop by this restaurant. It’s a relaxing place. It may look expensive but the food is right within the budget. We were so satisfied with our tour that we insist Made Rudi to join us for dinner. There floating huts where your food will be served. While waiting, we watched a live band playing some soothing music.

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Day 3:

  • Pura Taman Ayun – Temples are the places you will mostly see and visit in Bali other than the beach. They may all look the same but they have different branding. This one has the worship area in the middle of the field.
  • Ulun Dalu Temple – It’s our way up to the mountains. We headed to Bedugul to find these temples over the lake. It’s packed with so many tourists. You can also rent a boat nd tour the lake.

  • Alas Kedaton Temple – I’d like to experience feeding the monkeys so we decided to visit this temple where you will have close encounter with the monkeys. I had fun taking picture of the monkeys and fed them with peanuts.

  • Tanah Lot – It’s 4 in the afternoon and we haven’t checked in to our next hotel. But we have to take advantage of the tour and visit the places that we can possibly see. We went to the most talked about Tanah Lot Temple. The Pura Batu Bolong is where you can watch the sunset. Before high tide, you can walk along the shores and take a picture of the temple built on one of the rocks. Be ready for long walks too.


Day 4:

  • Seminyak Beach – It’s a busy place. Surf boarding lessons are offered here. You can rent beach umbrellas where you have a table to place your stuff, have some beer by the beach and sun bathe. It’s not good for swimming though because of the strong waves.
  • Black Bird Tattoo Studio – My friend and I agreed to get a tattoo in Bali. We visited a tattoo shop operated by Mank Ox. I must say that I was really happy with the ink I got.
  • Beachwalk Mall – For dinner, we went to Beachwalk Mall to meet another solo traveler from Israel. She just got from Australia and plan to stay in Bali for a month. We had fun talking and sharing our experiences in Bali.


Our Bali experience was really great. It actually felt short as we wanted to see other places in Bali. I had a great time meeting new people and learning the culture. If you’d like to have a tour at a very low price, contact Made Rudi. You will find him on Facebook as I Made Rudi. I think I only paid him a little less than $100 for the two days that we drove around Bali. Gas, bottled water, educational tour, driver and airconditioned mini van are included in the price.

If you plan to stay longer in Bali, you can also rent a motorcycle to visit nearby places too!


Top 5 Reasons Why Bali Is One Of Best Destinations

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This post contains affiliate links which I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. This commission will help me raise funds to give back to the community as this is the purpose of this website.

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Visiting Bali is in my bucket list. I just know that I really want to see Bali. I mean, who wouldn’t? Just by looking at the pictures of the temples and the Bali-inspired architecture and design, you’d definitely want to experience it in a lifetime.  I got a promo flight going to Bali. I immediately took my credit card to book that flight to Bali. I started looking around the web to learn more about Bali and it got me interested more about this lovely place.

Bali has a lot to offer. But I think my reasons are enough and would encompass all other reasons that I could think of.


  1. The place is incredible! I enjoy looking at the facade of the temples and the houses. I am a sucker for great designs and Bali has it all. If I were to build my own house, I’d love to use Bali as my inspiration. It’s also great for backpackers, family vacations and honeymooners.
  2. It is not expensive to stay in Bali. The hotels aren’t expensive too! There are plenty of accommodations to choose from and you won’t regret staying at any of those because everything in Bali is beautiful. The souvenirs, food and other produce aren’t expensive. In fact, it’s alo easy to haggle for a lower price when you buy.
  3. The place is rich in culture. It’s not all about Buddhas and temples. Each temple has its unique identity. At Tanah Lot for example, the place is too big and you will see pleople playing instruments made of brass. Another temple showcases temples that are situated above the water and a temple where there is a holy spring where you can get yourself wet to be blessed. Aside from the temples, they boast of their products too. I remember visiting a coffee farm and experienced Luwak Coffee.
  4. Bali is not polluted as you think. I can guarantee that the air is clean. Yes, there may be a lot of motorcycles and cars but since there aren’t industrial companies and they don’t allow tall building being built,  it keeps the air clean. That is why it’s not so hot in Bali during the day.
  5. The beaches are amazing! There are plenty of beaches to choose from. Seminyak is one of the popular destinations to sun bathe, bar hop and watch surfers. There are surfing lessons too! Jimbaran on the other hand is a long stretch of white powdery shore where you can enjoy fresh catch seafood cooked for you. There are restaurants and a wet market where you can buy your own and ask the restaurants nearby to cook it for you. Nusa Dua beach is perfect for families. It’s a little expensinve than staying in Seminyak but the beach is great for families and it’s a bit secluded if you want some privacy. I can talk about the beaches in Bali but I’d rather save it for your next trip. Most of the beaches are great spots for surfers because of the big waves. There’s one that has less waves which is Nusa Lembongan. It’s a 30 minute boat ride but the place is worth seeing. Expect that this is quieter than other beaches in Bali.


What’s There To Love In Kota Kinabalu

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If you plan to travel South East Asia, add Kota Kinabalu to your list. It’s not in Kuala Lumpur. It’s near Borneo. What I love about the place is that there’s so much to see. On my previous article, The Simplicity and Beauty of Kota Kinabalu, I talked about the places that you can visit within a day. Now, it’s time to travel a bit farther. Because Grab Car is available in Kota Kinabalu, all need is to have data on your phone to book your ride. This is the easiest way to travel around Kota Kinabalu. But I must tell you that traveling with the locals is much better. There is a bus which will take you to the places like the floating mosque, the museums and the building that may seem to have no foundation. I’m not into climbing mountains because of my plantar fasciitis so, I ill just talk about the places outside the busy area of the city.

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Let me take you to the Floating Mosque. If you want to get inside, wear decent clothes. When I say decent, it has to be according to their standards. You have to be fully covered. But, I suggest that you don’t go inside the mosque. It’s just a way to respect the Muslims and their religion. It’s a place of worship and not a tourist spot. But it would be good to see the mosque as it looks really amazing.

The Manjid Bergaya is the floating mosque in Kota Kinabalu. It’s on Jalan Pasir. You can either take the bus to go her but would have to take a walk to get to the mosque or you ak a taxi so that it will  save you a few steps to walk from the bus stop.

Next one is the Menara Tun Mustapha is on Jalan Tunku Abdul Raman. I traveled North of Sabah via the mini bus. It was so easy for me to travel because most of them can speak Filipino. But they can also speak English too. This is the building with no pillars. It’s one of the places that you really need to see.

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After seeing the building, I went to Puh Toh Si Temple. You can take the van at the corner of Jalan Pasir going to Kudat and Inanam. It’s a Chinese temple where you can find big statues.


After seeing the places at the northern area of Sabah, I went to the southern part. After all, I still have time. I decided to go to the Sabah State Museum or Muzium Sabah. It’s where I learned more about the history of Sabah. A lot of interesting facts and information about Sabah can be found there.  It’s a big place and my feet got so tired so I decided to go back to the city central and visit the Filipino Market.

My last stop…the night seafood market on Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens. This is what I highly recommend if you visit KK.

 

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The Simplicity and Beauty of Kota Kinabalu

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This post contains affiliate links which I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. This commission will help me raise funds to give back to the community as this is the purpose of this website.

Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah, Malaysia. For those traveling Kota Kinabalu for the first time, Philippines and Malaysia share a great history about Sabah. There’s a territorial dispute over Sabah between the Philippines and Malaysia. But overall, I must say that this has not affected the tourism and the relationship of both countries. When I first came to Kota Kinabalu, I felt at home. It was no different from the Muslim provinces in the Philippines. In fact, most of them know how to speak Filipino. They still trade goods and have strong business partnerships with the nearby islands in the Philippines.

Kota Kinabalu is very organized when it comes to tourism. It is also clean and quiet. People are so organized that even the public transportation is not confusing at all. Whether you take a bus, van or a taxi, you will never get lost. I got the chance to walk at night and check out the bars where I can drink a cold bottle of beer and never got scared. The people mind their own business. I’ve seen a group of people owning luxury cars who hang out along the side streets eating Durian fruit that they bought from street vendors. That’s how simple they are. I have not seen people bragging whatever they have. It seemed like they are not after status quo.

Kota Kinabalu is famous for Mount Kinabalu. Most of the travelers are mountaineers. It ‘s very common to see travelers on their usual backpacks and climbing gears. But there’s so much to see in Kota Kinabalu.

Here’s the Atkinson’s Clock Tower.  This can be found at the foot of the Signal Hill Observatory. This is the only structure that survived during the World War II. This tower commemorates the first district official of Kota Kinabalu (KK), Francis George Atkinson.

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Signal Hill Observatory. It’s a long walk from the clock tower so I suggest that you ride a taxi. From the observatory hill, you will see the city ok Kota Kinabalu. A few walks from the observatory hill, there’s a path going down which will take you back to the city. It’s worth trying. Aside from not paying for a ride, it’s a great exercise too. It has stairs surrounded by trees and different plants.

 

One street that you shouldn’t miss is the Jalan Gaya. On Sundays, the street is closed forthe Sunday market. There you will find almost anything from souvenirs, food, fruits and different items that you will definitely love.  It’s open from 6:30AM to 1:00PM.  Along the street are the Old Town Coffee and Fook Yuen Restaurants. Grab your breakfast there and you surely will be stuffed! For less than $6 USD, you’ll be totally satisfied with the food.

Take a tour of the neighboring islands. Go to the Jesselton Point and hop on a Jetty. In half a day, you can visit 3 islands. PulauMamutik PulauManukan and PulauSapi . These islands are stunning. Bring snacks and light meals if you prefer not to eat lunch on the island. The food on the island is a bit pricey. Even snacks on the island are pricey.

Of course, don’t miss the seafood market at night. Enjoy different freshly catched seafood. You get to choose the size of the shrimp, fish or even lobsters that you’ll buy and they will cook it for you. The place may look like a wet market but you’ll be surprised that there are flies around the area. The place is still clean and you will experience the Malaysian way of eating. You will be served with a pot of luke warm water to clean your hands before you eat. They love spicy foods. But you have the options of not getting the spicy sauce.

On my next article, I will talk about more places around Kota Kinabalu. These places I’ve mentioned are just within the center of the city which you can visit without having to take the bus or take long rides. I did these things in one day!

Top 7 Tourist Attractions in Dumaguete

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The Cheapest Round-trip Tickets from Manila to Dumaguete

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First of all, let me tell you that Dumaguete is the main town or the capital of Negros Oriental. If you plan to go to the Philippines, you should also consider visiting Dumaguete. The beach may not be as white as compared to other beaches in the Visayas region but many travelers and foreigners love to stay here. Not only that it’s one boat away from Cebu, Siquijor and so many other places but, Dumaguete is a place of very nice people that’s why it’s called, “The city of gentle people.” In 4 days, without really rushing your travel, you can actually visit the places that I highly recommend that you must see.

Consider traveling in the morning so that, all you need to do is to get settled, and roam around the city and experience night life in the evening. Drinks and food are cheap in Dumaguete. They don’t overprice even though there are many foreigners in the place.

Here are the tourist attractions that I’d like to talk about:

Dumaguete City. Yes, the city is an attraction itself. It’s not so difficult to travel because there are plenty of tricycles and will only charge you of the minimum fare. The farthest I’ve been to within the city had me pay for only 10 Philippine Pesos. That’s just cents for foreign currency. It’s a public transport and it’s up to you if you’d like to have a little chat with other passengers. The tricycle can fit up to 6 passengers lol! In Dumaguete, consider visiting these places:

Hotels DUMAGUETE: Popularity

HotelStarsDiscountPrice before and discountSelect dates
Henia Hotel★★--View Hotel
The Flying Fish Hostel--View Hotel
Florentina Homes★★--View Hotel
Dumaguete Royal Suite Inn--View Hotel
Hotel Essencia- Multiple Use Hotel★★★--View Hotel
La Fusion Garden Resort--View Hotel
Plaza Maria Luisa Suites Inn--View Hotel
Hotel Palwa--View Hotel
Obdulia's Business Inn--View Hotel
Check Inn Dumaguete--View Hotel
Gabbys Bed and Breakfast★★--View Hotel
Dumaguete Springs Apartment--View Hotel
Casa Margaritha★★★--View Hotel
Victoria's Haven★★★--View Hotel
ZEN Rooms Basic White Knights Dumaguete--View Hotel
Amazi Homestay-Dumaguete--View Hotel
Anabelle Residence--View Hotel
Star View Boutique Resort★★★★--View Hotel
Anabelle Residence--View Hotel
OYO 567 Blue Horizon Hostel--View Hotel

Silliman University Anthropology Museum – here you will find collections of ethnological and archaeological artifacts. This is open for public viewing from Mondays – Saturdays. There is an admission fee of $2 USD. 

Rizal Boulevard – it’s just nice to relax and observe the people strolling along the boulevard. Here you can find different kinds of street food at a very low price and some foreigners selling their own crafts. There are times that some events happen here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bell Tower – the bell tower is right beside the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Dumaguete City. Campanario de Dumaguete is the oldest belfry in the Visayas. It’s nice to visit the place at night where you can see all the candles placed by devotees and visitors. You can even go up the tower if you wish. There is no charge for visiting this tower. It’s open to everyone everyday. But you have to buy your own candles of course. They say that your wish will come true if it’s your first time to visit. I say, there’s no harm in trying. 🙂

If you love to eat sweets, I recommend that you try the silvannas and sans rival at Sans Rival. Many people go to this cafe. It’s famous for their cakes and pastries. I personally recommend Sans Rival because the foods that they serve are highly recommended! They don’t just sell pastries and cakes, they also serve great coffee, pasta and so much more.

If you don’t believe me that they really make good tasting silvannas and sans rival, just look at this fridge. It’s the fridge in the AirBNB unit when we visited Dumaguete last December of 2018. My workmates and I bought a lot of silvannas to bring home to our families. We even had to go back to buy more. This actually became our problem when it was time to fly back home because we had to pack all these and checked in.

 

Dumaguete night life – I definitely recommend Hayahay Tree House Bar and View Deck. I met the owner when I first went there. Sande was really nice and accommodating. I always recommend this place to anyone I know who plan to visit Dumaguete. The price per serving is cheap but with great quality. They also serve brick oven pizza, have reggae nights where you can jam with the performers and just party all night!

Philippines is so famous for Red Horse. In Dumaguete, you will always see the happy horse. A lot of people say that it’s stronger than the typical Red Horse. Although I couldn’t remember if it was that strong because I was busy partying all night.

The performers in action when I visited Hayahay. These guys are so nice and I have made friends with the band and partied with them all night.

We haven’t talked about the other places. But don’t get bored. I’m about to share more about Dumaguete.

Now, let me share with you the places around Dumaguete City. I’d like to tell you more about Dauin. It’s about an hour travel from Dumaguete.

Apo Island – If you want to swim with the turtles, this is a good spot. The boat ride is kind of pricey but if you’re patient enough to wait for other passengers, you can just join them so that you don’t have to pay for the boat ride all by yourself. As a traveler, you have to be creative and must learn how to socialize to save money. Luckily, since there were 8 of us traveling to Apo Island which is a 30 minute rough boat ride because it was windy at that time, we took the boat with a capacity of 10 passengers. Another Chinese solo traveler joined us and we paid 550 each for the boat ride and the environmental fee. That’s about $10 USD. The rate varies if you choose between day tour and overight stay. Snorkeling and diving are the activities that you can expect here. We brought food for lunch and rented a table for $6 USD. That’s where we stayed most of the time because it was too hot when we got there. The view is breathtaking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Valencia – Forest Camp is a must see place in Valencia. If you know how to ride a motorcycle or a scooter, you’ll surely find this place. It’s so easy to rent a motorcycle in Dumaguete. Or you could rent an “easy ride” as what the people in Dumaguete call it. These are small multipurpose vans. We got to rent one for $120 USD for 2 days when we went there (gas and driver included). Each of us only paid about $14 USD for the two days that we checked out these tourist attractions. We paid $2.50 USD for the entrance fee when we went to Forest Camp. The place is great for relaxing and I think, it’s also a good place to write if you’re a writer. It’s a bit far from the busy places like the city of Dumaguete.

Forest Camp offers facilities like fresh water swimming pools (the water is really cold! brrr!!) and the water comes directly from the falls, the hanging bridge that’s great for taking photos, a mini zipline, bar and restaurant and rooms if you want to stay there for a couple of nights. It’s another highly recommended place to visit.

Lastly, let’s talk about Bais. Never ever miss visiting Bais. It’s known for Manjuyod (man-hoo-yod) Sand Bar and dolphin watching. You have to be there really early and check for low tide schedule if you’d like to see the sand bar. It is an amazing place and an amazing view. You will find different sea creatures when you go there. We went there around 6 in the morning and got to enjoy checking the sand bar. It was vast and very white. I enjoyed taking pictures of the shells and star fishes. We left around 10 in the morning when the water started rising. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to catch a glimpse of the dolphins. Unlike in Oslob, Cebu where you can swim with the whale sharks, here you can only watch the dolphins and aren’t allowed to feed them. It’s one way to protect them and not destroy their habitat. We paid $8.50 USD each for the boat ride and the docking fee for a group of 8. The boat rate depends on the capacity of the boat. Again, you can join other travelers if you get to Bais port early.

Before you think of going to other places in the Visayas, be sure to drop by Dumaguete. Trust me. You’re gonna love it!