Happy Steps travel blog

European cities top world’s best places to live

We all agree that there’s no place like home, it’s where our heart is, and everytime we go somewhere, there’s always that longing to be home. Even travel bugs and those who are passionate about travel tend to appreciate more the little things about their hometown or neighborhood after coming from a trip someplace.

But what if you are given the option to move to another place or to relocate? Let’s say you visited an Arlington Property Management firm and given some various residential properties to decide upon, which place would you prefer to start over and settle with your family? If you have the whole world to choose from, which country or city would you move to? Continue reading… »

Special Feature: Yosemite National Park

Hi all! Here’s another special travel feature courtesy of Alex and Odeth Mizuno, a couple based in California. Odeth is one of my close friends in college and even though we’re oceans away we still communicate via the Internet and I’m happy that she agreed to share one of her travels with us.

In this post, I’m featuring some of their photos taken at the Yosemite National Park located in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yosemite is a nature-lover’s haven offering scenic views with its diverse natural attractions – granite cliffs, waterfalls, lakes, hiking trails and more. Continue reading… »

Special Feature: Jordan tourist attractions (Petra, Dead Sea, Mt. Nebo and more) by CB

Hi to my dear readers! My apologies for having written few posts before 2009 ended. I guess we were all busy during the holidays, huh? Anyway, to make up for that, I’m starting off the new year with a special travel feature. This will actually be the first in a series of posts featuring travels by family and friends.

For this post, I’d like you to meet my good friend CB, an Architect based in Dubai, who recently had an unforgettable trip to Jordan. Learn more about this Arab country in Western Asia, where the ancient city of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, is situated. Other tourist attractions such as the Dead Sea, the baptism site of Jesus Christ at the Jordan River, the burial place of Moses at Mt. Nebo and other historical and Biblical sites can also be found in Jordan. Continue reading… »

Tel Aviv’s Centennial Year: “Revealing the Hidden City” project

One of my favorite stops whenever I’m visiting another place is the museum. Yup! I don’t find them boring at all and could even spend hours just going through the maze of historical artifacts and other interesting collection. For me, it’s like stepping into a time machine and learning about the past, the history and culture of that city or town.

Thus, for those already booked with flights to Tel Aviv, they can include visiting the new museum in their trip itinerary. To celebrate Tel Aviv’s Centennial Year, the municipality has restored the Old City Hall to be the home of the new Museum of the History of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. One of the highlights of the museum is the collection of old historic photographs by volunteers for the “Revealing the Hidden City” project. Continue reading… »

Missing the “Land of Smiles”

It’s Christmas season already in the Philippines (You know, starting from the “ber” months, as in September, October, etc.)! Aside from last year’s family reunion, I reminisce about our 2006 Thailand vacation which was also some sort of a family get-together though it was not complete, as my sister from Prague and big bro from Cebu were not there, and so we missed their families’ presence.

My big sis and family, now in Finland, were still in Thailand at that time, and so with our parents who came over for a Christmas vacation to the “Land of Smiles”. We made the most of our time by going around as a family to tourist spots, even going up North to Chiang Mai for the Royal Flora Festival in Rachapruek! Continue reading… »

The Dipping Pool at Mambukal Mountain Resort

One of the activities we enjoyed most during our overnight stay at Mambukal Mountain Resort was using the dipping pool. We were given complimentary entrance tickets to use the dipping pool for two days as the resort staff was not able to give us senior citizen discounts for our cottage accommodation. Mom inquired about the discount after the staff already issued our receipt. But it was such a blessing in disguise, since we didn’t really include the dipping pool in our schedule for that evening.

Thus, after dinner off we went to the pool located beside the entrance to the seven waterfalls. At first, I was hesitant to dip. I tried to scoop some water from the steaming pool with my hands and felt it was too hot. Continue reading… »

Switzerland tourist guide

There’s something magical about Europe. Having spent my last summer in this dreamy continent, I am still longing to go back. After all, there are still a lot of European destinations I’ve missed, and Switzerland is one of them. A place of remarkable landscapes, with its rich culture and interesting history as can be seen from its beautiful castles and picturesque villages, Switzerland is a haven for tourists seeking to discover Swiss “Pearls” of unique activities, learning its culture or engaging in recreation and adventure. Continue reading… »

Wordless Wednesday: Berlin street scenes

Continued from Berlin day tour: Checkpoint Charlie

Mouse-over the photos to read the captions. Okay, so it’s not really that “wordless” after all.

To view more Wordless Wednesday entries, click here.

Continue reading… »

Berlin day tour: Checkpoint Charlie

Continued from Berlin day tour: Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag

It was already evening in Berlin, nevertheless we decided to visit Checkpoint Charlie as part of our Berlin day tour itinerary. There were no spectacular views to behold, no imposing buildings or delicately carved monuments, instead we saw a simple guard house with sandbag barrier in the middle of the road and large back-to-back photos of two soldiers (American and Russian).

The visitors and tourists who know the background behind Checkpoint Charlie consider it as one of Berlin’s significant and historical attractions. During the Cold War, it was a crossing point in the Berlin Wall separating East Germany and West Germany. The name of the checkpoint came from the letter C in the NATO phonetic alphabet as designation for Allied checkpoints. For instance, other Allied checkpoints were Checkpoint Alpha at Helmstedt and Checkpoint Bravo at Dreilinden in Berlin.
Continue reading… »

Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Scenic views from the lobby

Continued from Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: EcoTourism Park in Negros Occidental

These are some scenic views overlooking nearby areas in Negros Occidental, as seen from the lobby of the lodge at the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center.

It was drizzling as we had our lunch, and the views were initially hazy with cloudy skies, we can’t even distinguish a thing few meters ahead. We were thankful when few hours shortly, the skies cleared up and we spent most of our time at the lobby capturing photos and just enjoying the place.
Continue reading… »

Dreaming about a Rome vacation

I always get email alerts from an airline company about discount roundtrip tickets or cheap flights to Europe and the curious me would eagerly read to see the rates they offer, after which I would sigh and go on a dream trip mode. Even if I’ve been to Europe twice already (first travel was courtesy of a company training and the second was last year with the family), I’m still wishing I could go back to Europe sometime. I still have not visited my dream destinations such as Spain, Greece or Rome in Italy. I remember we used to sketch some of the important buildings in Europe during our History of Architecture class. Thus visiting the landmarks we’ve studied for real would be a dream-come-true for me.
Continue reading… »

Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: EcoTourism Park in Negros Occidental

Continued from Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there

Because of its proximity to Mount Kanlaon, an active volcano in the Negros Island, Bago City is blessed with natural attractions such as waterfalls, streams, springs and abundant vegetation. Some areas have sloping terrain with cool atmosphere and breathtaking mountain views such as the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort which was our first stop. Another notable destination for nature lovers is the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center, about 30 minutes further up from the said resort. You can see some of the scenic views along the winding road going to the park in my previous post Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there.
Continue reading… »

Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center: Going there

Continued from Buenos Aires Mountain Resort, another tourist destination in Negros Occidental

“Huh, is this it?” My sis and I wondered if we passed by a different route. The skies were gloomy and about to rain as we arrived at the Buenos Aires Mountain Resort. It was already high noon and our tummies were grumbling. Some friends toured us here many years ago and we remembered driving through some zigzag roads by the side of the mountain with breathtaking views of lush vegetation and hills below. How come we didn’t see them along the way?

After talking to the Buenos Aires resort staff at the Administration Office building, we later learned that the scenic views we remembered were actually on the road going further up to the Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center. The resort staff told us that the road visibility might not be favorable due to fog, nevertheless we decided to continue our way up, and we were thankful we did. The photos below can’t really capture the scenic views as we drove by the winding road going up to the eco park.
Continue reading… »

Sky-high amusement rides at the Crown Regency Hotel &Towers in Cebu

At 40 stories high in Fuente Osmena, Cebu City, the Crown Regency Hotel &Towers stands out not just as another high-rise building. What makes it unique is not only the breathtaking city view it offers but its exciting sky-high amusement rides for thrill seekers as well. Aside from being recognized as a towering hotel among its neighboring buildings, it is also known as the home of the Edge Coaster, Sky Walk Extreme and the upcoming Insanity Orbit. These weird-sounding names are actually the thrilling amusement rides as part of the Sky Experience Adventure.
Continue reading… »

Scenic city views of Bangkok from Baiyoke Sky Hotel, Thailand’s tallest building

There’s something magical about being high on top of a building and viewing the world below, seeing things so small, observing life from a towering perspective. Tall buildings stand proud among their neighbors and they usually offer observation decks or revolving floors for visitors to get beautiful cityscape views from above.

Bangkok’s cityscape as viewed from the Observation Deck at the 77th Floor.

During our family vacation in Thailand, it was such a memorable experience for me being at the top of the country’s tallest building, the 85-storey Baiyoke Sky Hotel in Bangkok. Currently it is the 42nd among the world’s tallest buildings. We had a grand 360-degree view of the whole city and beyond as we were at the Observation Deck at the 77th floor and the Revolving Roof Deck at the 84th floor.

At dusk, it’s fascinating to see the gradual lighting up of the streets and buildings below (view from the Revolving Deck at the 84th Floor).

Bangkok’s maze of buildings and expressways at night.

I just stared in awe at the tiny moving vehicles, buildings of different shapes and sizes, curved roads and expressways. I wished time would just stop as I indulged myself with such a spectacle.

Since we went up the hotel late in the afternoon, it was an added bonus for us as we watched the greyish afternoon skies gave in to the colorful colors of dusk and then we were treated to a lovely sight of the city’s evening lights below. It was truly an unforgettable sky-high treat for me.

Incidentally, there are those who wouldn’t dare go up on such high-rise buildings. Some would even feel dizzy just looking down below. I know somebody who went up the Empire State Building’s observation tower, just for the record, but he’s actually scared of heights. While others would be delighted with riding on glass-walled elevators, giving them a nice view of the city as they go up, some are not comfortable with it and would just close their eyes.

So far, the highest building I’ve been to would be the Baiyoke Sky Hotel. How about you? What’s the highest structure you’ve set foot on? Does going up a high building or tower intimidate or excite you? Now I wonder how it would feel to be high up the supertall skyscraper Burj Dubai in UAE, reigning as the world’s tallest man-made structure today.

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Scenic views from the Vyšehrad Castle in Prague

Continued from Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at Vysehrad Castle, Prague

View of the Vltava River as seen from Vysehrad Castle.

Walking along the grounds of an ancient castle such as Vyšehrad in Prague, one can’t help but imagine its glorious past when royal families used to make this as their residence. The castle complex is situated on a hill, thus it is aptly named as “castle on the heights.”

Since it is highly elevated, another treat for its visitors, aside from the historical buildings and artifacts within, are the scenic views as seen from its outer walls. While visitors can take delight in a relaxed atmosphere of nature as they tour around, lounging in one of the benches, reading a book or having picnic on a quiet spot, they can also enjoy breathtaking views of the Vltava River or Prague’s buildings below.

Picturesque Prague cityscape.

The castle walls where visitors can view what’s down below.

Tired or just want to sit down and enjoy the view? Benches are strewn everywhere in the castle grounds.

Tinkering with the phone while having a beer… what a way to unwind!

Reading a book by the castle wall… cool, huh.

I love looking at the buildings below!

Another scenic view of the Vltava River

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Buenos Aires Mountain Resort, another tourist destination in Negros Occidental

Another notable tourist destination in Negros Occidental is Buenos Aires Mountain Resort located in Brgy. Ilijan in Bago City. Going there from Bacolod City would usually take about 45 minutes but for our group it took more since we were disoriented about the route (it was our first time without any guide!) and we had to stop by and ask the locals for directions.

Sugarcane plantation along both sides of the road to Buenos Aires Mountain Resort

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort is maintained by the Bago City local government and supported by the Department of Tourism. The resort offers varied accommodation and facilities for day-trippers and visitors planning to stay overnight or for few days. Upon arrival at the resort, turn right and drive up to the Administration Office to settle your preferred accommodation (or reservation if you phoned ahead).

For day-trippers, the resort offers open cottages while those planning to stay longer can stay at the hillside hotel located further up. There are also some closed cottages along the slopes with pathways leading up to the hotel. Those who prefer not hiking up can stay in one of the family suites in a rowhouse beside the Administration Office building.

Open cottages beside the brook

Rowhouse of family suites

The hillside hotel

View of the resort from the hotel balcony

The steps going down to the lower level of the resort

Swimming pool

The hotel rooms, family suites and some closed cottages are air-conditioned with convenience outlets. The open cottages are also provided with convenience outlets. We arrived lunch time at the resort but decided to go on ahead to Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center where we stayed overnight. We came back to Buenos Aires the next day, had our lunch at one of the open cottages by the brook and soaked ourselves for a while by the pool before heading home.

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort facilities and rates (as of April 1, 2009):
Hotel rooms: Php1000.00
Family suite rooms: Php1800.00
Closed cottages: Php800.00 (w/o AC); Php1200.00 (w/ AC)
Swimming pool: Adult – Php30.00; Children – Php25.00
Open cottages: Php100.00

Contact information:
Location: Brgy. Ilijan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Telephone numbers: +63 34 461-0540; +63 34 461-0164
Office hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Buenos Aires Mountain Resort may not be such a well-developed resort, their accommodation and facilities lack proper maintenance, but as a whole it was another fun weekend getaway for us up in the mountains.

Up next: Rafael Salas Park and Nature Center

Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at Vysehrad Castle, Prague

Continued from The Vyšehrad Castle in Prague

You just can’t get enough of the beautiful and imposing Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at the Vysehrad Castle in Prague.

Right side view of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

This 19th century church is Neo-Gothic in style. You can’t miss gazing up at the church’s twin spires which identify the Vysehrad Castle when viewed from afar.

Inside the Basilica

The main altar

The hallway at the right side of the church

Continue reading… »

Berlin day tour: Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag

Continued from Berlin day tour: Cathedral of St. Hedwig, Humboldt University, Bebelplatz and nearby landmarks

From Bebelplatz, we walked on along the Unter den Linden Avenue and onwards to the historic and monumental Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) in Berlin. The sun’s rays behind the massive columns gave the structure an interesting appeal.

The Brandenburg Gate up ahead.

Being a former city gate and presently a historical icon of Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate ends the Unter den Linden Avenue.

The gate used to be a passageway for the royalties in the center, while ordinary citizens used to enter via the two outermost accesses. The gate’s design is inspired from the Greek’s Propylaea, the Acropolis gateway. Adorning the top of the gate is the quadriga or four-horse chariot with the Roman goddess of victory, Victoria, at the forefront.
Continue reading… »

The Vyšehrad Castle in Prague

One of Prague’s remarkable and beautiful buildings, the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at Vysehrad Castle, Prague.

Overlooking the Vltava River on a hill is Vyšehrad, an ancient castle in Prague built in the 10th century also known as “castle on the heights”.

Map of Vysehrad castle grounds posted at the information board (click for larger image, refer to Map Legend at the end of this post)

We started our tour at the Brick (Prague) Gate and hiked our way to the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Entrance to the Vysehrad Castle via the Brick (Prague) Gate which can be accessed from Vratislavova street.

The Brick (Prague) Gate as seen from inside the castle grounds

Hidden within the Vysehrad castle fortress are vaulted chambers also known as casemates which can be accessed via the Brick Gate. The largest area in the Vysehrad casemates is the Gorlice – Subterranean Hall, which used to be a storage room for food and weapons. Presently, it is where the original statues of St. Augustine, St. Nicholas, St. Bernard and others from the Charles Bridge are kept.
Continue reading… »

Berlin day tour: Bebelplatz, Cathedral of St. Hedwig, Humboldt University and other landmarks

Continued from Berlin day tour: Zeughaus (Old Arsenal), Neue Wache (New Guard House) and Staatsoper (Berlin Opera House)

One of the historical public squares in Berlin is Bebelplatz along the Unter den Linden Avenue. It is bounded by the Cathedral of St. Hedwig (Sankt-Hedwigs-Kathedrale), the Staatsoper (Berlin Opera House) and part of Humboldt University. The square was formerly known as Opernplatz and was the site of the book burning rites by the Nazi youth groups in 1933 where about thousands of books by prominent German authors were set to fire.

A metal plaque with inscriptions to commemorate the infamous 1933 book burning ceremony at the center of the square.

One of the major landmarks in Bebelplatz is the St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Berlin. Its beautiful large dome and front columns makes it an imposing structure in the square. The left side of the building was undergoing renovation during our visit.

St. Hedwig’s Cathedral façade

Around Bebelplatz are the buildings of Humboldt University, with the Law Faculty building located on the square and the main building across Unter den Linden. It is the oldest university in Berlin and was home to notable alumni, professors and lecturers such as Albert Einstein, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Heinrich Heine, Max Planck and many others.

Humboldt University main building as seen from Bebelplatz facing towards Unter den Linden

Near Bebelplatz is an equestrian statue of Frederick the Great (Frederick II of Prussia) along the Unter den Linden Avenue.

The statue of Frederick the Great with the Humboldt University building in the background.

Bebelplatz was also the site of the 2006 United Buddy Bears exhibition in Berlin where more than a hundred bear sculptures were displayed around the square.

Photo credits for the United Buddy Bears exhibition: Wikipedia

Next stop: Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag

Berlin day tour: Zeughaus (Old Arsenal), Neue Wache (New Guard House) and Staatsoper (Berlin Opera House)

Continued from Berlin day tour: Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)

Left side view of the Zeughaus

The Zeughaus (Old Arsenal) is just across the Lustgarten and can be reached after crossing the Schlossbrücke (palace bridge) over the River Spree. Originally built as an artillery arsenal, it now houses the Deutsches Historisches Museum (German Historical Museum). The open-air art market where we stopped by previously was actually beside the Zeughaus building.

Right next to the Zeughaus is the Neue Wache (New Guard House) built in the early 18th century as the Royal Palace Guard House.

Neue Wache facade

It was then redesigned in 1931 as the “Memorial to those who fell in the World War” but sadly was destroyed during the bombings of World War II. Repair of the building followed in 1960 and it was reopened as a “Memorial to the Victims of Fascism and Militarism”. Nine years later, to commemorate the German Democratic Republic’s 20th anniversary, a glass prism with eternal flame was installed in its central part along with the enshrinement of the remains of a soldier and a concentration camp victim.

In 1993, significant changes in the building’s interior were again done and it was renamed as the “Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Victims of War and Tyranny”. Instead of the previous memorial objects installed in the center, a heartrending sculpture of a woman grieving over her dead son was in place. The sculpture was done by Harald Haacke as a larger production of the original work “Mother with her Dead Son” by Käthe Kollwitz.

Neue Wache interior

Sculpture of “Mother with her Dead Son”, the central object inside the Neue Wache

Here’s part of the memorial’s text in English:

The Neue Wache is the place where we commemorate the victims of war and tyranny.

We honor the memory of the peoples who suffered through war. We remember their citizens who were persecuted and who lost their lives. We remember those killed in action in the World Wars. We remember the innocent who lost their lives as a result of war in their homeland, in captivity and through expulsion.

We remember the millions of Jews who were murdered. We remember the Sinti and Roma who were murdered. We remember all those who were killed because of their origin, homosexuality, sickness or infirmity. We remember all who were murdered whose right to life was denied.

We remember the people who had to die because of their religious or political convictions. We remember all those who were victims of tyranny and met their death, though innocent.

We remember the women and men who sacrificed their lives in resistance to despotic rule. We honour all who preferred to die rather than act against their conscience.

We honour the memory of the women and men who were persecuted and murdered because they resisted totalitarian dictatorship after 1945.

The Zeughaus entrance was already closed to visitors when we arrived, so we just viewed its interior through the steel rails. With only the sculpture at the center of a large room, a light coming in from a circular skylight above, the area devoid of any decors, one is led to focus and reflect on the tragic sufferings of the innocent during the war and the dictatorship period.

Across the street, in front of the Zeughaus, is the Staatsoper (Berlin State Opera), one of the noteworthy landmarks along the Unter den Linden Avenue.

Staatsoper facade

Next stop: Cathedral of St. Hedwig, Humboldt University, Bebelplatz and other landmarks

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Disneyland Resort ticket cards

One of my dream trips is going to Disneyland. Last night they featured HongKong Disneyland on the news and just seeing the Disney characters on parade and performing on stage made me wish I was there.

My friend G and her family had been there last year and she showed me some photos of their unforgettable adventures inside the theme park where they experienced some exciting yet scary rides such as the Space Mountain and The Abyss. Hmmm…I’m not sure if I can handle those rides myself, but I wish my fairy godmother would wave her wand and transport me to Disneyland someday.

The concept of families enjoying quality time together has been Walt Disney’s dream for Disneyland and true enough, it has become a top family destination for many years. The first Disneyland theme park opened in Anaheim, California in 1955 and now boasts of millions of visitors since then.
Continue reading… »

Punta Bulata Beach Resort information and tips – Part 2

Continued from Punta Bulata Beach Resort information and tips – Part 1

5. If you’re staying at Ayu Spa, the resort hotel, and have kids with you, choose their Japanese-styled rooms in the ground floor. The bed can be separated as two mattresses on the floor as what the staff suggested. Very child-friendly and safe indeed, baby C and little R-jed had fun playing on the bed.

6. Breakfast for two is included in all accommodations (Beach Cabanas, Beach Family Suite, Hillside Cabana, Aircon Tent, Turtle Van, and Ayu Spa hotel rooms) except for the Aircon
Bus, Beach Casita and Hillside Casita.

7. The resort does not allow food and drinks to be brought in except for the Beach Casita and Hillside Casita guests. They’re strict about this. They have a restaurant serving snacks and meals and offers open air dining which has a nice ambiance during evenings. Meals start at Php100++.

8. If you intend to cook or have some food preferences, then your accommodation should be in any of these two casitas which are best for a group of 6 or less and those who want to save on food expenses. These two accommodations are located farther from the main resort accommodations which was what we liked since it gave us more privacy.

9. The Beach Casita and Hillside Casita units have a simple kitchen with stove and sink, except for a refrigerator. What we did was bring marinated pork and grilled it for lunch the day we arrived. Our meals then were mostly canned goods, fruits and food that didn’t require being put inside a refrigerator such as eggs or noodles. We also bought with us dining and kitchen essentials such as plates, spoons, forks, knife, can opener, dishwashing soap, etc.

10. Just in case, bring extra cash for additional expenses such as dining, spa services or kayaking and other beach activities.

11. The resort accepts major credit cards and cash payments should be in Philippine Pesos.

Initially we planned on booking rooms at the hotel for all of us, but since we were advised that we cannot bring in food except at Beach Casita, we decided to have two hotel rooms plus the Beach Casita instead. This is what the staff suggested. So those who stayed at the hotel just go to Beach Casita for snacks and meals. With this setup we saved much on dining expenses.

Pros:

Privacy. You have the beach all to yourself especially at the shoreline fronting Beach Casita. Maybe because there were not much resort guests during our stay.

Spa services. Two thumbs up from Mom for their full body massage. They also have Finnish sauna and other spa services.

Different types of accommodations to choose from. They have the hotel rooms and many types of beach cabanas, take your pick.

Long walk along the shoreline. This was what we enjoyed during our latest stay. It was low tide so we had fun walking along the beach until we reached the edge of the shoreline where it’s full of rocks and blocked by a high cliff.

One, two, three… JUMP! Stopping by for a pose during our walk by the shoreline.

Finally we reached the rocky end of the resort. We were happy to have walked this far.

Cons:

Some rooms and units needed to be upgraded and maintained.

Guests are not allowed to bring food (even chips and snack foods) except for Beach Casita and Hillside Casita accommodations.

Gate entrance is not so welcoming to guests. You’re greeted with a closed solid gate and walk-in visitors who want to just take a look at the place are still required to pay the Php100 entrance fee even if they decide not to stay.

Rough secluded road about 1 km before you reach the resort. This could be intimidating or discouraging for first time visitors.

A group pose by the entrance before leaving the resort.

More information and photos on resort accommodations and pricing can be browsed here. For reservations and additional queries, you can contact Punta Bulata or visit its booking office in Lacson, Bacolod City.

Punta Bulata White Beach Resort & Spa
Address: Cauayan, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Bacolod Booking Office: +66 34 433 5160 (landline) / +66 920 9003558 (mobile)
Email: info@puntabulata.com

Website: www.puntabulata.com
Distance from Bacolod City: 152 kms.

Photo credits: Aileen of dviewfinder.com

Punta Bulata Beach Resort information and tips – Part 1

After an afternoon at Mambukal Resort, we headed off to Punta Bulata Beach Resort in the municipality of Cauayan the next day.

And since it was our second time around, we were more confident going there unlike before where we had a not so good experience with the resort directions while having an almost empty gas tank. This time, we reserved two hotel rooms and one beach house via phone the day before, and thankfully they accepted us on their guest list even without downpayment since we came back from Mambukal after office hours already. You can read about our first Punta Bulata experience on these previous posts:

The Punta Bulata experience: The different colors of sunset
The Punta Bulata experience: Sky, sea and sand
The Punta Bulata experience: Going there

Getting off the highway, we turned right on a road just before the bridge. A yellow sign read “Punta Bulata White Beach Resort – 4 km” plus contact numbers and an arrow pointing right. We went through the same route as before, passing by some rural houses, rice fields and carabaos along the way, until we reached a secluded rough road amidst thick trees that looked like it’s leading to nowhere. The first time we drove through it March of last year, we were a bit worried since there were no road signs or directions pointing to the resort. We mentioned this to the resort owner who that time entertained us before we headed home. Mom suggested that they put a sign informing incoming guests how many kilometers left before reaching the resort or which direction to take. So it was reassuring the second time we went through that road as we saw some signs, though not that prominent but their presence assured us that we’re on the right track.

Here are some information and tips I’d like to share for those who plan on going to Punta Bulata:

1. Make your reservation as early as possible. We missed having Room 1 in their hotel which has a nice view of the pool. I was late by just few hours when I called up their office and the staff informed me that a couple just reserved it. Another room with a relaxing view is Room 21 overlooking the pool with a balcony that opens to the sea.

2. Leave home early since it will be a long journey, about four hours from Bacolod (this includes stopping by the roadside for fruits and snacks).

3. Fill up your tank with enough fuel beforehand as there are no gasoline stations after Kabankalan. What we did was fill up our van at the Petron gasoline station in Kabankalan while stopping at nearby Jollibee for some burgers and drinks.

4. Bring food, drinks and toys for the trip especially if you have kids. They can easily get restless and bored along the way. Thankfully most of the kids slept during the trip and they had fun watching the local scenery – sugarcane fields, carabaos, trucks and other interesting roadside views.

To be continued: More Punta Bulata information and tips on next post

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Mambukal Resort: Rates for entrance, accommodation and facilities

Continued from Mambukal Resort: Top tourist destination in Negros Occidental

These are the entrance fees and rates for accommodation and facilities at the Mambukal Resort which I got from their signboard as of December 29, 2008:

Picnic Huts
Small Php300.00
Big Php600.00

Picnic huts beside the boating lagoon

Wall Climbing Php25.00

Canopy Walk Php50.00

Slide for Life Php100.00/2 trips

Boating Php50.00

Ishiwata Camping Ground Php30.00/head
& Camp Nolan Php2000.00/day

Php3000.00/overnight

Accommodations
LGU Cottage Php900.00/2 single beds
Additional bed Php150.00

Tourist Lodge
Ordinary Php600.00
Deluxe Room Php750.00
Suite Php1000.00

Conference Hall Php2500.00/day rate
Php3500.00/night rate

Additional facilities
Table w/ 4 chairs Php100.00
Electric fan Php100.00
Extra foam Php100.00

Mambukal Resort is located in the municipality of Murcia and is about 45 minutes drive from Bacolod City.

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Mambukal Resort: Top tourist destination in Negros Occidental

Situated at the foot of Mt. Kanlaon, an active volcano, is Mambukal Resort, one of Negros Occidental’s top tourist destinations known for its hot sulfur springs, rushing waterfalls and streams amidst a refreshing backdrop of thick trees and sloping terrain.

This mountain resort offers varied accommodation for camping and overnight stay as well as outdoor recreation such as wall climbing or boating. The adventurous can trek up a series of seven waterfalls which could be a challenge to those who are not comfortable with heights and climbing up steep steps.

Resort guests can bring their own food, drinks and utensils or simply go there unprepared since the resort has dining facilities with food stalls serving seafood and native dishes. Even Enteng’s of Sagay have a stall there.

Just recently, we had guests from Iligan who wanted to visit this mountain resort, and so we took them there though we were quite unprepared. Good thing the food we ordered from one of the resorts’ food stalls were yummy. We had grilled stuffed squid, fish and pork for lunch in one of the small picnic huts by the stream. It would have been nice to have an overnight stay but we had to go home since we will be leaving for Punta Bulata white beach resort early the next day.

I will be posting the rates for gate entrance, accommodation and other amenities for Mambukal Resort on my next post.

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UPDATE: Mambukal Resort: Rates for entrance, accommodation and facilities

Montana vacation adventures

Located in Montana is the scenic Glacier National Park which covers a wide expanse of wildlife preserves and known to be one of the largest in the United States. Staying at a Glacier National Park lodging would be great for weekend getaways and adventures especially for those who prefer a rustic ambiance. A prominent attraction is the park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road considered as a National Historic Landmark.

Continue reading… »

Berlin day tour: Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)

Continued from Berlin day tour: Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden)

An imposing landmark at the Museumsinsel (Museum Island) in Berlin is the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) located to the northeast of the Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden). The Dom was built in the late 18th to early 19th century, and as an Evangelical Church, its design is deemed by some to be the Protestant equivalent of the St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

The massive columns lined up along the cathedral’s front hallway.

The facade of the Berliner Dom as seen from the Lustgarten.

A closer look at the front of the Dom. Sitting on the front steps were some boy scouts tired from a day’s tour.

One can’t help but gaze at the building’s artistic design and inspect the intricate details of the doors, ceilings, statues, the column capitals, and other wall décor and mouldings.

Berliner Dom opening hours:

9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Mondays through Saturdays)
12:00 NN – 8:00 PM (Sundays and Holidays)

From October 1st through March 31st, closing at 7 pm

Note that visits are not allowed during church services or events. Cathedral tours are also offered for tourists.

Next stop: Neue Wache (New Guard House) war memorial and other buildings at the Bebelplatz

Berlin day tour: Lustgarten (Pleasure Garden)

Continued from Berlin day tour: Museumsinsel (Museum Island)

The Museumsinsel (Museum Island) in Berlin is not all about museums actually. Visitors will be greeted by two famous landmarks, the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) and the Lustgarten (Pleasure Park), before they can reach the Altes Museum (Old Museum).

The Lustgarten as seen from the Berliner Dom entrance.

The Lustgarten is a notable spot in Berlin’s history and went through interesting developments. Originally a kitchen garden to the palace, it was then developed into a landscaped garden with fountains. During the time of King Friedrich Wilhelm I, it was converted into a parade ground. Aside from being a public park, the Lustgarten was also used for public rallies and political demonstrations. For instance, Hitler used to hold mass rallies in this site.

This is the fountain at the center of Lustgarten where an equestrian statue of Friedrich Wilhelm III used to be.

Today, the Lustgarten is a simple park with a fountain at the center where visitors and tourists going to and from the museums rest for awhile. It is also a good place to get great views of the facades of the Altes Museum and the Berliner Dom.

Tourists at the Lustgarten with the façade of the Berliner Dom in the background

Next stop: Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral)