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2018-12-22T04:55:00.001-08:00

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Airport Baggage Reclaim

2015-07-17T21:39:00.001-07:00

I've often thought a long row of lockers at the airport is a much faster and safer way of collecting your baggage. No pushing, shoving and back straining to get your bag and no worrying if someone else has taken it. It could simply be placed in the locker on one side by baggage handlers and you use the Barcode on your ticket to open the other side and get your bag. Secure and easier.

The only constraint being perhaps a little more floorspace needed at the airport, but what with the size of them these days that does seem an issue.

Visiting Taal, Philippines

2015-06-05T01:57:00.000-07:00

Buses leave from Pasay, Cubao areas for Nasugbu, Calatagan and Balayan from early morning.
Alternatively wait at Baclaran and wave one down as it passes.
Cost 77P (2015) one way. Non air-conditioned bus. Time about 2.5 hours with light traffic. Aircon buses my be available.
Check the bus goes through Talisay before getting on. Ask to be dropped off at the jeepney terminal.
Trikes wait there. Private hire one for 150P one way (you may negotiate less) to take you to Talisay down the winding Road. There are a couple of photo opportunities of the lake and fisheries.
The trike driver will probably take you straight to a boat company.
Boats cost no more than 1500P, refuse to pay more. Locals possibly get one for 1300P.
There are many operators some will not be registered.
There is an environmental fee, and (illegal) landing/resort/pier fee at the other side so see if your boat price will get that included.
Note to solo travellers you will be prevented from joining another group when at the boat operators so you will need to find people before this.
Insist on no time limit for waiting at the shore.
Remember your captain's name. He must wait for you and take you back.

Over the lake and it's a 50P landing/resort/pier fee but you should 'pay' this on the way back.
50P environmental fee. Insist on a receipt to avoid double charges.
Horse/pony is 450P but locals offer 500P.

500ml water at the bottom of the hill is 30P, at the top 50P.

Extra things include visiting 'red' ash but you can see this on the way up. Going down into the crater. Hitting golf balls etc.

Baguio to Sagada / Bontoc

2015-05-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

Buses leave from the Rising Sun Terminal in Baguio.
Approximately 220P to ride a non air-conditioned bus, buy on board.
If you are travelling at the weekend the service can be busy.

Journey to Taiping

2015-04-03T06:01:00.001-07:00

Most National buses will arrive at Kamunting bus station.

This is not Taiping yet.
The 'Red Bus Company' is the town service, and bus number 7 goes between Kamunting station and Taiping.
You need to wait at the correct area. This is near the stairs where there are no ticket counters, it is the opposite end of the platform to the small stall shop.
Number 7 runs every hour or hour and half or so.

If you take an early morning bus from Ipoh it will stop in Taiping bus station.

Similarly, if you take the first morning bus to Ipoh, you can get it from the bus station in Taiping town centre.

KL to Cameron Highlands, the cheapest option

2015-04-03T05:56:00.005-07:00

By public transport, travel with bus company Pahang Lin Siong www.pahanglinsiong.my
from Pekeliling bus station near Titiwangsa to the north of KL.
Price 22.40RM (July 2015) time, around 4 hours.

To get to Pekeliling take the myRapid or monorail to Titiwangsa station. If you are travelling from KL Sentral monorail costs, or central area with myRapid the tickets are no more than 2RM per person.

Snacks are available at the bus station. No cafe or restaurant. The bus does not stop for food and departs on time.

Charcoal Kilns, Kuala Sepetang, Malaysia

2015-02-07T06:23:00.000-08:00

Kuala Sepetang charcoal kilns a few km West of the town. Entry is free. Find a younger person and they will be happy to practice English and explain. There is no online information. For written details go to the mangrove reserve down the road towards the town.

To visit by public transport take bus number 15 from Taiping bus station. The bus runs approximately every 2 hours, more frequently on week days. You can ask the officials dressed in red Polo shirts in one of the offices. The times where chalked on the door.

The ride to the kilns cost a couple or ringgit and took about 20 minutes. Try and sit in the front seat so you can see where you are.

Sit back for a while until you see a long straight road. There are signs on poles advertising the kilns some have a distance.

Get dropped off at a shallow curve and the kilns will be inside a large building set back from the road. Walk down the stone road 50m and on the left are operating kilns.

Snorkeling, Puerto Galera, Mindoro

2015-02-02T03:05:00.002-08:00

Quick points:

Total cost 820P.
Take warm clothes, a wetsuit if you have one.
Take fins if you have them.
Go at low tide, probably early in the morning .
Ask other holiday makers who they used and their experience.

Pretty much every man and his dog has a boat. That means you will get mainly two types of guide, a good one and a not so good one.

Your accommodation may offer snorkeling and if the price suits you and the deal good then this could be the best, certainly most convenient option. Alternatively find a seller along the beach front.

Tte going group rate is 750P per person for snorkeling along the coral with no time limit, renting the mask and life jacket which is compulsory for a guided tour.

I was lead to a roadside where I awaited the trike driver, he took me to the pier, unfortunately this 2 minute journey was 25P. To feed the fish I needed to buy bread from a guy at the pier 10P.

For some reason I thought the boat would land at white beach and then off I'd go. So to board the boat at the pier was 10P. All per person.

After 5 minutes at the pier the boat and guide appeared. It could carry a group of people if needed.

Sailing further round the coast 10 minutes we where joined by the smaller boat usually used for fishing. We moored somewhere off a small island and I had to transfer on the smaller boat.

It was a little windy and some small waves. If you're an unsteady person this part may be difficult.

This second guy hardly spoke any English. I tried to muster some conversation but he wasn't so keen. I couldn't get answers to any of the questions I had.

Another rocky 5 minute ride around to a small Bay. Here there was a small cave, not visible from the sea. Access is by climbing over the rock, my guide gestured bringing my footwear (slippers of course) which was good because the rocks where sharp.

At the entrance is a bamboo ladder.

My guide took a few photos for me and pointed the way out by ducking under the low roof and stepping out through a hole.
It's a popular place for other tourists to visit so you might have to queue.

Back to the boat, take care the smooth rock is slippy.

Next the ride went to another place. I was motioned to put on my mask and go into the water. I was unsure about the location as there where no other boats or people here. Still, this first stop was colourful coral. I drifted around but as we went into deeper water I couldn't communicate I wanted to go back towards the island, so I didn't see so much.

The next place suggested was more fish and a giant clam. Seeing the clam was extra. Unfortunately it was not a very calm day so I was missing detail for the clam and it was not as big as I expected. There where only 3-4 different fish species in this location and no colourful coral my guy tied up to a buoy so I stayed it the same place. It got a bit boring quickly.

Had I not been so cold I would have asked (attempted to) to return to the first location.

It was windy where I went I really needed a towel to dry and a long sleeve thin fleece.
Take water.

On the way back my boatman suggested stopping at a restaurant on one Island but it was no problem to miss it out.

Again I paid a waiting trike driver to got back to white beach.

So overall snorkeling has the potential to be a good experience, be prepared for a few other sightseers and the cold.

Motorbike hire, Puerto Galera, Mindoro

2015-02-01T00:55:00.003-08:00

This is intended as a guide only; prices are valid at time of writing. On White Beach motorbike hire is quite informal. There are no international hire companies, office or indeed registered persons obvious. Take some extra precautions so your fun day out is not ruined.

A walk along the beach front and people will approach you to hire things. Ask for a motorbike. Motorbike means scooter, usually a 125cc. Check you and your vendor are talking about the same thing.

For two people do not get anything of a smaller engine size or you will be going very slowly up hills and have no acceleration plus use a lot more fuel.

Roads are a mix of tarmac and concrete and vary in surface quality. Apart from some small scale roadworks the condition is generally good and a scooter felt safe on the road.

There was a section of track whilst visiting one of the waterfalls, taking it slow on a dry day and there where no issues.

The starting rate for 24 hours is 500P (peso) this included helmets and no hidden charges. You could try to haggle further that's up to you. I expect out of peak season and if you are one person you can get if for less.

Arrange a time and place to look the bike over and do the paperwork.

Always look the bike over pointing out any major damage, check the wheels, lights, fuel, get a friend or your vendor to sit on the bike and roll it forward whilst you check the tyres for gashes or slow punctures.

(You will only discover split in the tyre only after a someone sits on the bike)

Check the suspension is responsive and has travel.

Small wheels and rough roads here mean it's important for a controlled ride.

Take pictures of the bike all round. It did have a couple of stickers with the hire 'company' name on in discreet places.

There was a contract to sign, this had the vendors company name and number on it. A torn off half page with my name age etc. Some disclaimers, any damage and the rider is fully liable. Don't speed. Any hour late was 50P extra. And to return the bike with a full tank of fuel. This will vary between sellers, the jist is anything bad happens and it's your fault. Obviously if the bike is not full of fuel before leaving, negotiate a discount or agree to return with the same fuel level (and write the current fuel level on whatever you sign).

Better providing a copy of ID as you are leaving it with a stranger, particularly one without an office. This was no problem.

Before setting off get the landline and mobile number in case I had problems and to return the bike the next day.

Don't forget to check how to open the seat and fuel cap. It's still good to check before you leave.

Next I went up and down the driveway to get a feel for this bike.

I rode 2 people White Beach to Sabang and back, and White Beach to Tukuran waterfall and back I'm guessing 110km. Fuel was 100P, about 3 liters.

I suggest refilling with half a tank left as sometimes petrol garages are far apart and can close randomly. Plus the winding hill roads take their toll.

Remember the rules of the Philippine Road, anything bigger than you gets priority. Stay calm and use your horn if someone is not looking (everyone else does).

The bike I hired. A fairly new Yamaha. Good pull up the hills and sensitive throttle without needing an iron grip and the front break was sharp. Headlamps where not good, indicator switch was difficult to turn off, fuel guage on my model was very vague from the graphic, a full tank was well above the full line. This post is not to review the bike but things to consider of you have bike options.

So have fun, drive safe.