7D6N Philippines Itinerary (2012)

Here is the compilation for all the post relating to my trip to Philippines last year for 7 days and 6 nights.

Day 1 (20th March 2012)

From Clark to Manila & Friendly Guesthouse (Accommodation)

Although this guesthouse cost P400 (approx. to RM28) per night, but we had bad experience where one of my friends was attacked by bed bugs and there is no blanket provided in the dorm.

Day 2 (21st March 2012)

Tagaytay City & Taal Volcano

Taal Volcano, MushroomBurger, Sonya's Cottage Inn Bed & Breakfast, Bags of Bean Coffee Shop

Day 3 (22nd March 2012)

SM Mall of Asia


Day 4 (23rd March 2012)

Rizal Park

- Admission fee for adult is P20 

- Between 8:00 pm to 8:30 pm, the admission fee is P50 cause these statues will become part of the light-and-sound presentation

Fort Santiago & Manila Cathedral

- The admission fee for Fort Santiago is P75 (adult) and P50 (children and students)

Quiapo Market Manila, Jollibee, San Agustin Church and Casa Manila

- The admission fee for San Agustin Church is P100 whereas for Casa Manila is P75

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial


The Singing Cooks & Waiters Restaurant


Day 5 (24th March 2012)

Manila Ocean Park

- There are many kind of package rates that you can choose from and we opted for the PH900 (approx. to RM63) which includes entrance to Oceanarium, Sea Lion Show, Marine Life Habitat, Fish Spa, Jellies Exhibit, Trails to Antarctica and Musical Fountain Show.

Day 6 (25th March 2012)

Shopping & Shopping - SM Mall of Asia, Shopping Malls around Ayala Center Station, Robinsons Place Mall

Day 7 (26th March 2012)

Farewell Philippines - KFC in Manila, Bus from Manila to Clark Airport & Airport Terminal Fee

- From Pasay to Clark International Airport, it cost P450 (approx. to RM14)
- Airport tax is not included in the airfare, therefore must pay before depart

Extra Features

• 2012 Philippines Trip (Sneak Peek)
• Travel Haul & Expenses 

NOTE
If you plan to hire a local tour guide/driver around Manila and maybe outskirt of the city, here is the detail and contact: 

Abel Dava - Contact through sending message via email to abeldava@yahoo.com or through mobile phone: +63 908 256 3818

He charged P3,500 for unlimited of time and this fee including petrol and parking fee. His car could fit up to 7 people. 

Finally I done with my Philippines travelogue. Oh boy! I still have so many travelogues in queue - Ho Chi Minh City, Bali, Hong Kong & Macau, Melbourne, Bangkok, Singapore-Malacca-KL, Johor Bahru, Bangkok (second visit), Siem Reap and the latest one, Hatyai! Wondering when will I ever to finish them. #facepalm

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Philippines Day 7: Farewell Philippines

Date of Visit: 26th March 2012

After spending a week in Philippines (mostly around Manila), it's time for us to pack our bag and leave this fun-going and adventurous country. And because our flight back to Kota Kinabalu was in the evening, therefore we still had more time to loiter around before going to the airport. Check-out from Friendly GuestHouse and brought along our heavy luggage to Robinsons Place Mall. Decided to have our brunch here as well as, another last minute shopping here. Really couldn't get enough of shopping!

#1: Decided to try their KFC cause it's totally different from our Malaysia KFC

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Philippines Day 6 - Shopping & Shoppping Around Manila

Date of Visit: 25th March 2012

On the 6th day of our Philippines trip, my friends and I decided to have a last minute shopping before going back home on the next day. You know it's hard for ladies to resist themselves from shopping, right? Oh well, not only that we bought for ourselves but also for our dearest family and friends.

We went to SM Mall of Asia for the second time just for Kultura Filipino - their local famous brand for its culture and crafts (which I did blogged before - HERE). Plus, I noticed there is a post office nearby for me to send out the postcards I wrote. Hence, we decided to go there again by taxi, just like what we did during our maiden visit there.

#1: Had our lunch in the food court - Plenty of choices to choose from and it's reasonable. [Note: It's served non-halal foods]

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Philippines Day 5: Manila Ocean Park

Date of Visit: 24th March 2012

Frankly speaking, we were indeed overspend too much days in Manila itself. We had done with visiting most of the tourist top spots such as Tagaytag City, shopping at the second largest mall in the Philippines, SM Mall of Asia, and even done with city tour around Manila. 

Thank goodness Manila has more to offers for the foreign tourists like us - such as having fun and exciting experience in their theme park, Enchanted Kingdom or even getting wet in their biggest waterpark, Splash Island. There is another option which is an oceanarium in Manila, Ocean Manila and we opted for this one since it was kinda near to our lodging.

#1: Here I am at Manila Ocean Park

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Philippines Day 4: The Singing Cooks & Waiters Restaurant

Date of Visit: 23th March 2012

Just in a day, Abel managed brought us to the place we requested:

• Rizal Park
• Fort Santiago & Manila Cathedral
• Quiapo Market Manila, San Agustin Church & Casa Manila 
• Manila American Cemetery and Memorial

And before Abel send us back to our lodging, we decided to have dinner with him as a token of appreciation for his excellent, friendly and good services throughout the trip. Abel recommended to a dining place where not just that we can enjoy their local foods but at the same time, we will also entertain by their special performers - which are their own cooks and waiters. Sounds interesting, right?

#1: The name of this restaurant: The Singing Cooks & Waiters Restaurant

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Philippines Day 4 - Manila City Tour Park 4 (Manila American Cemetery and Memorial)

Date of Visit: 23rd March 2012

Before the day turns to night, we managed to visit numerous of places in just a day:

• Rizal Park
• Fort Santiago & Manila Cathedral
• Quiapo Market Manila, San Agustin Church & Casa Manila

The next place that we are heading to is a place that not many people willing to visit. But when I surfed from the net, it stated that this place was one of the top tourist attractions in Manila. I bet if my mom know that I will visit this place, for sure she will stop me from doing so but I really love to see this place as it being mentioned by visitors that it was beautiful and serene.

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, which located in Taguig City took almost an hour drive from our previous destination and when we arrived, it almost closed. I was so scared that we might not able to witness this place but thank goodness to Abel, he had few words with the guard and fortunately, the guard allowed us to enter although it almost closed in less than 10 minutes 

#1: White marble headstones in the cemetery. Isn't it beautiful, green, and tranquil?

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Philippines Day 4 - Manila City Tour Part 3 (Quiapo Market Manila, San Agustin Church & Casa Manila)

Date of Visit: 23rd March 2012

Before we move on to the next two attractions which located in Intramuros, Abel brought us to Quiapo Market Manila instead Divisoria which we did requested earlier. The reason why Abel refused brought us to Divisoria was because he told us it was overcrowded and at the same, it kinda dangerous for us. I did checked from Tripadvisor and some of the reviewers did mentioned that Divisoria is full of robbers and many being attacked by pick pocket and there were some gang controlled. Divisoria is well known as a market district that fill with wide assortment of low-priced goods and wholesale and bargain shopping. Abel told us there are other alternatives besides Divisoria, and so he recommended us to Quiapo Market Manila.

#1: Quiapo Market Manila is another  good and cheap destination to enjoy shopping in Manila, besides Divisoria

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Philippines Day 4 - Manila City Tour Park 2 (Fort Santiago & Manila Cathedral)

Date of Visit: 23rd March 2012

Done with one of the top tourist attractions in city of Manila, Rizal Park, Abel then brought us to Intramuros which located on the north of Rizal Park. Intramuros, known as "The Walled City" is the historic centre and oldest district of Manila. This area was built by the Spaniards in the late 16th, hence all the architectures of the buildings here were heavily influenced by Spanish.

There are many things you can see and do in Intramuros and after did a research, my friends and I requested Abel to bring us to the following places (which I did mentioned in my previous post) :

• Fort Santiago
• Manila Cathedral
• San Agustin Church
• Casa Manila

And for this post, I will share about Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral which both of these located not far away from each other. 

#1: Known as calesa and this is one of the way to get around Intramuros. But for this one is freaking unique. Don't you think like the Cinderella's pumpkin carriage?

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Philippines Day 4 - Manila City Tour Part 1 (Rizal Park)

Date of Visit: 23rd March 2012

Let's continue with my Philippines travelogue again. On the fourth day, we decided to utilise Abel's tour service again for a full day city tour around city of Manila. Yes, you still can wander by yourself without hiring any local tour guide but I doubt that you able to visit as many places and attractions like we did. As usual, before starting any tour, I will list down few of the places and attractions that I love to visit and sightseeing. Turns out our 12 hours city tour with Abel, we managed to visit 8 different destinations in a day. Here are the places we went and I decided blog them in different post instead of cramp everything into a post. 

• Rizal Park
• Intramuros
• Fort Santiago
• Manila Cathedral
• Quiapo Market Manila
• San Agustin Church
• Casa Manila
• American Cemetery and Memorial

So, in this post I will begin with Rizal Park, the first destination we visited. This park was a tribute to Philippine's national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, whom the park was named after. A lil bit history of Dr. Jose Rizal was he was a doctor, novelist, nationalist and reformist, who was executed on the charges of fomenting local rebellion against the Spanish government. If you wanna know more about this national hero, you can click here. 

#1: Rizal Monument located in the middle of the park

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Philippines Day 3 - SM Mall of Asia

Date of Visit: 22nd March 2012

On the third day, we decided for more free and less rush trip since we will spend a whole week in city of Manila itself. Plus we will be heading for another city tour with the local tour guide which recommended by my cousin on the next day. Therefore, we plan to do a lil shopping as Philippines is famous for the size of their shopping malls which few being listed as top 10 largest shopping in the world.

Among the shopping malls that being listed was SM City North EDSA and SM Mall of Asia. Between these two, SM Mall of Asia is the most closest to our lodging and we decided to visit this instead. From Friendly Guesthouse of Metro Manila, we took taxi cause one of my friends afraid to use jeepney and she felt more comfortable with taxi. Before embark to this mall, we were being approached by another Caucasian backpacker from Canada that he would like to car pool since he was alone. We instantly agreed cause at least the cost of sharing among of us will be lesser.

Travel Tips in Philippines

Before get into the taxi in Philippines, do ask the driver to use the meter. If they refuse to do so, find and wait for another taxi cause without using the meter, they tends to overcharge.

#1: Huge signage of SM Mall of Asia

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Philippines Day 2 - Tagaytay City & Taal Volcano

Date of Visit: 21st March 2012

Our real adventures in Philippines began on the second day because by the time we arrived on the first time (Philippines Day 1), it already late evening and we can't do much thing by that time. So on the second day itself, after discussed with my friends and also the local tour guide, we decided to go somewhere more further, which outskirt from the town. 

Tagaytay City, which an hour drive from city of Manila, it's the quickest and easier if you plan to escape from the heat and bustling big city. Tagaytay City is one of the country's most popular destinations among the the local and foreign tourists because of its dramatic scenery and cooler climate provided by its high altitude. One of the main highlighted in Tagaytay City would be Taal Volcano. 
 

Taal Volcano, is claimed to be the second most active volcano in Philippines and known as the smallest active volcano in the world. So, I did witness an active volcano in Indonesia back in year 2011 (post here) and now, it's my second time to witness another active volcano again right in front of my eyes. Taal Volcano is totally different from other active volcano cause it is a lake with a volcano with a lake within, and an island in the middle of that small lake. Ok, now I myself also kinda confusing.

Eventually there are many ways to get from Manila city to Tagaytay City and also Taal Volcano. But if you are travel alone, please be aware cause there are many scams around. If you wanna try this kind of adventures, you can check Foongpc's blog - The Cheapest Way To Visit Taal Volcano. Whereas for us, since a local tour guide was recommended by my cousin who went before me, he arranged everything for us except that we need to pay extra for the boat, admission fee and horse ride.The total damages that we paid for all these three (boat, admission fee and horse ride) were PH5,050 (approx. RM353).  

#1: 25 min outrigger traditional boat ride to the volcano that is within the lake.

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Philippines Day 1 - From Clark to Manila & Friendly Guesthouse

Date of Visit: 20th March 2012

Frankly speaking, Philippines has never in my travel bucket list nor neither popped up in my mind before. But there was once one of my secondary friends ever suggested to go Philippines and during AirAsia Big Sales back in year 2011, I just tried and had a look on the price and surprisingly return airfare from Kota Kinabalu to Philippines (Clark) cost RM45 per pax. Tell me now, how would you resist such an amazing offer right? Hence, I called up my secondary friends and there is goes, our journey to Philippines. 

We booked a 7 days trip to Philippines and we planned to cover on Boracay Island too. Unfortunately even AirAsia which happened to launch their new route from Clark to Kalibo early of last year for just return flight of RM27, but the travel period only started few days after the end of our Philippines trip. We totally booked our travel period on the wrong date! Of course, we felt kinda sad and plus, now AirAsia has terminated the direct flight from Kota Kinabalu to Philippines. No more direct flight via AirAsia from Kota Kinabalu unless you decide to fly with Cebu Pacific but I doubt it will be more cheaper than AirAsia.

Print screen of AirAsia started to launch their route from Clark to Kalibu - Return flight for RM27 only

The flight duration from Kota Kinabalu to Philippines (Clark) took almost 2 hours. Oh well, AirAsia disembarked at this airport which located 2 hours away from Manila as it is mainly serves the low-cost carriers and thus, it has currently become a hub for AirAsia Philippines.

#1: Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, the old name for Clark International Airport 

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Real Budget Backpacking Style in Philippines

If you happen to read 2 of my previous post, you might know that I am currently on a trip to somewhere around the world. So did you managed to guess where on earth am I right now? Well, I am currently in Manila, Philippines with 2 of my high school friends for almost a week. Once again, I travelled with different group of friends of mine and I experienced different kind of feelings and situation when travel with different group of people but afterall, this is the time where I learned to handle and make everything under control.

You might asking why my friends and I choose to travel around Philippines? Simple, because I am a travel junkie who always dream of wanderlust. That's my tagline by the way and if anywhere where I could possible land my foot on, definitely I love to go and try to explore them. Plus, my friends and I managed to book a return ticket fare via AirAsia for only RM45. Cheap, right? But do take note that the air fare doesn't included the airport departure tax.

Choosing to backpacking in Philippines like what my friends and I did right now is not a problem if you are a wise and experienced travellers. So, for those travel bloggers who used to backpack and DIY most of the trip by themself like John, Fatt, Lily Riani, Biqque, Byya, Chawana, Kemang and Shahrul, I guess there is not big deal for you guys to travel here. But if you never have the experience of backpacking before, I would strongly advise to sign up with travel agent before you reach Philippines. This is because Philippines is being ranked as one of the country with the most highest crime rate. So, don't take the risk if you don't have enough experience to plan a trip to Philippines.

My friends and I did so many activities during our 1 week trip at City of Manila and here are the things we did here:

Went to Tagaytay City and ride on a ownmade small boat. But the most adventurous experience I had was my first time exprience riding on a horse and went all the way up to the hill to see the smallest and lowest volcanon, Taal Volcano. #Butthurt on the next day

City Day Tour to all the most famous attractions around Manila.

Talking about shopping, Philippines has countless of shopping malls. We even visited Mall of Asia, the third largest shopping mall in Asia and fourth largest shopping mall in the world.

And because we have lots of spare time, we decided to have a day trip to Manila Ocean Park. Although it was not that interesting compare to most aquamarine park I visited before in other cities, but this one is way much better than Malaysia one, the Underworld in Langkawi. I think Malaysia must seriously go and learn from them.

Somehow, we did hired a local tour guide for 2 days because there are few places that is not easily accessible and also in order to avoid all the hassle and time constraint. Thanks to my cousin for recommend Abel Dava to us. He is indeed a very good tour guide and I really recommend him to you if you plan your trip to Philippines in future. Do email me if you need his tour services.

And not forgetting, I would like to say million of thanks to Lady Mariah for all the help, tips and guide that you gave me for my plan to Philippines.

After reading this travel post of mine, are you interested to visit Philippines now? I do enjoy my trip here by the way. That's recap my 3rd trip for the year of 2012. Till then, do keep visit my travel & living blog for more.

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