Thursday, 7 June 2012

New Blog - Side Strip: Travel, Tech and More...

The Blogging bug has yet again bit me and this time I feel like I have turned for good. :) Come and visit me at Side Strip where I get to talk about everything that I have felt passionate about and much more.

Things have gone a long way since then. Come and join me on my new adventures over at Side Strip, where every step taken is a whole new world unveiled.

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Top Three Music Apps for Android and Apple Smartphones, Phablets and Tablets


Music is something that I can't live with out. I can't imagine being able to work, travel or simply walk around the block with out something melodic is blasting through my ears. With the internet now readily available everywhere I go, and the advancement of smartphones now these days, one is full of options for music. There are a lot of Music and Radio Apps that are out in the Android and Apple Markets as of to date. I would like to mention my top three favorites that I would like to recommend to all my friends and of course all of you reading this article (links here would be for the android market since that OS that I am using-but these apps are also available in the iTunes Store):

Digitally Imported - Trance, House, Electronica Fanatics are sure to love this particular application as it brings the coolest dance and feel good vibes right to your phone. I have constantly found myself zoning out in the beats of this addicting application. If you go pro the music quality gets even better. With beatsaudio on my HTC One X, it has made the sounds come to life (I would strongly recommend getting a unit that supports beatsaudio or of similar sound system quality to best enjoy music on the go).

DI offers the following in summary: Tune into over 37 Internet Radio channels for the hottest electronic music from genres such as Trance, House, Dance, Lounge, Chillout, Techno, Ambient, and many more.

Tune In Radio - If you want to listen to music, news and sports, this application brings over 60,000 stations right up your smartphone's alley. That basically says it all. You wont be the only one tuned in as this app support over 30M people listening at any given particular time. Once you start you'll find out why this can become a fast favorite.


Sticher Radio - Just like Tune in Radio, you have over 10,000 radio stations with podcast functionality. This is a very good alternative to using iTunes Radio and Podcast. Though I think I prefer using this for Live news casts such as CNN and BBC news.

I normally listen to these stations when am working and I want to stay focused. I call it my Autism Mode since all i'll be paying attention to is the details of my work, the background music usually keeps everything else out. The faster the pace of the music the faster I get to complete the task. I wouldn't recommend it to call center agents though, wouldn't want you zoning out your customers :)

Till next time...

Awesome Flight Deals with Cebu Pacific

When it comes to ASEAN flights I normally go with the cheapest airlines. One of these is Cebu Pacific who innovatively caused a raucous in the local airline industry by offering what most of them considers to be ridiculously cheap flights. They have incorporated the bus system of management and used it in the airline management - for example no more flight food and unnecessary add ons that normally come with international flights. Bringing down the cost of flight tickets drastically down. Aside from that they devised a scheme that ensured that their flights are always fully booked to compensate the low price. Just watch out for the flight times and schedules. On experience the later in the day your flight is the more delayed from schedule will be, at least in about 30% of the cases as their site would mention in particular days. That's the price you pay for but at least now this allows easy and affordable access to most of the Filipinos. Increasing the power of local tourism by three folds.

Friends have asked me as to how I get updated on the Cebu Pacific Deals that often gets sold out the moment it gets launched. These are the promos that are even a lot more cheaper compared to their regular seat promos. For Android phone users (doesn't matter if you are using the old 1.6 or the ICS 4.0) you can download the Cebu Pacific Application in the Google Play Market. This gives you real time updates on when and what the latest Cebu Pacific deals are currently being launched including those sought after 90% off seat sale promos. Unfortunately, iPhone users don't get the same benefit and would have to go or subscribe manually to Cebu Pacific's newsletter which I have noticed is rather delayed, thus once received  most of the good dates have all be sold out.

Overall the Cebu Pacific Flights minus the leg room is a pretty awesome airline cause it provides the power of travel to the masses. Now everyone can truly see that it is More Fun In the Philippines...

Happy Traveling everyone...

Pinatubo Conquered

A couple of months ago, me and a group of my friends decided to go on a grand hiking trip(Grand cause this is the first time we had ever gone on a hiking trip) to the crater or Mount Pinatubo. The initial thought was how the heck do we get there and who would be the best guide for the trip. Luckily enough for us the internet was the only tool we needed to be able to find the best package deal for this endeavor.

For the Mount Pinatubo Trip we went with TriPinas Travel and Tours who graciously gave us the details of the things we would be needing for the trip to Mount Pinatubo. You have to book your trip in advance though as they are always fully booked and would also require a security deposit prior to meeting up for the trip itself. Their rates are pretty awesome but I strongly recommend to go as a group of 6 to 10 to bring down the cost of the trip. The person we spoke to is Ann of TriPinas but dont be shocked if you get to speak to a French Guy over the phone from time to time when you need to call for follow ups just be prepared with your english ;). They only conduct day tours for Mount Pinatubo, so if you want to stay over night I think you'll need to have a special permit processed for that which I am sure Ann would be more than happy to help you and your group out with. They'll provide the van necessary for the trip going to and from the Mount Pinatubo Base camp (Manila - Pinatubo Base Camp in Tarlac) or you can opt to bring your own vehicle but be forewarned, they aren't pretty good with convoys so you'll have to really get to talk to their drivers prior to leaving for the trip to get a good strategy going.

This is their usual rates and services:


Mt. Pinatubo trek cost:
starts at Php1990/person (for Filipinos)
Php2750/per person (for non-Filipinos)
* Skyway fee excluded if available. Skyway fee cost will be evenly distributed to all public tour participants for the day.
Inclusions:
  • round trip A/C land transfer (Manila-Tarlac-Manila)
  • 4x4 vehicle with driver (Brgy. Sta. Juliana-Pinatubo jump off-Brgy. Sta. Juliana)
  • fees (local guide, conservation fee)
  • local guide for the trek
  • a Certificate of Conquest
  • service of a tour coordinator

We started out by preparing the day before with packing our lunch and water/beverage supplies. The meet up point starts at McDonald's Near ABS CBN at roughly around 2 or 3 in the morning. That is where we give the remaining balance for the trip and coordinate with their drivers with regards to how the convoy is going to be conducted. 

Briefing talks about that following:

  • What to expect about the trip
  • Signing a waiver that you are of fit health (though they ask it out right especially if you looked out of shape and above recommended hiking age.)
  • Ensuring that Attendance is complete
  • Ensure that everyone has proper gear and food supply (they recommended to travel light-believe me once you get there you'll see why)
I also recommend bringing a first aid kit and ensure that all your gadgets are fully charged. No electrical outlets there. Also there are no toilets, so do expect to be creative when nature calls. Also bring lots of sunscreen as the only time you get into a covered area is when you reach the point that is close to the crater itself.

Once everyone has been briefed and has signed their waivers the trip officially starts. The journey to the Mt Pinatubo Base Camp takes approximately around 2 hours depending on traffic. If you bunk up with their van, be prepared not to have stretching space till you get the occasional gas station and bathroom trip breaks. 

Estimated time of arrival was at 6am, which they hit pretty well. I dared not look at how fast they were driving but occasional glances showed roughly about 80kph for the 2 hour trip. At the Mt Pinatubo Base Camp you get a chance to gear up if you haven't geared up already. Then a final briefing is conducted which also is the time they start the grouping for the 4x4 vehicle assignments. We initially wanted the open 4x4 vehicles but we found out how lucky we were to get the enclosed ones especially on the hot trip back. 

The trip on the 4x4 was fun and took roughly about an hour. If you are wearing contact lenses, it would be best to wear protective eye wear such us sun glasses to protect your eyes from the dust and sand blowing around. The one hour trip was picturesque enough though. Nothing but a white sandy environment from the ground to the mountain tops. All the remnants of the Lahar that hit the entire region when Mt. Pinatubo unleashed its wrath about a decade back. There is a local guide assigned to each of the 4x4 who talks about the places you'll be visiting and also will be your guide to ensure you dont get lost in this rather surreal arid area of the Philippines. 
The guide sat on the front of the 4x4, seemingly relaxed irregardless of the bumpy ride

This was one of the Photo Ops Places During the 4x4 ride to Mt Pinatubo

We stopped at a place that looked like a valley and this is where you'll see the need to either bring slippers or sneakers suitable for hiking cross country. The first task of the 3 hour hike to the top was to cross a river bank that was knee deep, but on our way back was a lot higher. Make sure your gadgets are all water proof sealed either in ziplocks or in specialized water proof gear. The hike after the river crossing was no easy task. With the guide leading the was and fortunately helping our female companions with their rather heavy gear, showed us the easiest and quickest route to the original entrance to the hike to Mt Pinatubo prior to its eruption. The hike from our drop off point to the original entrance was 3 hours, the hike back though was about an hour and 45 minutes. I guess that is because on the way to the top we were all too busy taking pictures :). 

This was the first river crossing challenge on foot after the 4x4 trip

This is some of what you would see mostly on the flat land hike to Mt. Pinatubo. 

The dessert like surroundings of the initial hike on foot was tiring though, cause it was an uphill climb though gradual was still difficult for those that aren't cardio vascularly prepared. So if you are a smoker I recommend to quit smoking at least 12 hours prior to the climb. Also, ensure that you have enough water with you and if you can find a way to keep it cool even better. I used sneakers, which made it a lot easier. Those that wore slippers had trouble with the several river crossings along the way. You will also notice marker stones, that are piled on top of each other. Please do not topple them, cause these are the markers to help you get back to the 4x4. It also marks the quickest and less hazardous route to and from Mt Pinatubo. 

River Crossings are common in the area. Proper Gear is needed on this particular Hike. Travel light though cause the heat is quite bad at certain times.

You can have your occasional pit stops but not too long cause the hike is quite long and you wouldn't want to be back by night fall.

Past the dessert area right before the steep climb upwards there is a resting zone where you can use a make shift toilet and a tank of cold water to cool off with. It also serves a place to take a breather and allow the rest of the group to catch up. We also had a quick snack here as there is a structure that shades us from the sun.

The area after the rest area marks the start of the steep climb up Mt. Pinatubo. We went there during a time of rain so we had to be very careful not to slip on the rocks and mindful of where we tread as there were places that fall deep. Unlike the dessert area though, the area where the steep climb begins is much greener and full of wild life. You'll find rather peculiar Floras and Faunas here, I particularly found the giant fern plants quire interesting as they were an uncommon sight for me. This part of the trip was quite fun cause it wasn't so hot (This is where people start to learn the importance of plant life in the prevention of global warming).

It was literally the complete opposite of the initial hike once you reach the foot of Mt Pinatubo. It was lush with greenery and life.

Once you reach the top there are portalets you can use near the Welcome to Mt Pinatubo sign. Past that are resting areas on the peak of Mt. Pinatubo that gives you a breath-taking view of the entire crater filled with water now. One must take note that you shouldn't make unnecessary loud noises once you reach the Crater of Mt. Pinatubo as you may cause unwanted "landslides". From the peak to the Crater Lake you'll need to go down a rather steep staircase which was easy to go down from but the climb back up is what killed a lot of people. 

You wouldn't want to miss a photo Op here :) 

The Crater Lake of Mt Pinatubo is said to have a lot of healing properties due to the sulfur and mineral content provided by the last eruption. There is even a guided boat ride that you can take for about Php250 (price may change though from time to time depending on season), or simply take a dip in the Lake. Water isn't so cold and is quite pleasant, an awesome reward for the long hike. It is here that people can camp overnight. 

Crater Boat Guides - A definite must try

The trip back from the Lake upto the 4x4 was made more fun by our group as we raced and tried to challenge each other on who would get to the 4x4 the quickest (Guess that was also the reason why it was a shorter time to get back). Once back on the 4x4, we tried our hardest to stay wide awake but exhaustion took the better of all of us. We had our bandanas covering our nose and mouth and sunglasses for our eyes. By the time we woke up when we reached the Mt Pinatubo Base Camp, all our faces were covered in the white sands of the Lahar. There are shower rooms  for rent and sari sari stores to help get you back to looking human again though, but pray that you be the first to get there cause it'll be a pretty long line once the others arrive. 

Steep Climb down to the Lake

We all had a blast in this trip though and we even have a certificate to show that we conquered Mt. Pinatubo courtesy of TriPinas. Would I recommend going? Of course, it is definitely something you shouldn't miss and all it'll take is just one weekend with your family and friends.

This view was worth the journey
Till the next time...

Wednesday, 6 June 2012

Website Design and Development

About Us

We are a team of passionate and creative web designers and developers who believe that the web can be an effective tool in achieving a company's competitive advantage. We understand that every business is unique, which is why our custom-tailored solutions focus on who you are and what you need. Our experienced senior project managers have managed diverse design, prototyping and development projects utilizing a wide variety of contemporary technologies.

Keen Cloud Media creates synergy between aesthetics and technology. Our services are flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of our clients. We ensure that we understand your needs and build from there. From the drawing-board to the finished product, our solutions are all built with the clients' needs and wants at heart.

We’ve been around the block. We know what we’re talking about.

Our Services

Keen Cloud Media Design: Your Website, Your Identity

Our designs make your business stand out. With Keen Cloud Media, your systems become attractive, easy to navigate and content-rich, effectively conveying your business image, products, services and other pertinent information.

We build everything from scratch: distinct, one-of-a-kind projects. Do you really want your site to look like a $20 Wordpress template? The same template that hundreds of other users have? .

When we design your websites, we make sure they’re as impressive and as effective as you want them to be, with no mess or fuss. Talk us through what you want, and we’ll give you that, along with our own improvements. Web 2.0, HTML5, analytics, SEO, everything: name it, and you’ve got it. We can give you the expert guidance you need to make your online presence shine.

Traditional methods are holding you back. We can set you free.

Our Mission:

“To provide the best high quality works with the most reasonable/competitive prices aimed at meeting client satisfaction. We wish to establish long-term rapport with every client handled through our exceptional service and eye for detail”

Summary of Services:

• Webdesign and Development - We have a variety of website types to choose from depending on the requirements of the clients. We believe that every website project demands a different approach and strategy depending on the client's intentions, uniqueness and specifications.

Sample WEBSITE DESIGNS:

http://www.bubblejuicemedia.com/info/design1.html
http://www.bubblejuicemedia.com/hosteasy/design1.html
http://www.bubblejuicemedia.com/galvanni/design1.html
http://www.bubblejuicemedia.com/socialmediahouse/design1.html
http://www.bubblejuicemedia.com/earlhome/design1.html
http://www.grandvieweventsplace.com/
http://www.printsandpromotions.net/

• Marketing Collaterals and Interactive Materials - We are well versed with Designing of Marketing Collaterals and promotional products (i.e. Flyers, Brochures, Catalogues, Posters, Banners, Calling Cards, Etc..)

SAMPLE MARKETING COLLATERALS:

FLYERS
http://www.bubblejuicemedia.com/buma/bumaflyers.html

BROCHURE
http://www.bubblejuicemedia.com/grandview_brochure/design1.html

• Logo Design - We provide logo designs for both starting companies/business and also for those who already has a logo that they would wish to re-invent or develop further. We believe that this is an important element to a company because it portrays the company's identity and image to your its target market.

SAMPLE LOGOS:
http://www.bubblejuicemedia.com/logos/logos.html

• Graphic design - We always enjoy providing graphic design services to our customers. Included in this are the consultation services and suggestions where we take into consideration the purpose of the graphic design and requirements of each client

• Video Editing and Photography - We conduct these depending on the demands and requirements that may arise within a particular project or assignment.



Our processes are built on our tried-and-tested 4-C method:

Counsel

Before we paint a single pixel, we talk with our clients first and examine every angle of their vision, their web solution needs and their goals. We then document everything and finalize requirements. When we start building your web solution, we know exactly what to deliver because we are confident that you and our team are all on the same page.

Conceive

With the info gathered from the Enlighten stage, our creative team will have a full understanding of your design goals and requirements. We make designs that are pretty AND functional. We design, prototype and revise during this stage, so that once we begin actual coding in the Engineering stage, there will be minimal, or zero, revisions.

Create

In this stage, we write the code for your web solution. There are no trial-and-errors or hit-and-misses because by now, our developers know how things should be positioned and presented. We creatively employ trusted open-source technologies for your web solution. Rather than reinventing the wheel, our team applies trusted and proven technologies into your web solution, cutting down development time and ultimately cutting down costs for you.

Capacitate

Before we launch your web solution, it goes through a stringent quality assurance process that ensures your web solution is bug-free and will be able to handle the traffic it's going to receive. And then we train you how to maintain it. We will give you an easy-to-use admin panel where you can manage your web solutions content and make changes as much as you want. We empower our clients with creative and functional web solutions that they can maintain themselves without any hard dependencies on us.

In a nutshell, here’s what we can offer you:

• You own the source code – You get to keep your project’s source code and host it any way you want.

• No licensing fees – We don’t limit how many people can use the system you paid for. You can have as many users you want.

• We’ll help you find the best webhost/server that is suitable for your site’s needs and your budget.

• No annual maintenance fees – We don’t charge you fixed fees to “maintain” your system. If you need us to work on anything, we only charge for the hours used.

• Cutting-edge – We use the latest trusted Web 2.0 Technologies that adheres to global standards. You won’t be paying today for systems that are outdated tomorrow.

• Consultations – We are not yes-men. We give advice on ideas and technologies that might be more effective for reaching your goals and cutting down costs.

We would like to extend our services to you and show you how we can be of value for you and your business. We would like to discuss this opportunity further. Simply let us know how we can make that possible. Please let us know to whom we should address our proposal or where we can reach you and possibly set up an initial meeting. We are looking forward to working with you in this endeavor.



If you want to know more or want our services simply contact us:


Metz Ulao and Nicco Cezar
metzulao@aim.com or keencloudmedia@gmail.com

or call/text
+639274369820
+639336094089

HTC One X: Full Usage Review and Recommendations

I've been using my HTC One X for over a month now, and to be honest I love the way it has been working and helping me get through my day of work and fun with out a hitch. The only problem I have had with the HTC One X was the battery life when I first got it. I updated it to the 1.28 software update and it improved the battery life and further improved the fluidity of the flow of graphics. This week I got to update it to the 1.29 update and it has made things even better. I have constantly found myself trying to drain the battery by bedtime (watching videos, playing temple run, and just browsing the net) but still find that I have a lot of power left. I noticed that if not used and left on its own there is hardly a power leakage happening.

Only concern I have is keeping the phone's camera safe from scratches, hopefully by the week there'll be a case to do just that. Best accessory that I have bought (in SM Mall of Asia) though was the Invisi shield by Zagg which covered my phones entire body from scratches and only cost Php 1,500 with lifetime warranty (note - dont put your phone in your pocket or in tight places till after 72 hours, cause you need to allow the shield to fully settle). No more worries about discoloration and scratches of the white polycarbonate shell case. To help keep the camera safe from scratches I got a black phone sock that covers HTC One X's body quite well.

I have used the iPhone 3G, HTC Wildfire, Samsung Galaxy Y(I still have this one for my sun line), and the Samsung Galaxy W(loved this one cause of the 1.4ghz single core-price was pretty cheap Php12K-10K) prior to my HTC One X. IPhone 3G had enough storage space for me but lagged a lot when I used the applications. HTC Wildfire had a cool HTC Sense Interface but due to lack of RAM space and memory I constantly found myself deleting applications a lot. Temple Run couldn't run on the HTC Wildfire because it was running below 1000ghz cpu power (600mhz to be exact). Samsung Galaxy Y had similar issues with the HTC Wildfire, however I found it more fluid in terms of usability compared to that of the HTC Wildfire, which is why I choose to keep it as a second phone. I sold my HTC Wildfire to get the Samsung Galaxy W (I got the White Edition cause it looked amazing). I just loved the speaker and the fluidity of the Samsung Galaxy W. In terms of memory it has around 4gb of internal memory - 1.2 is useable and the 1.82gb is the USB memory + external memory card slot. Camera is at 5MP too and VGA for the Secondary camera. The one thing I didn't like about the samsung Galaxy W - Temple Run was lagging a lot and I only got to play decently when I have rebooted. RAM is always being fully utilized in the Samsung Galaxy W. If you are a heavy user and rely a lot of multi-tasking for your day to day activities, Samsung Galaxy performs just as well as the IPhone 4. But if you need more gaming and computing power best to go look elsewhere. After a month's usage I gave the phone to my sister as a gift, since she wasn't a heavy user like me and is obsessed with angry birds and not temple run :)

HTC One X is what I chose to go with and there have been so many mixed reviews about the phone. People have said to wait for the Samsung Galaxy S3 or the LG Optimus 4X. I have learned a habit of now reviewing what people say about a phone then testing it myself to see how it works in real life. In comparison I chose the HTC One X for the way it looks and feels. It compliments my personality and style. Samsung Galaxy S3 and LG Optimus looks a bit plasticky and if you bring it down to actual usage irregardless of benchmark tests they all work and feel fluid and handle the daily workloads quite well. I've got over 356 applications now on my HTC One X and to be honest I dont get to use them all, but it was pretty convenient to have them all ready when I want to use them.

Here are the applications though that I use the most:
Navigator - This is free and was able to download offline maps. With HTC One X's GPS working with their map, I have found that I dont need to be online to find my way around plus there is voice guidance (British accent though) to guide me through. Having a big memory helps here. Though I think with Samsung Galaxy W this would work just as well.

Camera 360 - I love this application because it allows me to use my phone's camera like an SLR camera without the need for external filters. This application works quite well for Samsung Galaxy W as well. But if you try it with the Samsung Galaxy Y you'll find that the camera orientation is skewed pretty badly. If you find that the photo is not being saved to the gallery simply change the effects and re-save. This also works amazingly with the iPhone 4s.

Instagram - I don't think I need to talk much about the use and benefits of instagram since over 10million people have already downloaded it and it does take amazing shots as well as edits photos pretty well. What I normally do though is I take pictures using my HTC One X's Camera(HTC has amazing effect edits similar to that of Instagram and Cam360) or the Cam 360 then edit it further in Instagram which uploads the final edits to my Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquares account. HTC One X's Camera is at 8MP for the main and 1.3MP for the front(only used this one for skype and vanity shots).  You'll need to have at least 1GHz cpu power to be allowed to download and use this application.

Streamzoo - like Instagram but better cause I dont have to be forcefully cropping the shots I took unlike in Instagram all shots taken have to be cropped to fit Instagram's profile shot requirements. Same functionality as well but unfortunately isn't as popular as Instagram.

Evernote - I jot down minutes of the meetings, email agendas, create to do checklist, and share it with people seamlessly either via email or to their evernote accounts. Works well with my Samsung Galaxy Y and Samsung Galaxy W. I think it would work well with the HTC Wildfire but may cause a lot of lag for the unit. You can also use it on your PC to take webclips and later view it on your smartphone device. I also use it to take snapshot for documents and notes that I can review for later - makes it a lot easier than retyping a whole document (of course for this one it would be best if you use a phone with at least 5MP clarity wise)

Dolphin Browser and its add ons - This one works extremely well and much better than the pre-installed android internet browser. I use the battery saver addon and evernote add on for this. You can also set it to auto delete the cache and history for optimized used when exiting the application.

Google Apps - There are several that comes pre-installed but the ones that aren't such as Google drive I strongly recommend to get. It is free and works just as well as DropBox with a bigger storage capacity.

TuneIn Radio - Allows me to listen to local radio stations over the net. Easy to use and sound quality is amazing. Just make sure you have a speedy internet connection when you use it.

DI Radio - House music radio station to get them bootie thumping happening. I love listening to party and dance music when I am working and this one works just as well as podcast radio stations on my iTunes.

Temple Run - Who hasn't gotten caught up with this game as of yet. If you haven't best to try it out and be prepared to spend a lot of time on it. To be able to download this you'll need to get a phone that runs on a 1Ghz CPU processor but be warned, single core units may have lag moments. On the HTC One X and am sure with its quad core brothers that are now out in the market, Temple Run Gaming is going to be really fun and smooth to play with.

Over all

I use the Camera application more than anything. Video and Burst Shot Applications have made taking shots fun and convenient. Picture Quality is Amazing, even the front camera resolution is just as great. With applications such as Camera 360, Instagram and Streamzoo, + HTC One X's internal effects edits make even more of a difference with the quality of shots. Just be very careful with camera and make sure it is protected from scratches as this is the most vulnerable part of the phone. I used to bring a Sony Cybershot Camera when I travel around, now I just bring my HTC One X. The Navigator Helps me get around just as well as our CarNavi and works better than that Hyundai Santa Fe's internal GPS unit. I would strongly recommend grabbing this phone and if you need a referral as to where to buy this here in the Phil at a lower cost give me a PM and I'd gladly guide you to the shop of my friend in Parksquare Beside Glorietta. In CashCashPinoy they have this on sale at Php29K with my friend and another shop they currently have it on Php28K. They are also selling the Samsung Galaxy Note at Php25K just in case you were interested in that pretty amazing tablet like phone-Phablet I think is what Samsung Peeps are calling it.

I'll be using my HTC One X to take shots in our Bangkok Trip next week so standby for that article. I am pretty sure I'll be able to take amazing shots with it on the trip. Also already downloaded the Map of Thailand so I should be able to Navigate around the City quite easily.

Till then...

Monday, 4 June 2012

It's More Fun in the Philippines: Laoag - Vigan Road Trip

This Article on Vigan and Laoag City has been long over due since me and my best friend Jade paid a visit to this place last year with her fellow EastWest bankers. In this article, I'll show you the places that we visited as part of our Itinerary and what we thought about the place. Simply let your fingers do the walking.

(Me and Jade Playing Around before our Early Morning Van Road Trip to Laoag)
You can also book trips via Cebu Pacific, but since we were a huge group and the time for us to book a flight was short we found it more cost effective to go with the van - but our butts really paid the price by the time we got there XD
(not the best picture but was using an iPhone 3G back then for this shot - but at least I got to picture the City Name :) Makati City doesnt have a Hollywood style name plate like Laoag)

To start things off, here was our itinerary. Though I wouldn't recommend cramming it all into three days and two nights like what we did. We felt like we were in an amazing race episode because of that. What I would recommend though is to take the ones you think would be fun for you and your group and go for those:
-We got our itinerary from another blogsite: www.adventurousfeet.com and simply patterned it to that of our own when it was our turn to take on this wickedly fun road trip adventure. I strongly recommend to check her site out for the pricing details of the trip - we roughly spent 5k each but that included food, travel, and misc expenses - misc meaning shopping ;) -
Day 0
Friday
10PM
ETD Van leaves Makati Ayala Ave to Vigan (non-stop ac van, though we did stop for pee breaks)


Day 1
Saturday
4AM
Drop off and arrival in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Take a tricycle to casa Teofila Lodge.
7AM
Proceed to Cafe Uno for Breakfast 
9AM
Start of DIY Tour: Calle Crisologo (walking distance from Cafe Uno)
10:15AM
Crisologo Museum (walked from Calle Crisologo)
10:40
Proceed to Syquia Mansion
11:30AM
Plaza Salcedo, Vigan Cathedral, Plaza Burgos
12PM
Lunch at Plaza Maestro
1:30PM
Burgos Museum (walked from Plaza Maestro)
2:10PM
Took a tricycle to Pagburnayan Jar Making
3:30PM
Another tricycle to Hidden Garden
4:30PM
Another tricycle to Baluarte ni Chavit
5:30PM
Bantay Church and BellTower 
6:30PM
Back to Casa Teofila Lodge 
7:30PM
Proceed to Calle Crisologo again to see this during the night and to buy souvenirs 
8:30PM
Dinner at Cafe Leona


Day 2
Sunday
6AM
Wake up. Prepare for check out in Casa Teofila
8AM
Van arrival for pick up
8:30AM
Proceed to Marsha's Delicacies for cassava and bibingka cake
10AM
Arrival in Marcos Museum and Mausoleum
11AM
Paoay Church (can have lunch at Cafe Herencia)
1PM
Paoay Lake
1:30PM
MalacaƱang of the North
2:30PM
Fort Ilocandia Resort
3:15PM
La Paz Sand Dunes
3:45PM
St. William's Church And Laoag Sinking Bell Tower
4:40PM
Burgos Lighthouse 
5:30PM
Kapurpurawan Rock Formation (this was our very wet adventure)
7:45PM
Arrival in Pagudpud Proper to buy barbeque and some dinner
8:15PM
Arrival in Saud beach -- Cathy's Homestay


Day 3
Monday
6AM
Wake up. Check out the beach
7:30AM
Breakfast at Cathy's Homestay
8:00AM
Van arrival for pick up and start of Pagudpud North Tour
9AM
Kabigan Falls
11AM
Patapat Viaduct
11:30AM
Agua Grande Park
11:50AM
Paraiso ni Anton
12:45PM
Timmangtang Rock
1PM
Bantay Abot Cave
2PM
Blue Lagoon Beach (we didn't get a chance to swim here though but it looked enticing anyways)
3PM
Back to Cathy's Homestay - Saud Beach
4:30PM
Checkout at Cathy's Homestay
5:30PM
Arrival in Bangui Windmills
6:30PM
Van Ride Back to Manila (We were all knocked out by this time.. c,") )

Took These shots using my iPhone 3G at that time... Not the best but I still love the shots and of course the memories it brings everytime I look back at them.



Overall, irregardless of the time constraint I have to say it was an amazing experience for all of us.

My Personal Favorite Spots though were the following:

  • Kapurpurawan Rock Formation (The white rock formation we all ran too cause of the risk of a hight tide since it was raining like crazy back then but the risk was all so worth it. But dont ask me to say the name again cause I wouldn't know how to pronounce it let alone remember it.) 
  • The Buluarte of Chavit Singson (You got to hand it to him, he really knows how to make an impression on people. The Tigers in his park sure felt that same way - Plus we loved the dinosaurs too)
  • The Hike to Kabigan Falls (Tiring but the photo ops from start to the end of the trip were endless-plus we found nature to be breath-taking. Dont ask the tour guide though how much longer to the falls, they all say its just near... and we all know that ain't true :) 
  • What we added in addition this itinerary as was recommended by my friend Alex C. was Grappa's Inn located in Vigan's Calle Crisologo - The slide show had some pics of the place but tripadvisor's other users have given their comments and just like me, we all loved the the place. Grappa's Inn - TripAdvisor