Summer is here.
It’s travel time and we have 7,107 choices in the country. For those who have more disposable income, Southeast Asia destinations are tantalizing.
Vacation is time for relaxation and merriment. For some it’s adventure. But we should be careful not be too relaxed that we forget caution. The last thing that we would want is to turn vacation into nightmare.
Here are some simple, practical vacation and travel tips.
1. Make sure that the vehicle, if you are going by land, is in good condition. Is the driver also in good condition?
There was one trip I remember from Antique to Iloilo. I was with two other foreign journalists and a friend had us brought to Iloilo for our flight. Unknown to him, his driver stayed up late the night before and was sleepy. Somewhere in the town of San Joaquin in Iloilo, we noticed our car was going off the main road and to the sidewalk where a group of girls were walking. We alerted the driver who dozed off while driving. A split- second swerve avoided what could have been a terrible accident.
2. When you are taking a plane, make sure that you have your tickets with you as you leave your place for the airport. I know a number of people, who, in their rush forget to put their tickets in their bag and find out the omission upon arrival at the airport and there’s no more time to go back for it.
Since this is peak passenger season, the lines are usually long. Go to the airport early, at least two hours before your flight.
3. Have a checklist of the basic things you should bring. Clothes, underwears, medicine, etc. etc. Don’t forget appropriate shoes for activities you plan to do.
4. In your trip back, also make sure that you didn’t forget anything. Check the bathrooms for clothes that you hang dry.
Since the Philippines is a tropical country, the favorite destinations are beaches. At Fitness First, where I work out, I noticed more clients, mostly young people. It’s good to look good in a two-piece suit in the beach.
Actually, in the beach, everybody is pre-occupied with their own respective activities, no one really cares if you look terrific in a bikini or you are fat or thin. What is important is you enjoy.
Let me tell you a story when we went swimming in Acapulco, Mexico. We covered the state visit of President Ramos to Mexico and Acapulco was part of the itinerary.
During one of his meetings with officials that my reporter friends and I were not part of the media pool, we went to the beach because Acapulco is famous as a resort city. Gad, the Mexican girls were dazzling. They were so shapely. They have big breasts and flat abs. We felt so insecure, we didn’t want to get near them.
We told this to then Health Secretary Juan Flavier and he tried to console us saying, “Don’t feel bad. At least you are able to see your toes.”
Perfect summer activity is swimming. Do you know how to swim? If not, it’s never too late to take up swimming lessons. It’s easy and you can learn in a week.
Here are additional tips when in a beach from bloggers Tongue-Twisted and Duane:
1. Keep a close eye on the children. Make sure they are complete.
2. Practice the buddy system so that one takes care of another. Never allow one to go into the water alone.
3. Make sure you know the underwater terrain. Let them know which part of the sea is deep by marking them with a rope or empty bottles.
4. If you are a big group, assign a lifeguard who would take turns in monitoring.
5. Make sure that at least one knows CPR, CPR Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation.
6.Don’t get drunk.
7. Stay out of the sun between 10:00am and 2:00pm. Bad for the skin. Best is between 7:00 am and 9 am. Then resume enjoying the sun at 4 pm. Enjoy the sunset.
8. Avoid staring at the sexy bodies near you. Baka ka magulpi. Better wear sunglasses so it would not be too obvious.
9. Don’t go on a boat trip with children who don’t know how to swim. If you have to take a boat ride with the kids, make sure they are wearing life vests. It’s a good precautionary measure to wear a life vest even if you know how to swim when going to islands where you have to pass through the deep sea.
10. Drink plenty of water to avoid heat stroke.
I might add that in most places, where families with children are spending their time together, picture taking of Children are usually forbidden unless permission is given..in our case it is always respected for privacy of minors unless with permission from parents and or guardian..
Actually in public arena where children go for their sports lesson, like skating, swimming, basketball, and any sports, picture taking even by parents or anyone is not allowed unless by special permission for lawful purposes like school exhibits, but otherwise, nada…don’t know about this rule and was surprised that was the only one taking pictures of my grandnephew in his first swimming lesson and his skating lesson..and I was asked to delete the pictures when caught during the skating lesson…politely but with authority.
Hindi oobra sa mrs. ko ang sunglasses,kahit may suot ako, alam pa rin niya kung saan ako naka tingin hmp..
ganda naman ng tanawing ito. nakakahomesick. sa antique ba ito ms ellen? ricefields on one side and deep blue sea on the other side.
Yan ang hirap sa ating mga sobrang guwapo, patria. hehehe.
As for myself, I am not the jealous type. I don’t get jealous whether my girl is married or is engaged. [wink] 😉
Ningcho, re #4. Yes, that’s our place in Antique.
That’s the view from my bedroom. It’s so serene and reinvigorating.
During stormy weather, I can hear the waves as if venting it’s anger.
Let me tell you a story when we went swimming in Acapulco, Mexico. We covered the state visit of President Ramos to Mexico and Acapulco was part of the itinerary.
During one of his meetings with officials that my reporter friends and I were not part of the media pool, we went to the beach because Acapulco is famous as a resort city. Gad, the Mexican girls were dazzling. They were so shapely. They have big breasts and flat abs. We felt so insecure, we didn’t want to get near them.
We told this to then Health Secretary Juan Flavier and he tried to console us saying, “Don’t feel bad. At least you are able to see your toes.”
Oo nga naman, Ellen. No reason why you would feel insecure.For all you know, those dazzling figures are handiwork of ‘Salamat kay Doc’.
@ellen
ganda ng lugar nyo. you’re lucky to have a place like that. the early morning breeze there must be awesome. diin ka sa antique? marunong ka pa mag ilonggo? nakapunta na ako sa antique b4. ang haba ng byahe from iloilo to antique. by bus 6hrs yata? sakit sa pwet. hehehe.
The green green ricefield of home. Walang tatalo sa ganda.
Ningcho, three to fours hours lang naman from Iloilo to our place in Laua-an. You might have gone to the northernmost part of Antique. Our town is in the middle of Antique.
Minsan-Minsan, o sana palagi-an, naka-kakita tayo ng ganitong tanawin..Refreshing, soothing-healing to th eyes, and reflects to a Peaceful thoughts and mind. Sana, marami nito, para maraming matitinong Tao, sa mundo y gobyerno. Less na sa mga sobrang Php at $$$$ na lalong nakakaluko ng mga utak ng karamihan, lalo na mga greedy, na mga politikos. Matataba nga ang katawan nila, salat naman ang mga utak sa katutuhanan, or THRUTH !..Sinasayang ang pera at panahon ni Juan de La Cuz !..
during the sixties, ganyan ang makikita sa kahabaan ng South Expressway with the Laguna Lake as background.
ngayon? nakupu na!
Kaya, kahit medyo mabigat ang pamasahe sa eroplano at mahaba ang biyahe, gusto ko pa rin umuwi sa probinsiya. Gusto ko i-enjoy itong tanawin habang nandyan pa.
Baka balang araw, with the population explosion, mga bahay o factory site na ang palayan.
Wala pang Expressway nung 1960s, you must be thinking of the Old National Highway. 1975 na yata nagawa yang SLEX. Pero tama ka, Magno, ganyan ang itsura ng daan dito sa South noon. Madalas ako sumama sa Lola ko pag mamimili ng mga sinelas at sapatos sa Biñan nung maliit pa ako. Sasakay kami sa Biñan Liner (BBL na ngayon) yung bus na walang mga side panels. Yung mga kunduktor ay bumibitin lang sa malapad na estribo sa kahabaan ng bus. Hindi naman delikado dahil ang takbo ng bus ay nasa 40-50kph lang kaya kulang-kulang isang oras ang byahe. Ngayon ay may mga 20 mins pag walang mga sasakyan.
Makarating ka pa lang ng Taguig sa tapat ng runway ng MIA amoy mo na ang halimuyak ng bagong tabas na palay o damo, kundi’y yung sinusunog na ipa ng palay. Probinsyang-probinsya talaga.
Ngayon kundi mga mansion ng mga kurakot na heneral, mga pabrikang naglalakihan ang makikita mo. Kagandahan lang, mas maluwag sa dibdib huminga dito kesa sa Kamaynilaan. Pramis, pag dating ng sasakyan mo sa tuktok ng Muntinlupa flyover, magbukas ka ng bintana at patayin mo ang aircon.
Damang-dama mo ang laki ng pagkakaiba ng kalidad ng hangin dito kesa sa Maynila.
#12 and # 13
Laking Lawa de Bay ako at nagkamulat ako na wala pang CDCP (PNCC) noon. Two lanes lang yung expressway na walang bakod at hindi patag at dumadadaan sa mga burol. Dati mataas yung Sucat Exit part na kitang kita ang laguna de bay na kulay green at walang fish pen. Right after martial law, nagdatingan na yung mga bulldozer ng CDCP at nilagyan na ng wire fence yung old road na ngayon ay expressway na.
Yun ding mga bus na walang side panels ang sinasakyan namin pag lumuluwas kami pa Manila. May BLTB, JAM at Kapalaran liner pa nun. Naging ambition ko nga noon na maging conductor ng bus dahil sa galing ng mga conductormagpalipat lipat kung maniningil. TT sa Binan din kami namimili noon ng damit at sapatos at dun din kami nanoon ng sine sa Ligaya theater at sa tabi ng Ligaya may masarap na gotohan.
Apologies kay Ms. Ellen, biglang nanariwa ang pagkabata kaya napa kwento na.
Oblak, you don’t have to apologize. The discussion is about vacation which could be revisiting roots.
Naging ambition ko nga noon na maging conductor ng bus dahil sa galing ng mga conductor magpalipat lipat kung maniningil. -Oblak
Tapos naging abugado ka, hehehe!
___
Tongue, madalas kang dumaan sa SLEX papunta kina Cocoy, di ba? Super ganda pala ang landscape sa expressway na yan, ano? Impressive!
Ms. Chi, that is irrelevant, immaterial and impertinent. Hahahahahaha!!!
Hahahahahahaha!!!
Rice fields, mango groves, coconut trees, sandy beaches.. beautiful!
Right, Phil. Things that rich people pay so much to savor and enjoy while we in the barrio enjoy for free.
I always love to see the greenfields! If you have this view and you are close to the ocean, ayos!
Ellen, how far are you from Boracay?
Three hours by bus from Boracay. Shorter if by private car.
Last year, after attending the wedding of Magdalo officer Bem Pontejos and Bamby Frangue in Boracay, some of the guests (our friends) passed by our place and stayed overnight before proceeding to Iloilo (another three hours) where we took the flight to Manila.
chi, baka naman NLEX. kasi kung sa SLEX ka dadaan, aba’y kahit magtumbalentong ka’y hindi ka makakarating kina cocoy. aabuting ka ng pagkabuhay muli ni matusalemay hindi ka makakarating sa zambales kung sa SLEX ka dadaanan. sa amin, maaari pa.
Tongue, mali ka. late sixties na ginawa ang SLEX. dati na akong nagtrabaho noon (bakasyon sa eskuwela) sa Ford Philippines kasama ng tiyuhin kong empleyado ng maintenance contractor na W.A.Chittick na ang opis ay sa makati.
1971 diyan ako nagtrabaho sa International Textile Mills katabi ng Solid Mills habang nag-aaral and lately, napasok sa serbisyo in 1973 kaya hindi ko makakalimutan.
MPR, ikaw ba yung taga tunog ng sirena kapag 6AM, 2PM at 10PM sa Sucat?
ngek!
oblak, ginawa mo akong sereno noong panahon ng mga guardia civil, ah!
Tongue, si Jun Pineda of the jueteng empire daw ang may ari ng Coral View.
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Mags, talagang SLEX kasi it connects MM to Subiic, ang bilis. Galing kami Tandang Sora via UP biglang nasa San Fernando, Pampanga na kami.
Ay mali! Korek ka Mags, SCTEx pala.
Sori, para na akong si flip-flopping Thief Magistrate, pero yun sa akin ay honest mistake kasi mahina ako sa geography tulad ni Kitsch Taylor.
“Laking Lawa de Bay ako at nagkamulat ako na wala pang CDCP (PNCC) noon……….” – oblak
Lawa de Bay? Saan ga itong lugar sa Pilipinas? Ala’y wala namang gay’anan, ah.
Hahaha, SCTex nga yung papa-Subic. Ganda ng kalsada, ang luwag pero nakakatakot, masyadong straight at walang liku-liko. Hiniwa sa gitna pati mga bundok kaya dire-diretso. Makakatulog ang driver sa haba ng straight portions. Maniwala ka, kinocontrol mo na ang speed mo para ma-maintain 80kph magugulat ka na lang 120kph ka na. Pag labas mo sa exit may ticket at litrato ka pa.
Pasalamat ako sa SCTex dahil hindi na dumadaan sa bayan ni Putot (Lubao) na matrapik na malubak pa. Kaso di na namin nadadaanan yung mga bayan ng Bataan.
chi, Kaya naman pala maganda sa brochure/website, patapon na pera ang pinanggalingan ng Coral View. Ayoko na doon.
Tongue, ayaw nga ng mga nephews ko na mag-drive sa STEx kasi nakakatulog daw sila kaya sa Mac Arthur sila dumadaan. We just happened to use it last Nov. when my father passed away, deretso kami from the airport.
I also did not know Pineda’s resort kundi mo binanggit, nasa aplaya pala ng poblacion at really first class daw. Hindi ako ngayon nagtataka kung bakit ang weteng ay official job sa bayan at walang kiber ang mayor, hahaha! Meron pang suot na uniporme ang mga nagpapataya, sa likod ay may Sweepstakes logo pa.
Namulubi ako dyan sa STEx, bawat dalawang milya yata ay may toll fee, dinaig pa ang Florida expressway na suyang-suya ako.
Biruin mo gastos ko, mula Skyway, SLEX, NLEX, tapos SCTex. Payat ang P500 one way. Kaya ako katabi ko tagabayad dahil naiinis ako at masisira pagmamaneho ko kung kukuwentahin ko ang Toll fee. Tama ka, ang daming binabayaran e di ka naman umaalis sa kalsadang yun. Di na lang isang bayaran.
Marahil tama ka nga Tata Magno, isipin mo, 1973 pumasok ka na sa serbisyo e Grade 4 lang ako noon. Inabot ko pa yung ITM at Solid Mills sa Sucat, pati na yung Ford sa Mantrade at Chittick WA di kalayuan sa Ford. Malapit yan sa dating Channel 5. Pamilyar din ako sa Pasong Tamo dahil dun ako a kanto ng Pasong Tamo at Pasay Road nag-Elementary hanggang High School. At ang unang opisina ko ay sa Pasong Tamo extension.
Tongue, you went to Don Bosco?
opo.