Drop me @ Dropzone

My knees were really shaking when I was about to try this DropZone of Dahilayan. A one-minute thrill for Php 500.00

I first saw this Dropzone from the blog of Mindanaon and I told myself that I should try it when I visited Bukidnon.  So, when Jenny and I planned the trip, I already told her that we should try the Dropzone. Dropzone was the last activity in our list and so we went down to check it.  It took me around almost one hour before I decided to try the Dropzone because I wanted to watch somebody try the Dropzone before we try it but the crew will only have a demo once we purchase the ticket.

There were two boys who had a tandem ride of Dropzone and that was the time when Jenny hesitated to try the Dropzone. They will pull you up high around 120 feet and you will release yourself, drop then swing. Jenny hesitated to try so I took the ride alone. That picture above was taken when they put my harness and my knees were really shaking. My hands and feet were really cold. It was a mixed feeling at that time. I was the second after the two boys tried the tandem, I went solo because Jenny don't like try it.

I don’t have much to say about the Dropzone, so I just want to share this video. Thanks to Jenny who recorded a video of my Dropzone experience. I was really shouting at that time.

I always shout “Oh my God”, “Kuya kuya wait lang” and calling Jenny (Pajen in the video) and asking them if I should release it now.

Me: (shouting) Pajen!

Jenny: Go Cash (that’s what she calls me)

Jenny: Highest? Highest na? (Is it the highest?)

Me: Kuya kuya kuya… huhuhu

Jenny: Go!

Me: Oh my God! (prolong)

Jenny: Oh my God taas kaayo. (Oh my God! Its so high.)

Me: wait lang, wait lang (please wait)

Me: wait lang Kuya (Please wait Kuya)

Kuya (crew): Okay!

Me: Ako lang ba mag release? (Will I the only one who should release it?)

Kuya (crew): Kaw lang mag release Ma’am (You will the one who will release it Ma’am)

Me: Ako lang (Only me?)

Kuya: Oo Ma’am (Yes Ma’am)

Jenny: pwede niya na I release? (Can she release it already?)

I’m so annoying on this part. I keep on asking them the same question because I can’t really hear them from above but Jenny told me they can really hear me loud and clear from where they were standing.

Me: Ako lang ba mag release? (Will I be the one to release it?)

Kuya: Ikaw ra mag release ma’am (You will be the one who will release it Ma’am)

Jenny: Ikaw ra! Go Cash! (Only you! Go Cash)

Me: My God! Kadjot lang! (My God! Wait for a minute)

Kuya: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Go!

Jenny: Wooohoo! Go Cash! Weeew! (sounds like that Lol!)

Then I released myself then there I go falling down and swinging back and forth.

Jenny: S***t! dili ko ana.

Me: (shouting) Paaaaaaaaaaajen!

Then I was laughing after it and so Jenny also. Lol!

I really convinced Jenny to try it but she don’t like it. Overall, it was nice and a different experience in Dropzone.

Glad that the crew really encouraged me to try it and they were really telling me that its so fun, that I should try it because its more fun and exciting than zipline. Oh yeah! They were really right.

If you want to try this you can contact the Dahilayan Adventure Park.

Website: http://www.dahilayanadventurepark.com/

Contact Nos. 0922-880-1319

Buggy with Jenny

Jenny and I tried driving that Buggy car of Dahilayan Adventure Park. The charge was Php 800.00 for two but if you will opt to ride on the ATV then you have to pay Php 500.00. We really enjoyed riding that Buggy. I was the one driving and Jenny was the one holding our camera to take some photos. The road was a little bumpy but the view was relaxing so the whole three (3) kilometers ride was just a piece of cake. But before we took that rough road trip, we have to listen to the orientation for some safety precaution. Then we chose our Buggy and our helmets and was introduced to our guide. I didn’t get his name but we took a picture with him.
So, first and second rule were important before starting the engine. First, wear your helmet and second, fasten your seat belt, a very important reminders before driving.

At the station before we start the engine...

So here we go, seat belts and helmets are all set and ready to go. The picture above was taken by their crew. What we like most there was that the crew initiated to ask for our camera and took some pictures. I think they got used to it and they really took nice pictures.
Along the road we took a break and took some pictures. Actually, the guide told us to stop on that area and have some picture taking. The guide took some picture for us without asking him if he can take some picture for us. Here are some of the pictures that I would like to share while we took a break from driving the buggy.

A momentarily break for a picture taking

Ready to roll again. At this moment we forget to fasten our seat belts and just drive.

 
                                                              


























We went back to the Buggy and continue driving but we made a terrible mistake, we forgot to put on our seatbelts. So, we stopped and put on our seatbelts. I was worried when I noticed that we were not wearing our seatbelts only our helmets. We end our trip by going back to the station passing near the Dahilayan park. So cool! I even took a picture with our guide and gave him a tip for being nice to us.

The guide and our official photographer. Lol!!!

Jenny also took a funny video while we were driving. The video is in Cebuano language, so I’m sorry for the other readers. I will do my best to translate it. LOL!!!

On our way back to the station and this was the moment that we forgot to fasten our seatbelts. Lol!

Fall In love at The Ruins

Any woman would fall in love when you heard about the story of how the original house of The Ruins was built. The house or the mansion was built by Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson for his late wife Maria Braga. The house was built as a significant for their enduring love. The mansion was inspired in an Italian architectural design. The house was an A-Grade Concrete structure, the whole structure was made of cement.





Curious why it is called The Ruins? Because you can only see the skeleton or the frame of the house which is made of cement. The mansion was burned down in year 1942 by the guerillas during the World War 2. It took them 3 days to burn the house and after three days of burning, the concrete structure was still there standing. Today, it becomes one of the tourist attraction that can be found in Bacolod City.



So how we actually get in here? So simple and should not be costly but my mum insisted that we should take the rough road from the national highway. It could be more cheaper if she agreed on my plan but she got too excited to see The Ruins because prior to our visit in Bacolod, she already saw it at the Living Asia channel. So, I will share to you a better way on how to get to The Ruins without over spending in transportation.
So if you are coming from Bacolod City, from the pier or downtown, then this can be helpful:

• Ride a jeepney (Php 8.00) going to the Central Market. If you are coming from the Bacolod port, you can take a tricycle (Php 10.00) going to the Central Market. The tricycle will not really take you to the Central Market but in our case they just drop us near the cathedral. From their we walked, toward where the jeepney stops.
• When you reach the Central Market, you will be able to see jeepneys with a sign board “Bata”, take that jeepney (Php 8.00) then tell the driver to drop you off in the Pepsi. Then you can walk or ride a jeepney again towards the terminal of the tricycle bound for The Ruins. Actually, I think the road going there is already an are of “Bata” but I didn’t see any “Bata” jeep turn on that direction instead they go straight towards the terminal going to Silay City and bus terminal. The tricycle to The Ruins is around Php 20.00 per head.

But if you are coming from Silay City, which is what we did. We actually went first to visit some ancestral houses in Silay City like the Balay Negrense and Jalandoni house then head to The Ruins.

• From Silay City, take a bus to Bacolod (Php 15.00) then it will stop at the terminal. Then take a jeepney with a sign board “”Bata – Central Market” (Php 8.00). This jeepney will left turn at Pepsi, then you can stop at the terminal of the tricycle for Ruins. There is a tarpaulin posted in their saying “To the Ruins” and there are yellow tricycles I think that will take you there.

On our journey, mum got too excited that she really want to take that rough road. A 2.5 kilometers rough road from the highway. We stopped at the Honda showroom in the highway because mum saw the signage “The Ruins 2.5 Kilometers” when we were going to Silay City. It was a funny experience because she wanted to take that road, so we waited for a tricycle or a taxi to pass by. Many taxi passed on us and they had passengers on it. After 45 minutes of waiting, a tricycle stop and we actually paid him around Php 200 for back and forth ride.
That is why I don’t suggest that you take that road from the highway. Maybe if you have cars that you can use, then it is okay to take that road. When we reached The Ruins, I paid Php 50.00 for the entrance fee and Php 25.00 for my mum (senior citizen discount) and Em-em (student’s privelege). When we finally saw the mansion we saw a tarpaulin saying “The Ruins – The Taj Mahal of the Philippines”.



Of course, the mansion itself is a breath taking view. Surrounded by trimmed grass and a café on the right side and there actually table and chairs inside The Ruins where you can eat a snack that you ordered from them. Overall, the place was really fantastic especially when you see the sky above you and its so sky blue, clouds are in stratus added with a windy atmosphere.




The Ruins was just lovely, perfect place to relax.
The Ruins is amazing on how they develop place because love can still be felt around the area because of how they maintained and landscape the areas that will look like lovely and romantic.
A perfect place for a date, wedding reception or if you wish to propose for somebody. How I wish someone could take me here for a date. LOL!

Review on Ace Pension

My mum and I decided to stay in Ace Pension because of its accessibility to the Mactan International Airport. We were supposed to stay in Mandaue but I found this affordable pension house within Lapu-Lapu CIty.
Few days before our flight I already booked our over night stay at Ace Pension.

Ace Pension is located at ML Quezon National Highway, Lapu-Lapu City and the nearest landmark is the Gaisano Mall of Mactan. It is just in front of Gaisano Mactan and near to McDonalds. They have free airport transfer from 5:00 in the morning to 10:00 in the evening.

Since we arrived at 7:30 PM, we were still able to avail the airport pick-up. Our flight was 20 minutes earlier than our schedule so we waited for almost 20 minutes and I thought the driver forgot that they have a guests arriving at that time. But we were just early and the driver picked us up on the time that I stated in the conversation. Plus points to their driver because he was so kind to us that he even helped us to find a drugstore because I need to buy a can of milk for Zeoh (my nephew).

When we reached the Ace Pension I immediately pay our overnight stay.  For our over night stay, we were only charged for 1600 for a family room. Not bad at all for an air-conditioned room, tv with cable and a size of a family room. Ooops! Before I forgot they have a free wifi access which is very important for me and for someone who is working online.

Then we had an airport drop-off early in the morning on the following day because we had a 6:00 AM flight to Bacolod. We arranged it with the front desk when we arrived at Ace Pension that we wanted to be drop-off at the airport and we should leave around 5:00 AM. For ACE Pension details kindly check it below.

Ace Pension
ML Quezon National Highway
Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City
Tel. #: (032) 238-5050
Mobile #: 0922-852-5150

To Bacolod: Part 2

In my post To Bacolod: Part 1 I shared about our first day travel going to Bacolod. Here comes the part two of it. We arrived safely in Cebu through Cebu Pacific Airlines and we are 20 minutes ahead of our schedule. Zeoh was crying during our Davao-Cebu trip. I think he was not feeling well at that time because the weather was not good and we were experiencing some turbulence. Before the take off the flight attendant would normally do the demo on how to use the life vest and other important things that the passenger should know and I don’t normally listen to it but now that I’m carrying  a baby I even read the instructions aside from watching the demo.

As planned, we will be staying at a pension house near the airport instead of going to my aunt’s house. We took a little picture because it was Emem’s first time to ride an airplane and first time to be outside in Mindanao. I already booked a room in Ace Pension that is just in Lapu-Lapu City which is near in the Mactan airport. We did not opt to stay in my aunt’s house because my mum was worried that we may not make it on time for our Bacolod trip.

So we stayed there for a night but need to wake up early because our flight was very early around 6:55 AM. We need to check-in two hours before as their rule. Gladly, we have a free drop off to airport so we were not that worried about the transportation. We ate our breakfast in the airport already and we are all set to be in Silay International Airport.

By 7:30 AM we arrived at Silay International Airport and get our luggages. Finally, we met the grandparents of Zeoh. They were waiting outside the airport.

Z meets Mamita and Papoy

So here we go! Welcome Visayas! Welcome Negros and Bacolod….

To Bacolod: Part 1

We got a promo ticket for Bacolod trip but it was not a direct flight from Gensan and that’s why we went to Davao first then had an overnight stay at Cebu for our Bacolod trip. The reason why we opted for the promo fare because:

1. We calculated that we can save more if we purchased the promo fare which requires us to travel in Davao than buying a regular fare for Gensan-Iloilo, then Ilo-ilo to Bacolod.
2. If we chose the Gensan-Iloilo flight, we still have to travel through ferry boat and I’m afraid that there will be no available seats on that time that we arrived because Holy week was fast approaching at that time.
3. It was easier to travel by airplane especially because we have a baby on our trip.

on our way to Davao

First Part: Gensan to Davao
So we started travelling early in the morning of April 1 since our flight from Davao to Cebu was 7:00 PM. So we left early because it’s a 3-hour ride going to Davao. Carrying our bags, we went to the terminal and waited for the bus to Davao. So this was our itinerary on April 1:
0900 – Depart from the house
0930 – Waited bus for Davao
1000 – Depart from Bulaong Bus Terminal (Gensan)
1300 – Arrived in Davao City
1330 – Lunch at Dencio (SM Davao)
1600 – off to Davao International Airport
1730 – Arrived at Davao International Airport
1800 – Check-in

Davao Airport

When we arrived in Davao, we drop by at SM Davao to eat our lunch and at the same time I bought milk and water for Zeoh for our trip. I can say that it was not easy travelling with a baby even though its three of us. When we were about to go to airport, the rain poured down and when you are with a baby you have lots of things to consider. Luckily, we got a taxi who has an umbrella and good thing with the driver, he was very fatherly to Zeoh. We were caught by the traffic that is why we reached the airport around 5:30 in the afternoon.
Gladly, we made it through the check-in counter.

Check our the part 2 of our Bacolod trip.

2-day Backpacking trip in CDO, Dahilayan and Camiguin

My friend Jenny was my companion for the CDO and Camiguin trip. We planned the trip last February 2012 and finally we were able to pursue this trip despite of the extensions.
Last April 13, 2012 (Friday the 13th… Lol!), we took our trip to Cagayan De Oro by land. We took the night trip for Cagayan De Oro at Ecoland Terminal, Davao City. After I arrived from our Ilo-Ilo flight in Davao, I met Jenny and get my mum a taxi cab for their transportation back to General Santos City.
Jenny was more excited than me because it was her first time to travel in CDO and Camiguin. What made me excited was it was my first time to travel with Jenny and we were planning this since we were in our high school days. Since we have limited time so we planned a short itinerary that will make most of our time.
So, this is what in our list:


April 13, 2012 (Friday)
2000– Time of Departure in Cagayan de Oro (Ecoland Terminal)


April 14, 2012 (Saturday)
1500 – Time of Arrival in CDO (Agora Terminal)
1530 – Check-in at MASPEC
0630  – Breakfast
0730  – Went to waiting area for Dahilayan Shuttle
0830 – Departure for Dahilayan
1000 – Arrival in Dahilayan
1600 – Time to go back to CDO
1730  – Arrival in CDO
1800 – Went back to MASPEC
1900 – Went out for the Night Café
2000 – Dinner with my college friends


April 15, 2012 (Sunday)
0030 – Went back to MASPEC (time to rest)
0430 – Getting ready to leave CDO
0600 – Departure for Camiguin (Agora Terminal)
0800 – Arrival at Balingaon Bus terminal
0830 – Departure for Camiguin (Balingoan port)
1030 – Arrival in Camiguin (Benoni Airport)
1200 – Lunch at Mambajao
1300 – Walkway
1400 – Sunken Cemetery
1430 – Departure for Catarman
1530 – Arrived at Catarman
1600 – Sto. Nino Cold Spring (check-in and over night)


April 16, 2012 (Monday)
0500 – Departure for Benoni
0730 – Departure for Balingoan
0930 – Arrived at Balingoan port
1000 – Departure for Butuan
1145 – Arrived at Butuan Bus terminal
1200 – Departure time for Davao (Butuan Bus Terminal)
1930 – Arrival in Davao City
Check my new posts about these adventures.