Frankly, our Tacloban-Marabut trip is probably the most unfortunate of all of my trips. It wasn’t because of the place — Tacloban and Palo, Leyte and Marabut, Samar are awesomely beautiful places. It was the rain. Although from the very beginning we knew it would be a “wet” trip because the weather forecast said so, we still, somehow, hoped for a bluer, brighter, better skies that day.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

Creating a 3D/2N Tacloban Itinerary
Day 1 – Marabut extreme Adventure
Day 2 – Caluwayan palm Island beach Resort
Day 3 – Tacloban City Tour
Expenses
Where to stay in TaclobanSearch for more Tacloban Hotels!

More tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

Creating a 3D/2N Tacloban Itinerary

It started with Cebu Pacific’s PISO fare. We booked it for an extremely low price at the time when fuel surcharges were not sky high. almost a year later, as the travel dates drew nearer, we started working on our itinerary.

Initially we wanted to go to Cuatro Islas in Inopacan, Leyte. Unfortunately, that month saw heavy rains pour on the islands of Leyte and Samar that even caused floods and landslides. because Inopacan is hours from Tacloban City and we were afraid it would be difficult to travel long distances because of the rain, we decided to drop the plan and look for another destination near the Leyte capital. Our eyes gazed upon the other side of San Juanico Bridge and seriously considered spending much of our time in Samar, instead. It wasn’t long until we created an itinerary.

Since we would have 3 days to explore the region:
Day 1 — Marabut, Samar
Day 2 — Sohoton natural Bridge natural Park in Basey, Samar
Day 3 — Tacloban City Tour

To view the details of our itinerary, check out this post: Preparing a Tacloban Itinerary

Day 1 – Marabut extreme Adventure

Our Cebu Pacific Air plane landed at Tacloban airport at around 5:30am, still dark. We took a jeepney (which broke down along the way, hehe) to the new Tacloban Bus terminal and got on a bus to Marabut. After an hour, we got off and started a 10-minute walk to the resort from the highway.

The resort looked deserted, although well-maintained. Apparently, we were the only guests that day. After checking in, we had lunch, swam, bask in the sun and kayaked for the first time. click on the link below for a detailed chronicle of our Day 1.

Day 1: Marabut extreme Adventure

Day 2 – Caluwayan palm Island beach Resort

We were supposed to be boating to the Sohoton natural Bridge national Park in neighboring Basey, Samar on the second day. but the river current was too strong, said the Basey tourism office representative whom we called that morning. It sucked but we were left with no choice but to cancel that part of our itinerary. We ended up spending the entire day at a nearby resort called Caluwayan palm Island beach Resort.

Caluwayan beach resort is gorgeous. Their restaurant serves good food. They have a pool. and a few yards away from the shore are rock islets. You can even just walk to these mini-islands when low-tide. We booked an open cottage for the night. No real walls, just white cloth surrounding the cottage. No private restroom but there’s a neat restroom on the other side of the resort.

Read more about our Caluwayan experience here:

Day 2: Caluwayan palm Island beach Resort

Day 3 – Tacloban City Tour

The rain ruined our city tour. It just wouldn’t stop! We weren’t even able to take a photo of the San Juanico Bridge. That’s how heavy the rain was that day. We ended up visiting only two tourist attractions: Santo Nino Shrine in Tacloban and Leyte landing Memorial in Palo.

Santo Nino Shrine (Romualdez Museum)

Leyte landing Memorial (MacArthur Park)

We weren’t able to visit the other tourist spots in Tacloban because of the rain. Wuuu.

Expenses

Here’s the list of my expenses for this Tacloban-Marabut trip. remember that we were a group of 3 and we booked our tickets during Cebu Pacific’s PISO fare. That time (early 2010), there wasn’t much surcharge.

P97 – Cebu Pacific Air roundtrip ticket
P880 – Marabut extreme adventure room
P500 – Caluwayan beach resort open cottage
P500 – total transportation
P2000 – total food
P230 – total terminal fees
P70 – Santo Nino Shrine entrance fee (P200 divided by 3 persons, rounded off)
P30 – Santo Nino Shrine camera fee
P4,307 – total EXPENSES

Note that pasalubong expenses are not yet included.

Overall, Tacloban, Leyte and Marabut, Samar are beautiful destinations. I just wish the weather was not that killjoy when we were there. We weren’t able to drop by many spots in Tacloban and we also failed to visit Sohoton natural Bridge national Park because of the strong river current. Although we had a great time, I take all the things that went wrong in this trip as a sign that, well, I shall return.

Where to stay in Tacloban

Here are some of the top rated hotels on Agoda.

Hotel XYZ (provided by Agoda)

Ironwood Hotel. check rates & Availability! ✅

Hotel XYZ. check rates & Availability! ✅

Bamboo garden boutique Hotel. check rates & Availability! ✅

Z Pad Residences. check rates & Availability! ✅

Hotel Estrella. check rates & Availability! ✅

The Ambassador Hotel. check rates & Availability! ✅

Search for more Tacloban Hotels!

More tips on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Related Posts:

Planning a Tacloban – Marabut trip – Philippines

MANILA TO LEYTE & SAMAR by BUS: list of Operational Routes & Bus companies

MARABUT extreme EXPERIENCE: Marabut Marine Park beach Resort, Samar

Caluwayan palm Island beach Resort: Where to stay in Marabut, Samar

Santo Nino Shrine in Tacloban, Leyte: before Yolanda

LEYTE landing MEMORIAL: MacArthur Park in Palo, Leyte, Philippines

Java Hotel: Where to stay in Laoag, Ilocos Norte

5 Heritage sites to visit in SILAY CITY, Negros Occidental

Madam Maria Espiritu was tasked by the parish to take care of a small image of the Virgin Mary. She had an urn made where she kept the image. It wasn’t long until Madam Maria observed that every evening the urn turned empty and the image missing. As if that wasn’t odd enough, the image would return, back in the urn, every morning. The widow reported these odd events to the priest, who joined her in enjoying after the image. The same thing happened — every evening the image of Mary vanished and every morning it reappeared. One day, the image disappeared and never returned to the urn.

This is just one of the lots of mysterious and appealing occurrences that surround the small image of Our lady of Caysasay.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

Our lady of Caysasay Shrine
Juan Maningcad and the image of the blessed Virgin Mary
San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps
The Apparitions of Our lady of Caysasay
Banal na Pook: The Sta. Lucia Well Today
Top hotels and Resorts in BatangasSearch for a lot more Batangas Accommodations!

More ideas on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

Our lady of Caysasay Shrine

Located in Barangay Labac in Taal, the Shrine of Our lady of Caysasay stands on the banks of the Pansipit River. This quiet little barrio took its name from endemic silvery kingfishers which abound in the area. In Tagalog, this bird is called kasay-kasay. These birds will also appear with the Virgin Mary in one of her alleged apparitions in the area.

Our lady of Caysasay Shrine in Taal, Batangas
The Our lady of Caysasay Shrine is a chapel built to shelter and honor the 17th century image of the Virgin Mary that lots of residents and devotees venerate. compared to neighboring Taal Basilica, this chapel is absolutely smaller and less old but it still possesses an appeal on its own. From the gate entrance, three lanes of tiles laid tip-to-tip like series of diamonds lead visitors to the chapel’s main door. The predominantly beige facade features four rectangular columns that form three tunnel-shaped arches. It is crowned by two bell towers with red roofs and crucifixes.

Inside are two lanes of seats set up on the argyle (?) patterned floor. Its octagonal dome looks spectacular with its ceiling painted with nearly black and white images from the Bible. The windowed and balustraded dome also throws light to the main altar below, which is the centerpiece of the chapel’s interior. It has six columns, two images of angels, and the image of Our lady of Caysasay in the middle.

The nave of the Chapel
The Altar with Our lady of Caysasay at its center
I remember when I was a kid, my family would fall in line from the side of the church through the staircase all the way to the second floor at the back of the church for our turn to honor the Lady. Lemery, the town where I grew up in, was just on the other side of the Pansipit River.

While I appreciated the “old” look and feel of the place, the church could really use a little restoration and maintenance. It was sad to see the paint of its walls peel off, especially that of the image of Juan Maningcad.

Juan Maningcad and the image of the blessed Virgin Mary

There was a brilliant picture of Juan Maningcad painted on one wall of the Shrine. Juan Maningcad was a fisherman, who, one day in 1603, went fishing in the Pansipit River. He was shocked to see that his net had caught a small image of the Virgin Mary. The foot-tall image glowed and sparkled that Maningcad bowed down and prayed.

Juan Maningcad and his discovery of the image of Our lady of Caysasay, caught in his fishing net. notice the parts of this painting that are already peeling off.
The Parish priest learned about the event and upon seeing the image he, too, prostrated and adored it. He then tasked Madam Maria Espiritu to look after the image. Maria then discovered that the image would disappear in the evening and reappear in the morning. One day, the image did not return at all.

The story of the disappearing image of the lady does not end here. The image is currently displayed at the chapel so that indicates that the people of Caysasay found it. Where, you ask? read on.

San Lorenzo Ruiz Steps

Just behind the chapel, you’ll find 125 steps. Yes, we counted. originally made of adobe stone, these steps were replaced with granite in 1850.

125 granite steps of San Lorenzo Ruiz!
If you’re at Taal Basilica and you wish to check out the Caysasay Church, this is the way to go instead of hiring a tricycle. You wouldn’t mind the walk, I’m sure, because you will also get to see several historical sites and landmarks including the Goco and Villavicencio ancestral houses along the way. You can also climb these steps if you’re going to the Park from the Caysasay Shrine although it may be a little bit exhausting.

From one of these steps, one may reach the sacred Well of Sta. Lucia, which is believed to be miraculous. There are no evident signs going to the well so you might need to ask a local. Not to worry because on both sides of the steps are residential areas and somewhere here lies a passageway to the sacred site.

The Apparitions of Our lady of Caysasay

In 1611, a native girl by the name of Catalina Talayn was by the spring at a hillside not far from where the image of the lady was originally found to gather firewood and fetch water when she saw the image of the lady brilliantly reflected in the springwater. She told her companion about her vision, who fled the scene with her. local stories narrate that the two women saw the lady with two candles on her side on a Sampaga tree branch, surrounded by kasay-kasay  birds (casay-casay, kingfisher). It was just the beginning of the series of sightings of a dazzling light near the spring.

The people of Taal swiftly regarded the apparition to be of the lady of Caysasay. The water coming from the spring was believed to have incredible properties especially after Juana Tangui, a native who had lived all her life with a horrible eye disease, was healed in front of lots of eyewitnesses. In a cave at the site, they found an image of the Virgin Mary — the exact same image that Juan Maningcad fished out of the river, the exact image that magically disappeared and reappeared for several evenings and mornings and then disappeared and never returned again several years earlier.

Banal na Pook: The Sta. Lucia Well Today

Today, the site is marked by a substantial arch made of coral stone, crowned with a bas relief of the Lady. The arch stands on top of the 11-ft deep wells. At its mouth, devotees and tourists light candles. While the site remains blanketed with thick vegetation and the spring continues to produce water, one has to pass through a residential area to get here from the Our lady of Caysasay Shrine. An inconspicuously narrow walkway on the side of the San Lorenzo Ruiz steps leads to the site. If you don’t know your way around, it is very unlikely that you will find it unless you ask a local.

The arch that marks the site where the two women saw the image of the lady reflected on the water
Thick vegetation on the hillside along the way to the Sta. Lucia Well
The incredible Well of Sta. Lucia
A bas relief of an image of the Virgin crowns the arch.
Although the site itself remains captivating, I couldn’t help but be saddened by the garbage scattered around the site. knowing that some people use the water here for bathing or drinking for its incredible healing power, I couldn’t help but feel slightly anxious about the safety of it. I hope the local government will do something to maintain and secure the site and that the people living in the area would mind their disposal of solid waste.

In Batangas we call this place “Banal na Pook”. (We pronounce it “Banal na Pu-ok,” by the way.) I have lots of memories of this place as it has been an annual event for our family to check out this place every good Friday for our Visita Iglesia. I may not be a religious person but I look forward to seeing the local government of Taal and its people working together in improving the overall condition of both the Caysasay Shrine and the Sta. Lucia Well and respecting their sanctity if not their cultural, historical, and religious importance.

Top hotels and Resorts in Batangas

According to Agoda review scores.

Acuaverde beach resort & hotel Inc. check rates & Availability! ✅

Virgin beach Resort. check rates & Availability! ✅

NDN Grand Hotel. check rates & Availability! ✅

Palm beach Resort. check rates & Availability! ✅

Cintai – Coritos garden Hotel. check rates & Availability! ✅

Search for a lot more Batangas Accommodations!

How to get to Caysasay Shrine: From Manila, take a Lemery-bound bus (P150++). check with the motorist if the bus is passing through Taal town Proper. If so, get off at the Taal Park. Your landmark is the colossal Taal Basilica and you shouldn’t miss that ‘coz it’s massive. From the park, take the side alley of 7-Eleven, turn left towards the end of the road until you see the San Lorenzo Ruiz steps on your right. Climb down the stairs and you’ll find the Our lady of Caysasay Shrine at the base.

If the bus is set to skip the Taal town Proper, get off at the Taal Lemery Bypass Junction and take a jeepney from there. If you miss this junction (which you shouldn’t unless you sleep at this point of the trip!), alight at Lemery terminal (P150++) and take a tricycle to the “Lumang Palengke” (P10-P15). tell the trike motorist to drop you off at the boat going to Caysasay. once there, cross the river on a boat (P3), walk down the left alley and then turn ideal and you’ll come out the street facing the Caysasay Shrine.

Note: The author does not necessarily believe in the miracles described in this post. just sharing.

More ideas on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Related Posts:

LIPA CATHEDRAL: The Metropolitan Cathedral of San Sebastian

The historic town of Balayan, Batangas, Philippines

Lomi King: Where to eat in Lipa, Batangas, Philippines

ANILAO BATANGAS: travel guide & budget travel plan

FANTASY world travel GUIDE: abandoned Castle in Batangas

CALERUEGA CHURCH, BATANGAS: travel guide & how to get There

AQUARIA WATER PARK, BATANGAS travel guide + requirements

TOP 15 BATANGAS beach RESORTS + travel Requirements

A a lot more updated version of this post can be discovered here: Singapore travel Guide

Singapore, as steel-cold as well as man-made as it appears a lot of of the time, always handles to radiate a natural warmth for a nostalgic spirit like me. perhaps it’s that I provide as well much value in it being the very first country I checked out besides my own. as well as I had been right here six a lot more times considering that then.

Or perhaps since I just feel like I somehow belong here, in the middle of the towering skyscrapers as well as style parks. The reality is, whenever I have a new Singaporean stamp on my passport, this little city-state never stops working to surprise me.

Esplanade by the Singapore River

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

Booking Flights to Singapore
Preparing travel Documents
Finding inexpensive hotels in Singapore
What to perform in Singapore
Sample 4D/3N Singapore Itinerary
Breakdown of Expenses
Additional Tips
More ideas on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

Booking Flights to Singapore

All major regional airlines including Cebu Pacific as well as friend reveal fly to Singapore from Manila. Some even fly from Cebu, Davao, as well as Clark. Seair/Tiger Airways Philippines as well as AirAsia Philippines likewise added Singapore to their new destinations. For budget plan travelers, the primary aspect in selecting is, well, the budget. the very best method to snag a offer is to wait on a seat sale as well as just get hold of a discount seat.

The flight terminal terminal is linked to the MRT that will take you to the city proper. You may likewise take a bus or taxi.

Preparing travel Documents

Traveling to Singapore does NOT need a visa. All you requirement is a valid passport (with 6 months left before expiration). All you truly requirement to do is show up at the flight terminal as well as fly.

However, you’ll see in my Singapore articles just exactly how kid-friendly the city is. If you want to travel overseas with your kids, I will strongly suggest Singapore. This city-state just has something for everyone, even for the young as well as the young at heart — Singapore Zoo, night Safari, Jurong Bird Park, universal Studios, Snow City, to name some.

For a lot more info on exactly how to prepare demands for passport application (especially if you’re traveling with kids), click here.

Finding inexpensive hotels in Singapore

Check hotel rates Here
The nastiest part of preparing a trip to Singapore is trying to find a inexpensive location to stay. area is a scarce commodity in this city as well as even the least expensive hotels may still be costly in Filipino standards. however right here are two inexpensive accommodations that I have tried in Singapore.

G4 station Singapore

Fragrance hotel Selegie

 G4 station Backpackers’ Hostel. The spaces are little however it was great sufficient provided the price. It was very, extremely clean though as well as the personnel was truly friendly as well as helpful.

Fragrance hotel Selegie. It’s clean, close to the bit India MRT station, as well as surrounded by restaurants. Each space is equipped with cord TV, a water heater, a phone as well as airconditioner. fundamental as well as cramped however totally functional.

What to perform in Singapore

A lot! Singapore may be little however it is packed with all kind of sites, attractions, as well as adventures! Whatever your reason for traveling is, Singapore has something for you. Shopping? Culture? History? Food? Nature? style parks? Singapore has them! right here are the points of rate of interest in Singapore that I have set foot on. The pictures will lead you to a a lot more in-depth publish about that destination.

Singapore River Walk

Universal Studios

Chinatown Heritage Walk

Little India

Sentosa

Jewel Box, Mt Faber

Singapore Flyer

MINT museum of Toys

Orchard Road

Suntec City Mall

Limited budget? right here are 7 complimentary things to perform in Singapore.

Sample 4D/3N Singapore Itinerary

One thing I like a lot of was that Singapore is a extremely “walkable” city. Walkable since it’s really a fun as well as satisfying experience to walk around lots of crucial areas in the city. the very best part, it’s free! So I just squeezed in a great deal of walking excursions into this itinerary. Here’s a sample itinerary. You may utilize it however make the needed adjustments.

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN SINGAPORE, RIVER walk TOUR, MARINA BAY SANDS
07:00 am – Rendezvous at NAIA terminal 3
10:10 am – ETD NAIA terminal 3 (Manila)
01:50 pm – ETA Singapore Changi Airport
03:00 pm – inspect in: Hostel
04:30 pm – Singapore River walking Tour
(Sightseeing: Fullerton Hotel, Merlion Park, Esplanade, Makansutra, boat Quay, Clark Quay, etc)
08:00 pm – Marina Bay Sands

Day 2: KAMPONG GLAM, SENTOSA ISLAND
07:00 am – Kampong Glam Walk
10:00 am – universal Studios
05:00 pm – check out rest of  Sentosa

Day 3: CHINATOWN WALK, ORCHARD ROAD, SINGAPORE FLYER
07:00 am – Chinatown Heritage Walk
10:00 am – Orchard road (Shopping)
03:00 pm – Mint museum of Toys
05:00 pm – St. Andrews Cathedral as well as Singapore Flyer

Day 4: bit INDIA, return to MANILA
06:00 am – bit India walking Tour
08:00 am – Mustafa shopping center as well as Sim Lim Square
10:00 am – inspect out: Hostel, proceed to Airport
02:20 pm – ETD: Changi Airport
06:15 pm – ETA: NAIA terminal 3

You may likewise add a number of other attractions like gardens by the Bay, Jurong Bird Park, as well as Singapore Zoo. The Oriental museum is likewise a great location to visit.

Breakdown of Expenses

So now we have come to the listing of my costs as part of this Singapore trip. below is the breakdown of whatever I spent on in SG.

TOTAL expense (excluding airfare, travel taxes, as well as flight terminal fees)
SGD 120 – G4 station Backpackers’ Hostel (4 days, 3 nights)
SGD 22 – EZ link cards (for 2, reloaded once, inclusive of nearly SGD8 unused)
SGD 60 – overall food expenses
SGD 3 – Sentosa Monorail Train ticket
SGD 74 – universal Studios ticket
SGD 15 – MINT museum of toys ticket
SGD 29.5 – Singapore Flyer ticket
SGD 12 – Taxi from Hostel to Airport
SGD 335.5 – overall COST

As I always say, this can modification based on your costs habits. I’m only sharing so you have a ballpark figure of exactly how much to prepare right here although I strongly suggest that you pad this with much allowance to be on the risk-free side.

Additional Tips

Taking the MRT. If you’re taking the MRT a lot, get an EZ link card. This will enable you to breeze with the station entrances when taking the train. The train system is quite expansive so you may want to take advantage of it. It can be a bit tiring, though, particularly at interchange connections, when you’re walking from one line to another.

Exchanging Currencies. The Mustafa center at bit India has one of the very best rates I have seen around Singapore. You may want to modification money here. however if your budget plan isn’t that huge (say USD 500), I don’t believe the difference between right here as well as the ones at the flight terminal matters. You may lose whatever you believe you might save in transportation just to get to a great money changer.

GST Refund. Tourists in Singapore can really insurance claim refund on GST (Goods as well as services Tax) paid for products bought from establishments that are participating in the vacationer Refund Scheme. a lot more info here.

No chewing gums, please.

There you have it! take pleasure in the Lion City!

More ideas on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Related Posts:

On Board the Superstar Virgo: Singapore-Kuala Lumpur cruise

SOUTHEAST ASIA BACKPACKING ON A BUDGET: travel guide

MINT museum of Toys, Singapore

How to insurance claim GST Refund in Singapore

Airphil Express’ Fly as well as Sail AdvenTour bundle (Rates as well as Itinerary) | Singapore – Kuala Lumpur cruise

Coron as well as Busuanga: budget plan travel guide

SUPERSTAR VIRGO: cruise guide for First-Timers (What to Expect)

SINGAPORE travel guide with sample travel plan & Budget

Back in 2016, we were invited to speak at the world tourism Forum in Istanbul. As soon as we got the invitation, we understood we would take advantage of the chance to likewise check out close-by destinations. We swept whatever off the table, laid a map (yes, we still own one as well as we like things old-school sometimes), as well as looked for possible detours. The plan was to see Greece, Malta, as well as Italy after the forum.

But you understand what they say, some plans are indicated to be just that, plans.

I don’t keep in mind what happened, however before we understood it, we had run out of time to safe a Schengen visa. Panicking, we consulted that map once again as well as looked for alternatives. nearly every close-by country needs a visa for Filipino citizens. Georgia as well as Armenia would be great, however we were saving them for one more trip. We were about to lose hope when we discovered something shining on the Western edge of the Mediterranean — Morocco.

Morocco has always sat on top of our listing of dream destinations, however we didn’t recognize that it’s visa-free for Filipinos. In fact, nationals of over 70 countries as well as territories can go into Morocco without a visa. a lot of — like the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as all the member specifies of the European Union — can stay for as much as 90 days. Singapore passport-holders can stay for as much as 30 days.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the Wikipedia list.

This generous visa policy makes Morocco an suitable holiday destination. however right here are 10 cities as well as towns you must think about for your dream Moroccan getaway.

1. Marrakesh

Jamaa el Fna in Marrakech
The epicenter of Morocco’s tourism, Marrakesh (or Marrakech) is prominent for a reason. It’s wild as well as chaotic, however it’s likewise special as well as so in touch with its past. stay in a “riad”, the standard Moroccan home with a courtyard, in its labyrinthine medina as well as inspect out the souks in its central plaza called Jemaa El Fna.

Marrakesh can be overwhelming (if not intimidating) at first. Its design is confusing as well as there are scams right here as well as there. however it didn’t take long before our appreciation of it took root in our hearts as well as grew so significant that we didn’t want to leave.

Situated north of the southern foothills of the Atlas Mountains, its central place makes it an suitable jumpoff point for other destinations like Medina, Casablanca, as well as Essaouira.

Speaking of Essaouira…

2. Essaouira

This is me hiding in one of the turrets atop Skala du Port. Walled medina in the background.
Although along Morocco’s Atlantic coast, Essaouira looks a lot more like a Mediterranean town with a North African attitude. The citadel is predominantly white, rising from a rocky shore, accented by cerulean boats. Gelato shops mark some corners, as well as European restaurants punctuate some streets. Yet, a walk is impossible without running into locals clad in djellabas as well as being treated to the aroma of cumin-mixed tagines. as well as while it is house to several ethnic groups, it is distinctly, undeniably Moroccan.

Essaouira indicates “little rampart,” referring to the walls that surround the area. The fortress was developed under the command of the Portuguese. Called by its old name Mogador at the time, Essaouira was one of the six Moroccan towns that the Portuguese seized as well as ruled. It is a excellent example of an 18th century fortified port city.

3. Chefchaouen

Morocco’s famed blue city! Chefchaouen is finest understood for the blue-washed buildings that make it one of the most picturesque destinations in the country. Islamic as well as Andalusian design take centerstage here, if not overshadowed by the surrounding Rif Mountains.

4. Casablanca

For lots of tourists, Casablanca rings a bell for the charming Hollywood traditional named after it. however the city itself stands on its own as a compelling vacationer destination. Its a lot of famous structure is the excellent as well as massive Hassan II Mosque as well as its minaret, the tallest in the world. Don’t leave the city without stopping at the Medina as well as the Corniche.

5. Tangier

Everywhere we went in Morocco, locals desire us to see Tangier on the Gibraltar Strait coast. This northern city has a extremely different character, having been the main gateway to Africa for Europeans for centuries as well as a location where influences blend to produce a unique culture.

6. Fez

Fez is Morocco’s second largest city, however it likewise cradles the world’s largest metropolitan pedestrian (car-free) zone, Fes el Bali. Fes el Bali is one of its two medinas as well as is a UNESCO world Heritage Site. likewise found right here is the university of al-Qarawiyyin, “the oldest existing, continually operating university in theworld” as acknowledged by both UNESCO as well as Guinness world Records.

7. Ouarzazate as well as Aït Benhaddou

Aït-Ben-Haddou IRL.
You may acknowledge Ouarzazate as the filming place for a great deal of Hollywood movies: Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), as well as prince of Persia (2010) among others. however in the game of Thrones world, a close-by kasbah, Aït-Ben-Haddou is Yunkai, aka Yellow City as well as one of the three excellent city-states in Slaver’s Bay. For domestic as well as worldwide tourists, it is likewise the jump off point for the Draa Valley as well as into the desert.

8. Merzouga

If you see pictures of Morocco depicting limitless sand dunes as well as camel rides, possibilities are their professional photographers when stayed in Merzouga. located on the edge of the Sahara, it is a small village finest understood for its proximity to Erg Chebbi, a Saharan erg.

2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ • 1️⃣ • 8️⃣

More ideas on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Related Posts:

8 complimentary as well as affordable things to perform in Essaouira, Morocco

15 game of Thrones Filming places that You Can see

Top 10 finest as well as Worst travel moments of 2016

MARRAKESH travel GUIDE: budget plan Itinerary, things to Do

because the quarantine started in March, I’ve used online banking much more than I’ve ever had before. I used to choose using cash when I’m paying. I’ve had my BPI account enrolled to online banking for a while now, but I mostly used it to check the balance of my account. but now I use it to pay for purchases, send money, and even getting load credits. It made me realize how easy and convenient cashless transactions can be.

There are a lot much more other transactions you can finish with BPI online banking. but in this post, we will show you how you can send money from your BPI account to another BPI account.

WHAT’S covered IN THIS GUIDE?

1. Log in to your BPI online Account.
2. select which account you would want to transfer funds from.
3. enter the transaction details.
4. review the details of your transaction.
5. enter the one-time pin.
6. Take note of the confirmation number.
More suggestions on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️Related Posts:

1. Log in to your BPI online Account.

Open the BPI app on your mobile device. enter you username and password and press login. You can also use biometrics login if you connected the finger print saved in your device to your BPI online account.

If you don’t have the app yet, you can download it on Google Playstore if you’re using Android or app store for iOS devices.

2. select which account you would want to transfer funds from.

Once you’ve logged in to your BPI online account, you will see the accounts connected to your online account. If you have multiple accounts, choose which one you want to transfer funds from.

On the next screen, you will see an summary of your account. tap transfer below your account details.

3. enter the transaction details.

The next screen is where you would fill out the details of your transfer.

Enter the amount you want to transfer.

Tick the circle beside transfer to 3rd party.

Type the account number of the recipient. You may also use a QR code by tapping the QR button and submitting or scanning the QR code.

You can also add notes if you wish to.

After completing the details, tap Next.

4. review the details of your transaction.

You will be shown a summary of your transaction on the next screen. double check all the details and make sure they are correct.

If everything is in order, tap Confirm.

5. enter the one-time pin.

After confirming all the details, a prompt checking your mobile number will appear. If the number is correct, tap Yes, send me the code.

A one-time pin will be sent to your mobile phone through SMS. Input the code you received and click Submit.

6. Take note of the confirmation number.

The next screen will show you another summary of your transaction. It will also show your if your money transfer was successful. Take note of the confirmation number at the bottom or take a screenshot of this page.

You will need this in case you encounter problems with your transaction.

That’s it! The amount you transferred will automatically reflect on the account you sent the money to. Don’t forget to log out your BPI online account.

2020 • 7 • 10

More suggestions on YouTube ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Related Posts:

How to help Fund Your travels

8 ways to save While traveling In India

How to Hack Your Finances to travel much more

HOW TO get A REFUND ON terminal fees & TAXES: Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, Philippine Airlines

BDO TO GCASH: how to transfer money online (Payment or cash In)

GCASH cash In: how to load money from BPI through GCash app

PAYMAYA: how to Register & upgrade Your Account

SHOPEE: how to Pay cash ON delivery (COD)

We’ve been on the road now for nearly 5 years and due to misconceptions, fears or uncertainties, none of our family members have come to see us overseas…

Until now!

I’m very delighted to report that my daddy and his partner made a decision to travel to Grenada! They just left back to Canada on the 1st of September after an amazing two weeks of kicking back and exploring. The Caribbean isn’t the easiest (or cheapest) destination to get to, so we were both very delighted that they made the effort to come this far south.

We’ve got company!
We both get so ecstatic when we’re planning a trip or are about to try something new in our lives. Whether it’s a change of location or trying out a new career, we’re always open to unique places, people and experiences.

Over the years we’ve observed similar actions from lots of of our pals and family back in north america when we tell them our big travel news…

“We’re moving to China for a year!”

“Why would you want to go to a place like that? It’s so crowded.”

“We’re backpacking through Southeast Asia!”

“That’s so far away and isn’t it dirty?”

“We’re going to Iran!”

“It’s too hazardous there!”

We find their actions somewhat hard to believe and we’ve always said that if our family would just come and check out us abroad, they would have a absolutely different outlook on the destinations we visit, and realize why we love travel so much.

I guess all it took was for Nick and I to travel somewhere “normal”?!

Living in Grenada for the past 5 months has been incredible and we were really looking forward to showing our company around this island paradise, and introducing them to spare Dog!

Since this was our first time having family visit, we were both a bit anxious, nervous and ecstatic (well, maybe that was just me…Nick was much a lot more calm, amazing and collected).

They were coming during hurricane season so I was regularly checking the weather reports and stressing out about every little detail! Not to mention the fact that we’ve never spent two consecutive weeks together. would it be too long? would we get on each other’s nerves?!

I wanted everything to be best for the big check out and made a decision that the best way to lay out all of the things to do in Grenada would be to put it all down on a whiteboard. We provided our much-loved beaches, hikes, restaurants, activities, sights and must-try meals and figured they could have a look at the board and do as much, or as little, as they wanted.

The messy whiteboard filled with activities
Of course, as soon as we met them at the airport, all of my worries melted away and I knew we were going to have an epic visit. They checked in to the cottage ideal beside ours and they absolutely loved the property, how could they not?

(Looking for somewhere to stay on the island? check out mount Cinnamon Grenada – a sensational boutique property!)

The check out had a terrific balance of relaxation and activities, with some jam-packed days, and some chilled out ones. We hiked to various bays and points, checked out waterfalls, swam in the sea, enjoyed a crab racing match, listened to a local steel band, took pleasure in sunset with cocktails, circumnavigated the island, learned about the chocolate making process, checked out a rum factory, sailed and snorkelled up the coast, wandered through the colourful capital city, ate side-of-the-road chicken and ice cream, chilled at funky beach bars, checked out nearby islands…and found time to kick back at home with beers & BBQ!

Good times in Grenada
Stay tuned for videos and articles about our adventures together in Grenada.

I really took pleasure in being able to share with my daddy what my life is like. He turned 60 this year and I turned 30, so this check out was also a late celebration of our birthdays. spending a holiday together in the Caribbean gave us so lots of a lot more memories and experiences than just sitting at home together in Canada would. I’m delighted to report that we all got along, and that the weather was fantastic!

Yippee! A terrific visit.

It was terrific to spend this fun time together and considering that Nick’s and my lives are now lived on the road, I hope that this is just the beginning of us having family check out us abroad…or us checking out them on their travels.

Like it? Pin it! ?

Disclaimer:Goats On The road is an Amazon associate and also an affiliate for some other retailers. This indicates we earn commissions if you click links on our blog and purchase from those retailers.

Updated: 10/28/19 | October 28th, 2019

Tim Leffel is one of the original budget travel gurus. He’s the author of The World’s least expensive Destinations, a book that helps travelers and expats stretch their travel dollars. As someone who loves a deal, I sat down to chat with Tim about his new book, budget travel, travel gear and saving money on family travel.

Nomadic Matt: You’ve been in the travel writing industry for a while. how has travel changed over the years?
Tim Leffel: The good and bad tend to cancel out a bit and it often depends on your point of view. The first time I circled the globe as a backpacker, there was no Internet, no email, no online banking. Plus, ATMs were scarce in a lot of countries so getting and changing money was always trying.

Now it’s all so basic that people can connect to whatever they need online from nearly anywhere. The dark downside of that is lots of travelers stay waayyyy too connected to home. physically they are abroad, but mentally they’re still connected to the safe and familiar idea of home.

That’s the greatest downside I see to travel now: so lots of people are in their home-based social media bubble instead of interacting with the new people and experiences around them.

The greatest plus is everything is much easier and a lot more organized now. If you can’t figure out how to get from place to place and find somewhere to stay now, you’re really dense.

Tell us about your book. Why did you write about this topic in particular?
I recently put out the fourth edition of The World’s least expensive Destinations. I wrote the first one a lot more than a decade ago because there was no good way to figure out which countries were the best values without doing a absurd amount of research. So I wrote the book I always wanted to buy. Thankfully lots of people felt like I did, and it has sold very well each year.

Each edition I update every chapter, removing countries where prices have gone up too much and adding others to take their place. It’ll save you 20-40 hours of research for ten bucks or so, and hopefully, it’s kind of fun to read when you’re dreaming or planning.

How do you pick the 21 destinations? Why these ones and not others?
It’s purely based on which are the best values — there’s no arbitrary $X per day figure. I’m trying to help both shoestring backpackers and vacationers with a bit a lot more cash to stretch their budget, so they tend to be countries with respectable infrastructure and plenty to do, but with very attractive prices that are far less than home.

For example, I originally didn’t include Cambodia because only the most hard-core backpackers and high-end fly-in luxe tourists were going. Now, the infrastructure is much better and there’s a broader base. Myanmar will probably get in next time for much the same reason if the reforms continue.

On the other hand, I removed Turkey this time because prices have risen rapidly there as the economy grows quickly. Still a respectable value, but not as good as Slovakia, which replaced it.

You’re a family man. Can you travel on a budget as a family? A lot of people don’t believe it’s possible.
There are lots of family budget travel blogs out there now showing you can undoubtedly do it, especially if you choose the places covered in my book. There are lots of families roaming around Southeast Asia and central America, spending less than they do on day-to-day expenses at home. You have to spend a lot more than a single or couple of course, but it’s easy to get decent-sized hotel rooms on the cheap in a lot of places or to rent an apartment or condo short-term.

Three of us traveled through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam last summer on a budget of $150 a day after airfare. That’s not a backpacker budget, obviously, but we lived it up on that, eating every meal in a restaurant and staying in great hotels with room for three. When I tell friends and relatives we spent that, they don’t believe me. To them, it seems too cheap for a vacation. It’s all in your perspective.

We’ve done similar trips on a much lower budget in Mexico and Guatemala. There are families out there traveling on $60–$80 a day in plenty of countries and making it work.

Do you travel a lot with your family?
When I’m on a real writing trip where I’m going to have to be researching the whole time, I tend to go solo. but when I can mix that with some downtime, I take just my wife or my wife and daughter along. That’s much a lot more fun. My daughter got her first passport when she was three and has seen a lot. plus we’ve lived and traveled in Mexico for a year straight before and are going back there for two years in August.

What are your top three ideas for traveling on a budget with a family?
Slow down. You can’t be doing crazy check-the-box, bucket-list itineraries where you’re regularly on the move. pick a few priorities and use home bases to branch out. Don’t try to schedule a lot more thanone or two things a day.

Get a lot more space in the ideal lodging. You need rooms or apartments where you’re not falling over each other and where everyone else is coming in at 2am, while your precious is up and yelling at 6am.

It’s not all about you. compromise on what you’ll like and what’s best for the little one(s). for every museum, there must be a playground or mall in the mix, despite your feelings about that not being “travel.”

What is your essential travel gear?
Well, as editor of functional travel gear I’m trying out an outrageous amount of new apparel, luggage, and gadgets each year. I’m still a minimalist at heart though, so I try to take only high-impact items, preferably ones that are light and can do a lot more than one thing.

As a writer, I can go out with just a camera, pen, notebook, and a water bottle. but I guess the things I pack nearly every international trip are a Steripen water purifier, a multi-charger unit for the gadgets, a portable charger for when I don’t have time or place for an outlet, lightweight quick-dry clothes, a couple of pairs of good double-duty shoes, a small toiletry kit with the essentials, a good sun hat, and a real book or the Kindle. I hardly ever use my smartphone for non-work things though, so that sits in the room a lot.

Okay, time for some fun questions: Scariest “am I going to get out of this alive?” experience?
All of them involve bad bus rides really, from scary mountain passes to riding on top of one in Laos for hours. the worst though was one in Egypt — where idiot motorists hardly ever turn on their lights — in really thick fog. The motorist was still hauling ass at the normal speed and twice we nearly had a head-on collision with another bus. people and gear went flying everywhere. I really did start wondering if I would arrive alive.

Coolest “local” experience you were invited to?
Despite all the scams and hassles in Morocco, we trusted a person we met who was heading the same way as us and he took us all around Fez to places we never would have found, invited us to lunch with his family, introduced his friends, and told us where else we must go in the country. He didn’t want a thing from us, which shows often you have to let go of your suspicions. We also taught English in Istanbul and Seoul, so we went to a lot of parties and dinners with locals in those places.

What’s the greatest mistake you think people make and how can they avoid it?
The first would be trying to cram in too much and being on the step every day or two. That kills the budget a lot more than anything. Honorable mention: booking all lodging in advance. You’re guaranteed to pay a lot more money that way, especially if you’re a couple getting a room in places where you don’t have to be subjected to a dorm bed in a hostel. Instead, get to town earlier, look around, and negotiate.

You can find a lot more great ideas and information from Tim on his blog, his gear site, and Twitter.
 

Book Your Trip: Logistical ideas and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches web sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the least expensive rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will secure you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s detailed protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it lots of times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

SafetyWing (best for everyone)

Insure My trip (for those over 70)

Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.