Browsing the archives for the Uncategorized category
It was my first time to fly out of Davao International Airport and I was looking forward to seeing the interiors / pre-departure area of the airport.
Since I was on a morning flight and did not have a lot of time to spare, I took the taxi from downtown Davao. All taxis charge by the meter and the drivers in Davao are honest so this option is not a problem. The Davao Airport is the third busiest airport in the Philippines next to Manila and Cebu … next in line would be Iloilo and Cagayan de Oro.
Isla Reta is the most accessible beach in Talicud Island. It’s located right beside the Santa Cruz Pier, the main seaport at the northern tip of island. After visiting Babu Santa Beach, the habal-habal driver dropped me off at the entrance of Isla Reta Beach Resort (entrance fee: P75). I headed straight to the beachfront passing by the spacious overnight cottages.
Isla Reta had a lengthy white sand beach with a gorgeous view of mainland Samal. I was surprised when I finally saw the beach up close. The sand was remarkably white and fine. To me, it was comparable to Station 1, White Beach in Boracay in those aspects. I’ve always been in search of beaches in the Philippines that could trump Boracay’s White Beach. Isla Reta doesn’t have Boracay’s 4km end-to-end measurements but that can easily be overlooked since there aren’t any huge crowds hogging the beach at Isla Reta.
Far end of Isla Reta Beach Resort in Talicud Island, Island Garden City of Samal
A pleasant afternoon greeted my arrival at the laid-back Santa Cruz Wharf in Talicud Island, Samal. My reception was exactly as I had hoped. At the wharf was a small village surrounded by all the elements of a tropical paradise: inviting waters, palm fringed white-sand beaches, perfect sunny weather, and no sight of large-scale developments. … just your typical low-key island ready to welcome any weary traveler.
After stepping off the boat, I got on the back of a habal-habal (single motorcycle) and was on my way to Babu Santa Beach located at the western coast of Talikud Island
Talicud Island in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS), Davao del Norte, Philippines
Our short visit to Putrajaya was one of the most memorable moments during our Singapore – Malaysia overland trip last year.
The first time I saw a photo of Putrajaya’s Seri Wawasan Bridge, I was instantly drawn at the asymmetric design and elegant lines of its cable stays.
Why was there such a magnificent structure “hidden” at an unfamiliar place in Malaysia? My curiosity and lack of awareness inadvertently led me to discover this city called Putrajaya.
First view of the Seri Wawasan Bridge on the taxi ride to Putrajaya
We stayed at Bugis, which was just four MRT stations away from the Changi Airport. Getting to the city center of Singapore from Changi International Airport was very convenient.
From the budget terminal, we hopped on the free airport shuttle to terminal 2 and walked to the MRT station at the basement floor between terminal 2 and terminal 3.
Since it was a DIY trip, we mostly used public transportation to get to our destinations. Going around around Singapore was very easy and convenient because of their efficient MRT system.
Changi Airport Budget Terminal
As you many already know, AirPhil Express is now the official airline carrier of Ambot-ah.com. I’ve flown with AirPhil Express multiple before and I’ve been very satisfied with their service. AirPhil Express has been very dynamic in servicing the needs of the budget traveler (like me). It’s no wonder that they’re now the fastest growing budget airline in the Philippines. I’m very excited to have AirPhil Express as Ambot-ah’s airline partner and, subsequently, be able to experiences even more travel destinations in the Philippines.
AirPhil Express Airbus A320 at the Cebu-Mactan International Aiport
Back in 2007 when I was still on my 3rd year in college, I started Ambot-ah as a personal repository of thoughts and realizations of my teen self. Although I chose to study in the nursing profession (as did hundreds of thousands of young hopeful Filipinos), I always wondered about the idea of living the life of a traveler.
The free spirited journey of adventure and self-discovery, coupled with my new found passion for photography, inescapably appealed to my young mind. When I graduated and passed the board exams, I was finally free from my academic obligations and felt the overpowering freedom of having my whole life ahead of me … to be whoever I wanted to be.
Chao Phraya River Ferry in Bangkok, Thailand
In the Philippine Ilonggo dialect, ambot ah literally means "I don't know." After graduating in college, I decided to hold off pursuing my profession and embarked on a free spirited journey of adventure and self-discovery. My travels have led me to many places across the Philippine Islands and South East Asia. I don't know where this path will take me but I'm certain I'll get a lifetime of stories out of it.
