whoa!worldwhoa!world SAGAY CITY SAGAY CITY

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> There are many reasons why I keep on coming back to Negros Occidental’s top emerging tourist destination, the city of Sagay. Geographically located on the northernmost tip of Negros Island, it can be easily distinguished with its unique ice cream cone shape. About 84 kilometers north of Bacolod City and can be reached by land in about two hours, you will also notice a large area of sugarcane plantation along the highway going to the city. Sagay City has three operational sugar mills making it one of the top sugar cane producing provinces in the country. The city is proud of its conservation program which had been recognized nationally and internationally as one of the most successful marine conservation programs in the country today. It will be a great experience for any tourist to have a glimpse of the sea, sand and sights of its famous eco-tourism destination in the north, the Carbin Reef. A marine sanctuary with its unique sand bar which is shaped like a huge tongue and made of coral rubbles with clear blue waters that is good for swimming, snorkling, and scuba diving while enjoying seeing the colourful corals and marine life. Another option for you is boating, enjoying picnic or just frolicking in the sand. Experience everything all these exciting marine adventures in just one destination. Another interesting place to visit is the Museo Sang Bata Sa Negros, which is located at Barangay Old Sagay. This whale-shaped building is the first hands-on and interactive children’s museum outside of Metro Manila. This marine museum is a place for children to learn and become aware of the importance of marine life and how they can help preserve it for the next generations to come. One of the newest tourism activity the city can offer is the Himoga-an River Cruise. It’s a two- hour boat trip from Barangay Fabrica plying through the city’s longest river(Himoga-an river) and ends at Barangay Old Sagay. Along the cruise you will see several

exciting scenic views of migratory birds frolicking on the mangroves, the carabao island, and of course nature at its best while on a floating restaurant with acoustic entertainment during the trip. Take time to visit its religious shrine. The San Vicente Ferrer Parish Church located in Barangay Vito, is one of the historical landmarks of the city. This was built under the religious administration of the Recollect Friars in 1860’s. Devotees flock to the shrine every Friday as part of their religious promise where miraculous healings were attributed to their patron saint. Going back to the center of the city is its public plaza where you can find the “Legendary Siete” fondly called by the people of Barangay Fabrica. Train No.7 was built in 1925 by Locomotive Baldwin Works in Philadelphia, U.S.A. and was used to carry logs and lumber during the operation of then Insular Lumber Company. After a day-long tour of the city, Balay Kauswagan, is the place for you to relax. This is the city’s W

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Clockwise from top: Carbin Reef | Sigay | San Vicente Ferrer Church | ILCO Train no 7. Legendary Siete | Museo Sang Bata sa Negros | Sinigayan festival

major accommodation center for tourists staying overnight with hotel amenities and a mini Olympic-size pool. And of course taste Sagay’s native cuisine and fresh seafoods which are among the best in the province. Before leaving the city never forget to bring home some pasalubong like the famous Sagay’s squid rings. There are a lot more that you can discover while in Sagay, not just the sea, sand and sights…but surely an interesting place for you on your next destination. What are you waiting for? Visit and Experience Sagay!

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BACKPACKING EUROPE BACKPACKING BOHOL

Research Doing good research before a trip helps in managing the budget. Read travel blogs and forums as they offer tips on what to see and how much is needed to see them. Museum websites, for example, can give you dates to getting in free. Paris’ Louvre and Madrid’s Prado museums both offer free entrances on certain dates and times. Couchsurfing Couchsurfing (www.couchsurfing.org) is a great way to meet local people and get free accommodation as well. The website offers over thousands of hosts with “couches” to surf into. It’s also a good way to experience local living. Giving out a simple gift or helping out with household chores often is enough to pay back for their hospitality. Parks Europe has the best parks in the world– and they don’t cost a Euro to visit. They’re beautiful and usually donned with trees, bike paths and old monuments and statues. It’s a good place to relax and still feel the city’s vibe. Eat local When in a new place they say to “do as the Romans do”. This comes with dining too. Avoid tourist dining establishments if you can. Find places where locals go and try some local flavour instead for an authentic travel experience. They serve good perhaps even better food at a lower price. Join free city tours Keep an eye for organisations like the New Europe tours (www.neweuropetours.eu), that offer guided tours around most big cities. It’s a great source of information about the city and a good way to meet other travellers. It’s completely free yet they do accept tips for those who enjoyed the tour (which is often the case). Rent a bike It’s a cheap (and healthy way) to jump from various sites. Smaller cities like Amsterdam & Brussels can easily be navigated with a bicycle. In Brussels, check out Villo which rents out bikes starting at 1.50 euro a day.

Tarsier Sanctuary at Corella At all cost, avoid the tarsiers along the town of Loboc. Many, if not all of them, are kept out of their natural habitat and instead made to fit onto small cages. If you want to view them in a more sustainable manner, head on to the Tarsier Foundation in the town of Corella. The sanctuary allows you to view the creatures in their natural habitat. Paying a visit helps in their conservation efforts too. The sanctuary can easily be reached via a Sikatuna-bound jeepney from Loboc. Back to basics at Nuts Huts Tucked within the jungles of Loboc, Nuts Huts offers accommodation alongside the Loboc river. This is a no-frills (no airconditioning/hot water/TV/wifi) backpackers place. It’s not for everyone but it’s quite an experience for those seeking something unique. Getting there can be thrill on itself. From Tagbilaran, take a Loboc bound jeepney and ask to be dropped at Sarimanok for a 15-minute ride to their place. For those looking for a cheaper alternative, take a minibus to Carmen and ask them to drop you at Nuts Huts (around an hour from Tagbilaran). From there, it’s a 750 meters walk and another 100 steps down to the reception and another 150 to get to the huts (getting to paradise isn’t easy). But once there, you’ll be rewarded with great views of the jungle and the river. Plus, the Belgian owners can help you fix some activities to do around the area (hike, zipline or mountain bike). Standard room for two costs 700 pesos a night. Chocolate Hills via public transport In Bohol, a visit to the Chocolate Hills is a must. To get there, ditch the private vans and take public transport instead. Aside from being cheap, itt also gives you a chance to interact with the locals. For the adventurous, ride on top of the bus for a majestic view. Buses to Carmen run every hour from Tagbilaran and takes 2 hours. From the bus stop, it’s another motorcycle ride away to the viewpoint. From there, you can also opt for a habal-habal tour around the hills itself.

Top to bottom: Park Cinquantenaire in Brussels, Belgium | Amsterdam free city tour | bicycle ride in Knokke, Belgium | dining with the locals in UK

Top to bottom: Nuts Huts | Chocolate Hills | the author, Jerick and a friend riding on top of a bus

Travelling to Europe doesn’t come cheap, with airfare costing at least Php30,000. But travellers don’t despair. There more ways to travel than doing it high roll. For those adventurous and open-minded enough, here are a few simple tips you can follow:

When travelling to Bohol, backpacking and independent travelling frees you from arranged tours, airport pick-ups, and tight itineraries, allowing for unique experiences, a less-stressful vacation, and a way to travel cheaply and sustainably. Here are some tips to make your Bohol trip more enjoyable:

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PAGBILAO: A HIDDEN PARADISEwhoa!world

The caretakers ask visitors to give a ten-peso fee for the cove’s maintenance. Be warned though – the cove won’t have any modern amenities, not even running water. So unless, you’re checked-in to other accommodations in the other areas of Pagbilao, be ready to get back to Manila without a fresh shower. In addition, you’d have to bring your own food as there are no restaurants operating in the cove. Do be conscious as to how you throw your trash as we all have to do our share in preserving nature for others to enjoy it too. Puting Buhangin is perfect for a weekend daytrip; for overnight stays, it is said that you’d have to personally ask the permission of the owners who live in the city proper, and not in Puting Buhangin. There are cottages which can be rented out for Php200 – Php400 per day, but there are also lots of trees you can just camp under. The beach can get crowded, especially during lunchtime and the boats can block the view, but if you’d be lucky enough to find the beach all to yourselves, you’ll know you’ve found yourself a piece of paradise yet again.Writ

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> Much has been said and written about the pristine beaches of Boracay, Palawan and Bohol. But once in a while, instead of going to the usual vacation getaways, why not try these hidden beauties of nature just waiting to be uncovered? One of these clandestine paradise, just a few hours from Manila is Pagbilao in Quezon. Pagbilao, which is about an hour’s drive from the province’s capital, Lucena, has in its turf a few great beaches, coves and islands untouched and undeveloped. One of these is a small cove facing the Pacific Ocean known to the locals as either Puting Buhangin or Lu Kang Beach (after its Chinese owner). The cove has fine, white sand and crystal-clear water perfect for swimming. On one side of the cove is Kwebang Lampas, a cave whose other end goes out to the open sea. On low tide, the cave can be explored. To get to Lu Kang Beach, travel to Barangay Bantigue in Lucena, a small fishing village where you can take a five-minute boat ride across a lake. You must then take a quick hike, which can get tricky at some slopes. If you see the Pagbilao Power Plant, then you know you’re on the right track.