Blank area.. VI. Taking the Ship to Our Beach of Choice -- We had to be aboard the ship because there were no fast crafts available in the area. The trip was supposed to last for only an hour but it was three hours for us. It was really boring since we feel very tired to do anything and we were hungry as well. I remembered sleeping and waking up three times in that trip to our port of destination. The ship was really slow and there was nothing to do inside of it. There were few of us aboard. It was the most impatient part of my day for the travel. The bad thing is, we have had no any better choice but to take that ship! 

VII. The Island Near Cebu -- It was a small island where we docked and we had to get down the slow ship that we have boarded. The only good news is that the small van was already at the exist of the small port waiting for us. At least we had a little consolation for the bad trip that we had. The resort that we were to go was only five minutes from the port by car or jeepney. When we arrived, food in the table was waiting for us. It was supposed to be our lunch but we arrived so late so we had to eat it cold. It was cold and it was not very good with taste too. 

VIII. The Good Beach Things-- After eating, we settled to our respective cottages. The name of the resort that we were in was Cota Beach. It was quiet and not very commercialized, thus very relaxing. There were few more cottages occupied aside from what we have rented. There are various diners at the beach's in-house restaurant although as I have mentioned. The food must be from the beach managment because it is not easy to find food around since we are in the small island where malls and grocery stores are not that abundant. It's a white sand beach and the more the sun shines, the whiter the sand becomes. We played much games in the sand like volleyball, various relays and we have also made a bonfire during the night where we grilled some dried squids, hotdogs and "danggit" to munch while we watch and listen to the waves with the light of our little fire. It was a great experience. 

IX. Snorkeling in the Nearby Seas -- The next morning, which was Friday, we prepared early for our snorkeling in the clear waters of the sea surroundling the island. We hired a boat and rented snorkeling fascilities. It was only seventy five pesos or 1.25 euros to rent. We were two boats in total and there were eighteen of us. We travelled for around an hour before locating the snorkeling point in the area. We also had our breakfast in the boat. It was a sunny side up with fried rice, danggit and tapa. Very tasty and satisfying. The fishes are really beautiful and the corals are moving smoothly along with the direction of the wave at the bottom of the sea. It was a fantastic experience. 

X. Island Hopping Near Cebu Islands -- After snorkeling and after making sure that everyone had the breakfast, we decided to go to some nearby islands near the area to see what it offers. We went to a certain island full of dead corals making the place look white. The dead corals make the sand white after a long process and a long period of time. In the island however, the corals were not yet pulverized and hurts the feet when stepped upon. The place was also inhabited by villagers and was not very clean to enjoy its waters. In fact some garbage were floating at the shore's water. The villagers were friendly though. When we asked for a bathroom, they readily offered theirs for us and it was without fee. 

||| As I remember, I noted of our short island trips back in the Philippines. I think I just miss the blue beaches, the soft sand and the camaraderie that I found within my friends and fellows from the university and from the office. In fact the following article that I share here with you was also shared in a tourist website but since it has been more than a year, I believe that it is high time to share it as well with my own blog readers. I divided the whole articles into two parts while each part has 5 subtitles.

My very fist office as an auditor in Ayala Avenue: Photo courtesy of cocktales.ph
I. Meeting Friends at the Philippine Central Business District--  I had to wake up early and be ready with all my luggage for our 4-day outing to various islands in the country. It was vacationouting time for me and my friends. Arriving at the business center of the Philippines, which is the Ayala Avenue of Makati City, I proceeed to meet friends at the Jollibee Fastffood. The city was still quiet and the streets were very organized since it was before six in the morning and people are slowly arriving to commence the working day that Thursday. Before seven o'clock each working day is unlike the rest or other times of the day that is totally chaotic especially along the front of Makati Stock Exchange where there is a bus stop and jeepney stop for loading passengers. Unloading is not allowed. It is in another area. This avenue though is one among the most popular in the country for its revenue generating power and the amount of employment it provides to the whole country.

II. Makati City to Cabu Pacific Domestic Airport-- Ayala Avenue is the place very familiar to me and my friends thus, it was our meeting place that day. We had our traditional hotdog, egg, fried rice and hot choco (for drink) breakfast at the fastfood and had about an hour to waste before we start ourselves towards the airport. We were to go at the Manila Domestic Airport where Cebu Pacific lands and departs for its domestic flights. When we finished our breakfast we had to hire a taxi and it was not too bad paying three euro from Makati to the Airport at the Pasay area. After all there were six of us and we have hired two taxis. The travel was quick since it was early in the morning and it was Thursday.

III. Cheap Fares But Be Serious About It -- More friends and colleagues were already waiting us at the airport when we arrived. We purchased our ticket at a promotional rate which iwas Php1.00 (1/ 60 of a euro) but of course it was exclusive of taxes and other charges. Cebu pacific has many tourist-conducive offers. Just watch out at their site (www.cebupacificair.com). One friend who was to have the flight two hours earlier than us have missed it and he had to pay the full amount of ticket which was more than Php 2,000. Indeed, it was cheap but must not be taken for granted. It was a big lesson learned for us.

IV. The Flight To Cebu-- Flying to Cebu was easy and fast. Aside from the fact that there are three local companies for airplanes, Cebu is a big city and province making big demands for flight passengers. Since i was with friends I barely noticed the uneasiness of the flight (if there was any). It was more or less an hour to be in Cebu from Manila. It was a bright sunny day for an extended hot season in the country so the flight was so smooth and we landed without any noticeable problems. It was in the middle of the month of June.

V. Arriving at Cebu-- It was not the end of our trip for the day. It was only ten percent if the total travel was to be counted. From the city of Cebu, we had to proceed to a provincial port and take another ship to reach our destination. The trip lasted for around three hours due to the fact that we had to confirm our tickets for the next ship that we would be taking. Since it was our first time in Cebu, we enjoyed watching the countryside as we were busy talking inside our hired van. We also stopped along the way to buy some snacks because of the lunch that we have missed. Cebu people are friendly.

... Let’s admit it, if we all have the resources such as time, money and knowledge, all of use would be going here and there and everywhere, right? It seems that all of us were a born nomad and we all do love travelling. Don’t you? I have been contemplating about travelling and I know that fulfilling my dreams would surely cost me something. As mentioned, time and money. That would mean I have to save up some chunks of my earnings for travel purposes. Although my employer automatically saves for me 8% of my gross salary for my vacation purposes, it’s sad to think that the government actually taxes this amount at 50% as it is considered as “extra earnings/income”. Anyway, my consolation is to think that “50% is at least better than nothing at all!”. I am not well travelled yet. A few countries in Asia and Europe is not enough. My dream is actually to set foot on at least one of the countries of each of the seven continents that we have in this planet. That would be fun I believe… at least one in my plan. Naturally that would be great to be able to set foot and travel and explore or observe the customs, the people, the way of life in more than one of those countries but at the minimum, one would be all right. What do you think?

I don't like the idea of vacation though that was presented in the film starred by Leonardo diCaprio and entitled "The Beach". I mean, vacation is great as it changes your environment: one sees a new place, a new culture, new faces, new setup and everything very different from the daily life. If one gets stuck in a place full of beautiful surroundings and booze, I think it's only the booze that's gonna inspire that person or make that person think that he or she lives in a perfect place. The reality is, you will be tired of it soon...very soon if you are normal!

How about you? What are your plans in terms of travelling? I’d love to know.

| Turn to Series I | Turn to Series II & III | Turn to Series IV & V |Series VI. What I Like About Malaysians? -- I can say that Malaysians are courteous. In every tourist booth, they tried their best to serve tourists and answer all kinds of queries to the maximum of their knowledge. Of course there are dissatisfaction but when one sees the efforts they exert to try to help, those murmurings and clamours can just go away. In the street when we found ourselves a little confused, we simply throw a question at anyone around and they happily obligued themselves to help us. On buses, there are drivers and conductors who are also helpful especially when it comes to a location of some particular establishments, especially embassies, government offices and to be very specific, the foreign ministry office. Generally, I like the attitude of Malaysians. But as we all know, there are always exeptions to some rules. One instance in the Kuala Lumpur area near Jaan Ismael, we asked a youngster where we could find a Western Union Office.. He happily accompanied us until the ATM machine which have not any relation to WU at all. Only later we have realized that he only wanted to ask some Malaysian Ringgits (money) from us. Instead of giving him something in consideration for his information and effort (which was of no help), we hurriedly go away only to find his companion nearby. The only good thing about that time was the fact that there were lots of people around and it was a bit safe.

Series VII. Malaysian Public Service and Public Offices, What I Like So Much? -- I have transacted in Italy, I have transacted in Philippines, not privately but concerning public office and the public government. I also have transacted in Malaysian governments many times and this is the real public service that I may call. Thrice, I happen to be in the foreign ministry office and all my transactions were completed in a matter of minutes. The last time that I made a document indorsed, we went in a bad time that after we submitted the document, the lunchbreak came! Noon. I was praying that at least our number would be called before the office closes but we were 6 transactions behind. The office got closed with us inside. But know what? There were three service personnel at that time and only two went for lunch. One personnel continued serving all of us who were waiting! I was so happy and I really admire that system! How very good! How pro people.

Series VIII. Malaysian Public Service and Public Offices, Something Disappointed Me! -- The world is balanced and I have to say not all servicea are good. Since I have this constant complain about taxi drivers, I decided to let this concern be treated properly with some regulation. So I happen to take the plate number of a taxi that mistreated and overcharged us. I then tried calling the Malaysian tourism office about it and ask about some regulating bodies and how this bad thing can be stopped. The person from the other side of the line, which has an Indian accent simply told me that it was pretty normal! What normal? Is it normal that people simply abuse each other? I was so angry by then but what can I do? I am in a foreign country and i could not do anything else that time, after all I was only holding a mobile phone! And I was paying for my call! With all my respect to Malaysian government, it was a bit tainted that time. But now, I am thinking and trying to realize that maybe it was only a poor CSR that don't really know nothing.

This is the last page of the series. This is the 4th page and you can always click the links going to other first three pages. Hopefully this personal experience in Malaysia can help you in your travel needs. Happy travelling.

| Turn to Series I | Turn to Series II & III | Turn to Series IV & V |