Travelling is like Pringles. Once you pop, you cant stop!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Zambales: Subic Tree Top Adventure

As I mentioned in my previous entry, me and my partner, Erick, took a Clark-Subic package from the Discover Asia International Travel and Tours which costs around P1, 300 per person. It includes the gas & toll fees, driver, van service to/from Makati-Clark-Subic-Makati, entrance fee in the Hot Air Balloon Festival, plus a Subic adventure trip of your choice. We picked the Tree Top Adventure (TTA) over the Ocean Adventure and Zoobic Safari trip not just because it is the most suitable for us, but also to get some piece of adrenaline rush on our out-of-town valentines date.


It was around lunch time when we reached the wonderland of Subic via SCTEX. Since we were not interested to take a full meal – afraid to vomit on the tree top rides, we decided to just grab some quick eats then headed off to the nearest factory outlets instead. Subsequently, we went straight to the Tree Top Adventure and started our brief orientation; besides with the included rides in our package, we still added another which is the Tree Drop Rappelling (P150) as it was considered to be one of the most exhilarating activities in TTA. As expected, since it’s a valentine’s weekend, there were a number of people who also took advantage of this sweet weekend getaway.


Well, the best thing in getting a package from a travel agency is that it comes with a hassle-free vacation. We needed not to make lines, unlike the other guests, just to take the included rides in our packages since it was already reserved for only us. Hooray!


The first ride was the Canopy Ride (P350) which is a hundred feet high above the ground and has ten tree transfers. Scared at first – not that I’m acrophobic, It’s just that I’m too afraid to drop my belongings, particularly my camera, to the grassy cliffs below. Anyway, all the trees used as a base for the tree transfers are totally unique to one another has unusual trivia box posted in each station. There’s the tallest tree, the big and the fat, the weirdest shape, the source of good energy and a lot more! The ride was quite so long but we didn’t really got bored when all the guide crews we’ve met in each station has an excellent sense of humour.


The next activity was the Basic Demo Jungle Survival (P100). It didn’t sound so appealing to me at first but at the end of the show I can say that we were absolutely amazed with the demo, particularly when the native showed to us how to ease our thirst and create a fire with just using bamboo shoots. After that, we had our Jungle Trekking which is extremely tiring. Got slipped, dirty and totally sweaty but these outdoor activity was so much fun and exciting to do We wanted to do our Tree Drop but since we were tremendously exhausted, we just sold our tickets to the other guests and call it a day. Tired but overjoyed.

Post Its: You might also want to try their Superman Ride (P200). It is like the well-known zip line in Tagaytay Picnic Grounds but this one is way much longer and faster. Or if you’re having a hard time to choose, Package F (P720) which already includes Tree Top Adventure, Ultimate Adventure, Canopy Walk, Tree Drop Adventure, Trekking, Jungle Survival Demo is the best!

Written on May 26 2010

Pampanga: 15th Clark Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

As I write this blog, it has been a couple of months already since me and my partner Erick went to the 15th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PHABF) at Clark, Pampanga held last February 13, 2010 - a Valentine's date slash his 21st birthday.


We decided to take a Clark-Subic travel package from the Discover Asia International Travel and Tours that costs only P1,300 pesos per pax. It includes the gas & toll fees, driver, van service to/from Makati-Clark-Subic-Makati, entrance fee in the Hot Air Balloon Festival, plus a Subic adventure trip of your choice. Hassle-free Subic-Clark trip reserved! Moving forward on our trip, we arrived in Makati for our van assignment around 2AM and reached Clark a little bit late since we were caught in traffic at the Angeles exit due to the large volume of cars that are also going to the festival. We thought we were already late for the start of the program but surprisingly we just came in time.


Upon entering the main venue, we truly had proven that this festival is indeed a fiesta of everything that flies! Everything I saw was extraordinary my firsts that until now I still can’t explain and elaborate how I felt when I finally saw the big fluffy hot air balloons. The whole period that these balloons were being puffed up by the hot gases upto the time that all of them were already flying in the sky, I was still speechless, overjoyed and smiling sooo hugely! It was like a dream come true that makes me want to see more of it each and every year.


Likewise, the Philippine Army Flag Jump made me truly proud of being a Pinay. It was like God handed-down the Philippine flag from the heaven to show support to us Filipinos in this kind of event. Patriotism it is! Also, the other exhibitions we witnessed like the Paragliding, Skydiving and the Aerobatic show were really cool! I got really envy with those participants who are lucky enough to do these one of kind air sports.


Post Its:
-Entrance fee to the park is P150.00 while riding the hot air ballloon costs $150.00
-Do not forget to bring a camera and a tripod
-Leave Manila around 3AM

How to get there from Manila:
1. Ride a bus off to Dau, Pampanga (Victory Liner/Baliwag) - Fare: P200.00
2. From the bus station, walk to the Caltex station and ride a jeep to the main gate - Fare: P7.00
3. From the main gate, ride a jeep again to the venue - Fare: 10.00

Written on May 26 2010