Triple the FUN: Boracay Bloggers' Tour

Yes, The Boracay Sunset is Calling me, that with the help of SEAIR and Microtel. 

What? How? Why?

Click to enlarge the sexy image

Days ago I learn about this Bloggers' Tour to Boracay, thanks to FilipinoTraveler. So why not give it a shot, after all there's nothing wrong with trying.

I just came from Boracay 3 weeks ago during my 2-week Solo Backpacking Trip. I must admit that I even planned to erase that beautiful island from the itinerary because I know that it will easily deplete my P250/day budget. But that became more of a challenge and I just convinced that Boracay's sunset is one of the best in the world. I did the trip telling myself to stay just 1 night and 1 day.

I just need to photograph the Boracay sunset and then leave ASAP. I arrived pass 6:00pm, meaning the sun already set. I have to extend my stay and wait for tomorrow's sunset. The next day came and guess what; it was too cloudy, sorry no sunset for me. I need to stay for another day, hoping the next day would be great for that ever-eluding sunset. At 5:30pm the next day it was raining like crazy. I need to accept that this trip is not for photographing that sunset. Upset but at least I have one good reason to be back.

I consider myself a backpacker and so I need to save as much as possible in every trip I have. That would mean no staying on the hotel, no comfortable bed and no hot shower. After all I'm backpacking. I think I almost forgot how to insert use those card keys (insert weird smiley here). Would Microtel's chiropractic beds pamper me better than my hammock?

I already tried all the airlines here in the Philippines except for one- SEAIR. Therefore, I cannot compare them with others. Known for its "paradise-to-paradise" destination, I want to know if they are really serious on their mission "to satisfy customer needs and surpass their expectation." If that is their goal, then I can't wait to board the next flight to Boracay.

So I just want to thank SEAIR for this opportunity for me not only to meet fellow bloggers (that is amazing and enough for me already), but to photograph one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. That's double the FUN. But wait there's more! Microtel adds to the fun by offering Mediterranean inspired hotel for this trip. Now that would triple the FUN. Would you be willing to make this a reality?

Start by going to SEAIR's Facebook Fan Page and pressing the "LIKE" button to make your vote count, just look for my entry. Thanks a lot!

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SEAIR, the Philippines' premier leisure airline, is known for its world-class service and dedication to its passengers, even being cited in the New York Times. It is the choice of the Jet Set Crowd, of socialites and glitterati, and of movers and shakers in the business world. So for your next flight within the country, be sure to check out SEAIR airlines Philippines -- the fastest way to experience the beauty of the islands. To learn more about SEAIR you can visit their website user-friendly website, http://www.flyseair.com/ 

Who doesn't want to experience this room beside the beach? Microtel Boracay is a Mediterranean inspired resort hotel of international brand Microtel Inn and Suites. It sports a tropical island look that is new to a Microtel property. Yet the resort facilities and services available at their Hotel in Boracay offer the same great-value-for-money convenience, comfort, and style that exist at their hotels in the Philippines, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Honduras, and USA. Microtel Boracay is “the same great hotel everywhere you go.”  Visit their webpage to know more about their offerings, http://www.microtelphilippines.com/

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thanks for reading journeyingjames- my running stories and travel discoveries-- 

let's walk, run, climb, ride, swim and fly. 

You can find me at Facebook and/or follow me on Twitter.

Last 2 Days?

I know my bed misses me already. I practiced not sleeping on it a week after my planned 2 weeks of Backpacking Trip to the Visayas (see post if you haven't read yet). And here I am in one of the loved islands in the Philippines- Boracay. I want to call it the Island of the Koreans! hahaha =) Koreans everywhere! Nobody, nobody but...

 Day 10: Iloilo City DIY Walking Tour

My 12th day started during the midnight with music, dancing and party! It was a blast. So I woke up late and spent the day beach bumming (watched the day pass by at Hotel Isla Boracay shore) and more beach bumming (swam with friends ear the Grotto). And I took some weird and funny photos too!

Beach-bumming the whole day at Station3, Boracay Island

The Boracay experience is a love/hate thing, I hope I can find time to gather my ideas to write on this. Anyway, the reality is that I have 2 days left and the trip is done. But I still have excess money. Would you believe that after 12 days of backpacking and travel and eating I am averaging PhP245. I can't believe this either. But I think if others want to do this too, a PhP350 is better.

Tomorrow I will be heading to Carabao Island (locals call it Hambil Island). It is already part of Romblon. Same with Guimaras, I don't know anyone there and I do not know where will I stay. I'm excited because after 2 days I will going home already. A bit sad because 14 days seems so fast. 

As of now, I just want to thank all my friends for the prayers, CouchSurfing for the couch/bed and my hammock for the shelter when I needed it most.

To my blogger friends, I'm sorry If I cannot catch up with your posts. I will do just that when I get home. I want to make 'running' posts too because I was able to run 3 times in different places. Tomorrow I will run again on Boracay sand.

P.S. I think I want to do this more often, I even want to write a book, "Backpacking the Philippines: 1 Ninoy A Day." What do you think? Would it sell?

Trying to hug the biggest church bell in Asia, 3rd in the World in Panay, Capiz.

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14 Days Solo Backpacking Challenge

This I think will be my favorite post, the essence of journeyingjames: come and join me as I walk, run, climb, ride, swim and fly!

Come July 6 (Tuesday), I am embarking on the longest backpacking journey yet in my life. Armed with courage, confidence, backpack, running shoes and camera (Mitchkay, are you going to lend me your DSLR? Pleeeease). You say ADVENTURE? Nahhh, its more than that! In fact, I will be amazed if someone did this already.

Duration: July 6-20, 2010

Solo. I want to do this solo because I don’t want to be in a hurry, stopping if I want to stop, take more time in some places, meet and make new friends along the way. Although being solo makes me vulnerable, it will also make me trust in humanity more. I will try to eat, buy and live as the locals.

I took this photo during my first solo backpacking trip at Panglao Island, Bohol.

Backpacking. My route would be Negros Occidental – Guimaras – Iloilo – Capiz –Aklan – Boracay – Carabao Island – Romblon – Batangas – Laguna (home). I will be bringing with me my 35L TNF bag, clothes good for 7 days (I will do laundry along the way), hammock and running shoes of course. The hammock will serve as my room/lodging most of the trip to save money.

Route Map

Challenge: Simple but almost impossible, to spend no more than PhP250/day or less all-in (US$6/day). And that starts at the airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental (food, fare and lodging). At first, I’m very hesitant on this but because I want to encourage every Juan that traveling is not only for the rich and famous, I will try my very best to do this. This means that I will be spending P3,500.00 (US$80) for the whole duration of the journey. Can I do this? Let’s see! I hope I can update you along the way. P250/day.

Activities. Running tops my list of things to-do. That’s the essence of journeyingjames, to run around the Philippines. Of course, I have this mantra that “all waters must be tested, all mountains climbed” so I hope to swim on falls, sea, lakes and river as long as it’s clean (and safe); and climb on mountains. Taste the sweetest and most delicious mangoes from Guimaras, eat inasal and batchoy, piayaya and all the local delicacies as long as budget permits. Walk and roam around downtowns, take some pictures of tourist spots and make friends. Observe and learn from their culture. Eat & Run and Visit too.

All waters must be tested: photo from Magpupungko Pool, Pilar, Siargao Island

Lodging. To tell you honestly, I do not know. I want to just set up my hammock on secret coves. I will couchsurf too (CS friends, please help). I have a friend in La Carlota who is willing to host me for 2 nights, one from Roxas City who will host me for 2 nights too. In my previous backpacking trips I saw rooms for only P150/night, common bathroom so maybe I will do that too and that means minus P150 for my daily budget. So, hammock is my best friend here. CouchSurfing, Friends and Hammock.

More hammock moments, shot from Siargao beside the beach.

Transportation. Habal-habal, jeepneys, pumpboat, cadillakad as long as I move forward. As everyone will say, the journey is more important than the destination. Hopefully, I’ll be back to Los Banos on July 20 alive, healthy and ready for another challenge.

Enjoying the Enchanting Coron on pumpboat

Updates. I hope I can find free internet along the way as usage would mean P20-25 on the budget. I think I will be updating my Facebook page (journeyingjames & james betia) on my whereabouts. For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/journeyingjames). I will text home-base of my whereabouts so they will be the ones to update you. If you are curious of my whereabouts, you can contact me through my mobile phone posted on my Contact Page. Let’s hope I can reply even as I enjoy the beautiful Boracay sunset.

Suggestions. I welcome any suggestion as I’m still doing my itinerary. Shout out a place to visit or things to do in places I will go to but please remember that I’m on shoe-string and I will do only those that are within my means. But if its free, why not?

Interested? Anyone interested of my story? I already emailed Smile of Cebu Pacific in-flight magazine and hopefully they will consider this. I have to email PAL, ZestAir, NatGeo, Travel & Living and Living Asia Channel too! Let’s see if they like this idea. Any suggestion on how I can use this trip to earn money? Thanks!

Before I forget, I bought my plane ticket to Bacolod for only P700, that’s PAL btw. I think I’m a promo fare junkie already.

Let’s all pray for my safety and success of this challenge. I trust that the good Lord will guide and protect me along the way. I’m holding on to His promise from Psalm 121:5-8 (NIV)

"The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day,nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

 "Ayokong maging banyaga sa sarili kong bansa." 

(I don't want to be a foreigner in my own country.) Sana ikaw din.

Some photos I got from places I've bee too:

Sunflower at Benguet; Starfish from Starfish Island; 3 Boats at Puerto Princesa Baywalk;

Sunrise at Ifugao; Water splash at Puerto Galera; Heritage Village,Vigan, Ilocos Sur;

Shells by the sea, Romblon; Tree formation at Ilocos sur; and Baby crocs at Palawan.

Nice sunset at Batangas bay; Rock formations at Romblon;

Batad Rice Terraces, Ifugao, Pine trees at Benguet;

Palay from Ifugao; Ambuklao dam; and Night-scape at Subic.

More nice photos to come during this 14 days solo backpacking trip!

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Singlet Designs: 2nd Pocari Sweat Fun Run, Greenfield Sunset Run, and Skyathlon Boracay Run

As a service to the running community I am posting the singlet designs of the races scheduled this Saturday, April 24, 2010. For runners, singlets are important because it is one of proofs we have that we actually joined a race. So here's three of the singlets I found in the net:

Ready, Get Sweat, Go! 2nd Pocari Sweat Fun Run (The Fort)

Race Distances: 5K/10K/16k

Gun Start: 5:30am

From Pocari Sweat Facebook Account

You can also read the race review of the 1st Pocari Sweat Fun Run.

Greenfield City Sunset Run (Sta.Rosa, Laguna)

Race Distances: 500m/3K/5K/10K/21K

Gun Start: 5:10am for 21K

from takbo.ph

Skyathlon Boracay Beach and Surf Run (Station 1 to 3, Boracay Island)

Race Distances: 5K/10K

Gun Start: 6:00am

from Takbo.ph

Gatecrashing Shangri-la's Boracay Resort

As I said in my previous post I will be doing a travel blog. So I "forced" myself to write this in the middle of the night.

(Jeremiah and me at Shangri-la Bocaray)

I'm not really a fan of expensive travels, hotels, fine-dining, etc. This is because I'm a practical man. I always challenge myself to enjoy life at its cheapest. Believe me, I was able to backpack Singapore and Malaysia for P13,000 all in (airfare included). Add to that, I was help-up and the guy took US$150 (roughly P6,600) which leads me to practically penniless during the backpacking trip. To know more about it click HERE. Someday, I want to write travel on a running 'shoe-string' budget.


Now let's go back to Boracay. Do you believe that "the best things in life are FREE"? This again I experienced when we tried to gatecrash Shangri-la (this is my first time to gatecrash). It just started while we are roaming around the island because we were not able to go to Puka beach beacuse of the big waves. About 100meters approaching Shangri-la we were asked by the security guard where are we going- to this we responded "we are just having a walk" (I think we looked like foreigners on our rash-guards). Then again approaching 50meters from the Resort entrance another guard asked where are we going, to this we replied "we will inquire on your rates." Finally we entered the main gate coming from the shore.


First thing we did? Bragging rights to make our friends jealous...

We asked the attendant to take a souvenir pic of us

We tried the hammock, very relaxing

Chill man, it's free!

Not contended with entering the premises and playing around we took a quick dip at the infinity pool:

Breath in, relax- I even opened the jacuzzi

Jerem enjoying the pool, the background is sea

Standing on the infinity pool

and some more pictures...

Now we have to get out as if nothing happened:

After almost an hour of "inquiring"

On out way out, the security guard asked again:
Guard: "Anung ginawa n'yo dun?" (What did you do there?)
Jerem: "We inquired about the rates!"
Guard: "Nag-swimming pa daw kayo sabi ng isang guard" (You used the pool.)
Jerem: "Nag-inquire kami."
Guard: "Eh, bakit kayo nag-swimming?" (Why did you swim?)
Jerem and Me: "Nag-inquire kami."
Guard: "Alam n'yo ba kung magkano yun? P3,800 yun may kasamang breakfast at lunch. Next time ha..." (Do you know how much is that? P3,800 with breakfast and lunch)
Jerem and Me: Sige, next time...(walks away toward our boat going back to station 1)

Now I'm not saying that Shangri-la has poor security, its just that we really want to inquire about the rates but the infinity pool is very inviting so we made a quick dip. 
To Shangri-la, when we left your resort all other resorts in Boracay are became 'naaaaaaaahh' and 'yuckie'. You have the best amenities the island can offer. I will recommend you to my friends.
Please call it quits Shangri-la Boracay 'coz I endorsed you anyway.

Trading Globe's Run for Home for Boracay

As I was about to register for Globe's Run 2010, I noticed that I already have an earlier commitment- a planning retreat at Boracay. Still, there is something in me that wants to Run for Home and run at Ayala Triangle. But the registration fee is enough to convince me that I should go to Boracay and have my running training there as well. So I traded my opportunity to run at Ayala to Boracay Island Running. So let me say squarely that I believe that Globe Run 2010 and Green Miles are nothing compared to my RUNNING NIRVANA in Boracay. 

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"Kunwari, nanghihinayang na 'di nakasali sa Globe Run dahil walang recycled singlet and 'di na-experience yung bagong ruta sa Ayala Triangle"

(Pretending that I regret to join Globe's Run for Home 2010 because I don't have a recycled singlet and was not able to experience running on a new route- Ayala Triangle)

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(On the balcony before my MSD, I woke up my friend to capture this photo. The background was majestic.)

MY RUNNING NIRVANA:

Medium Slow Distance (MSD)

Stoked on a new running/travelling adventure, I really forced myself to wake up early (the night life got some of my sleeping time) and lace my shoes. The plan was really to run barefoot but because I saw a lot of runners the day before with shoes on I also wore mine. Since I don't have a Garmin, I just relied on run.com for the approximate measurement of my route. It says 11.5 kilometers or 7.18 miles, half of the distance was on the main road of the island, the other half on the shore with 249ft. highest elevation.

11.5K route according to run.com and Google map

First times:

1. To run in Boracay. It was also my first time to visit Boracay. And I think Boracay is like Timog Ave. and Makati placed in an island minus the pollution. The night is very much alive with music, dancing, party and a lot more. I think I wanna come back.

2. To run on sand. I run on sand but not intentionally as I did in Boracay. I must admit that I'm a proud 'runner' with my hydration belt with me. People are always staring on my belt. They think it's training weights. You can also find a lot of runners in the am (5:30-7:00) and in the afternoon (4:30-6:00). They run barefoot, with running shoes, basketball shoes, slippers, etc.

3. To run not knowing the entire route. It was indeed an adventure run, and I enjoyed it. Just having fun on the road, the beach, the hills.

Barefoot Running

I am aware of the many benefits of barefoot running and I think it is best done on beach like this:

(Attire: Board shorts by Fox, Rash Guard by Body Glove and Running Cap by Nike. No shoes of course!)

14 Kilometers Plus Plus (14k++) 

The last day of my Boracay Run was indeed a BLAST! I think it is the best of my solo runs so far. A 14-kilometer run with everything in it- hills training, LSD, run-walk method, beach run, trail run, mountain climbing, sight seeing, picture taking, etc.

14K route according to run.com and Google map

(After my 14k run, tanned already, hydration belt depleted, sun is hot. Because I run alone, I brought my friends' digicam. I love the green coconut trees and the blue skies.)

More pictures to come in the following days.