Exploring CDO-Camiguin-Bukidnon: Expenses

Travel Date: March 10-13, 2011

Here's a breakdown of our expenses.

• All in PHP per pax
• There were four of us including the tour guide
• All group expenses were divided into 3 as we also shouldered the guide's meal, transpo, accommodation, and entrance fees (if applicable)

Cebu Pacific Airfare: 375.20 (bought during the 10.10.10 sale :))

Day 1:
Terminal Fee: 200.00
Breakfast: 100.00
Motorela fare: 7.00
Bus to Balingoan Wharf:  142.50
Fastcraft to Benoni: 200.00 (150.00/pax)
Transfer fee: 2.25
Lunch: 220.50
Entrance to Katibawasan Falls: 15.00
Entrance to Ardent Spring: 30.00
Dinner: 93.33 (our total bill was only 280.00 for a 5 hungry peeps-including the driver)
Drinks: 33.33 (we bout some alcoholic drinks for the tour guide and the driver)
Groceries: 45.00 (personal)

Day 1 Total: 1,038.91

Day 2:
Boat to White Island: 133.33 (400.00/boat)
Registration: 20.00 (free for tour guides)
Breakfast: 300.00
Day 1- Early Day 2 Accommodation: 446.66 (1,300.00-room, 40.00-coffee)
Van: 733.33 (2,200 from Day 1 12PM to Day 2 around 3PM)
Soda Spring: 20.00
Shirts: 300.00 (150/shirt-cheaper at Katibawasan Falls)
Motorboat to Mantigue: 183.33 (550.00/boat)
Mantigue Entrance: 20.00 (tour guide not included)
Mantigue Environmental Fee: 26.66 (20.00/pax)
Table: 16.66 (50.00/table)
Coke: 20.00
Fastcraft to Balingoan: 200.00 (150.00/pax)
Taxi to CDO: 150.00 (total 450.00, 50.00 was for tip)
Mass Spec accommodation: 371.66 (Twin room-840.00/night, 275.00/extra bed)
Dinner: 168.33

Day 2 Total: 3,110.00

Day 3:
Van: 1,166.66
Zipline: 666.66 (although all rides is only 600.00. we forgot our change so we just split the whole amount amongst ourselves)
Certificate: 100.00
Brunch: 383.33 (we ate at a buffet resto. total bill is 1,150 for 5 peeps)
White Water Rafting: 700.00 (Beginner's course)
Tip: 33.33 (for the WWR guide)
Fare to Kagay Office: 9.33 (7.00/pax)
CD: 83.33 (250/CD, video not included)
Fare to Steves: 10.00
Outdoor shop: 240.00 (personal)
Dinner: 183.33 (total bill-550.00 for 4 peeps)
Fare to lodge: 9.33
Lodge: 371.66
Guide fee: 1,333.33 (we paid him 4,000. his original rate was 4,500.00 and he'll pay for his own meal. however, upon arrival, he requested us to just pay for all his meals and deduct later. upon computation, he was left with around 3,200.00 but we decided to still pay him 4,000.00)

Day 3 Total: 5,290.29

Day 4:
Taxi to airport: 100.00 (trip costs 300.00)
Terminal Fee: 30.00
Pastel: 400 (estimate for 3 boxes. forgot the exact price. it's still cheaper outside of course)
Breakfast: 250.00 (estimate, Shakey's airport)
Fare to Makati: 50.00

Day 4 Total: 830.00

Total Expenses: Php 10, 64.44

Special blessing

Heard mass at Greenbelt yesterday. Before the final blessing, the priest called all the birthday celebrants and those celebrating their wedding anniversaries for the month to go infront for a pray over and special blessing. How nice and touching! As per the priest, since it's our special month, we should ask for the things that we really, truly want. Of course I told Him my wish. :)

Summiting Mt. Timbak

I'm back to the boondocks! For how long? I'm not sure LOL. I just need some training climbs to prepare for our Mt. Kinabalu climb on March 24-25, 2011.

Anyway, last Feb. 19-20, the Outdoor group in the office went to Mt. Timbak for some fun and outreach program. Thanks to the organizers, they were able to ask for permission for us to use some of the classrooms at Mongoto Elementary School as sleeping quarters for the night. Also, we asked the rented van to just drop us at the school grounds so we didn't have to walk hehe.

One of the exciting things to do in the mountains is to watch the sunrise and sunset. We weren’t lucky to catch the sunset though because we arrived at the school at around 6PM already. We were blessed however with the full moon which looked amazingly perfect in its roundness that night. Moonlight + cold weather = romantic.

We woke up at around 4AM the next day for the summit assault. It's said that Mt. Timbak's summit is the same level with that of Mt. Pulag's saddle. My lungs were very much challenged during the climb to the summit that I almost gave up. I had difficulty breathing the early morning breeze. My layers of long sleeves felt like it's constricting my breathing so I had to remove it despite the coldness. I don't know if I had a case of AMS or I was just not ready for any physical activities as I did not prepare prior the climb. Anyway, after much self-talking, I was able to reach the summit. It was all worth it. The weather was beautiful that day we were able to watch the sun rise and there was a sea of clouds below us. Another interesting thing was that while the sun was rising, you can see the reflection of one mountain in the other mountain. Simple and ordinary but I was still amazed.

After breakfast, we headed to where some of the mummies' caves were. It was at least an hour's trek along a road and a path down the mountain. It was my first time to see a mummy despite it being part of my culture. I'm glad to finally see one.

We were supposed to also go and visit Apo Anno in Natubleng but we were already delayed based on our itinerary so we aborted the plan.

On the way back to Baguio, we dropped by KM 52 where the highest point of the Philippine Highway System can be found.

We were back in Baguio at around 4PM where the others took a bath in the public CRs in Burnham. Glad to know that we already have those in Baguio :).

As for me, I went home straight to check on my project.

Estimated budget for this trip is around Php 2K for a Manila-Baguio-Mt. Timbak-Baguio-Manila route. This already includes our donation, transportation and food. We were a big group though so our share for the rented van maybe smaller.

A good reference for this can be found at the Pinoy Mountaineer site.

I appreciate the group for giving respect to the locals, the place itself and the culture.

Visiting Hong Kong

Last July 2-6, 2010, we went to HK for a short vacation. We just visited the usual tourist areas. We did not avail of any tour packages however because as per reviews, HK is tourist friendly and easy to navigate on our own. Our main reference for this travel was from PinoyExchange forum's Hong Kong for Dummies.

We also stayed at Golden Crown Guest House in Tsim Sia Tsui. Their rates are affordable and the owners are friendly and helpful. The location is also perfect especially for first timers.

What I really love about HK is their transport system. All lines are interconnected and you can just hop from one train to the next at the intersection in a matter of minutes.

When going there, be sure to also visit their market. I'm sure you'll be amazed at how clean and organized it is. No flies, the area is dry and the fruits and vegetables look fresh.

Our estimated budget was at around Php 20K (with a little shopping on the side) including airfare. We were lucky to avail of Cebu Pacific's promo fare last 2009 and we only paid Php 1,220.00 for two-way already.

Next time I go back, I'll make sure I have more shopping money LOL. Also, I'll try to ride all the train lines and visit the non-tourist spots as well.

Below are some pictures of that visit.

My Month

This is officially my month. It's not starting out so well but I'll still rock this month. Hello 15th, hello 23rd, and hello dates that I'm on several trips :).

Bring it on March!