Shin Chon Hostel

Shin Chon Hostel is a budget guesthouse accommodation in Seoul. Oppa's in the front desk are friendly, warm and accommodating.. And they speak English. (^_^)

street to Ewha University and shopping street

outside the hostel

the group

 It is near Ewha University and to subway stations and bus station which is the basic transport in/around Seoul. Restaurants are just in front of us and shopping streets is just a walk away.

Korean Resto infront of the hostel

Breakfast is free. You can cook as many noodles and eggs as you want with breads and jam from 8 am to 11 am.

the breakfast

 And you can freely cooked in the Kitchen all day and enjoy watching tv in the entertainment room.

the entertainment room

Wifi is also free in the front desk up to the respective rooms.

the dining area

Rooms are clean & cozy and is big enough for the two of us. Toilet are also clean and spacious. Floors in the room is also heated.

our room and stairs at the back.. photo op while waiting for the elevator

.. This is a good value for money! ☺☺☺☺☺

Kamsahamnida! South Korea Invasion

Indeed, its a super late post.. (^_^)

This is my 9 days of fun and laughter trip in Korea....

A winter sonata moments...

A good way to start a december love...

We left Manila a little past midnight with just a non-winter outfit and flipflops via Cebu Pacific Air with a 28 C Temperature...

And after 4 hours, Korea welcomed us with a -4 C Temperature... And were all covered up!!! (^_^) Its cold cold cold...

(Take note: Korea is 1 hour advance from Philippines)

waiting for the bus to Seoul.. @ -7 C... brrrrr

As a first timer, I'm thankful that I am with friends who know the twist and turns of the city...

@ Myeongdung subway station

 And we've explored Korea the local way.. Rode local buses, subways, walk, walk and walk... And its freakin' cold!!!

subway moments....

Our 9-day itinerary:

Day 1: Shinchon, Myeongdung

street to/from our hostel

Day 2: Changdeokgung Palace, Myeongdung, Namsan Tower, Teddy Bear Museum

Changdeokgung Palace

Day 3: Lotte Mall, First day of Snow

1st day of Snow in Seoul.. infront of our hostel

Day 4: Gangnam District, Banpo Bridge

street in gangnam

Day 5: Paju, Hello kitty cafe, Snow all-day

Day 6: Jisan Ski Resort, Chenggyecheon River

Day 7: Nami Island

Day 8: Lotte World, Lotte Mall

Day 9: Byebye Korea! Til we meet again!!

We have a great home for 9 days... SHIN CHON HOSTEL

4D/3N El Nido-Puerto Princesa Itinerary and Expenses

This is a summary of our travel itinerary and expenses for our Palawan Trip.

Our Flight is on noon time so we arrived Puerto Princesa at around 1pm.

Day 1

12:00 -1:00 pm - Departure/Arrival to Puerto Princesa via Airphil Express
1:00 - 2:00 pm - Van Terminal to El Nido
2:00 - 8:00 pm - Travel time to El Nido (6 hours)
8:00 - 8:30 pm - Checked-in at Marina Garden Resort
8:30 - 10:00 pm - Dinner at Art Cafe Boutique
10:00 pm           - Rest

Day 2

7:00 - 8:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 am - Preparing for Island Hopping
9:00 - 5:00 pm - Island Hopping (Tour A)
5:00 - 6:00 pm - Checked-out at Marina Garden
6:00 - 12mn     - Travel back to Puerto Princesa via Roro Bus
12:30 am         - Checked-in at Purple Courtyard Inn
1:00 am           - Rest

Day 3

6:30 - 7:00 am - Breakfast
7:00 - 8:00 am - Preparing for Tour (Underground River and Ugong Rock)
8:00 - 10:00 am -Travel to Sabang
10:00 - 11:00 am - Ugong Rock
11:00 - 12:00 am - Sabang Beach
12:00 - 1:00 am - Buffet Lunch at Sabang Beach
1:00 - 3:00 pm - Underground River Tour
3:00 - 5:00 pm - Travel back to Puerto Princesa
5:00 - 7:00 pm - rest at the hotel
7:00 - 8:30 pm - Dinner at Kah Lui Restuarant
8:30 pm - Got some Massage and rest

Day 4

7:00 - 8:00 am - Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 am - Preparing for City tour
9:00 - 11:00 am - Bakers Hill and Buy souvenirs
11:00 - 11:30 am - Went back to hotel
11:30 - 12:30pm - Lunch at Inato Hauz
12:45 pm - To the airport
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Departure/Arrival to Manila

 

EXPENSES Terminal Fee 1 person Php 200 Van Fare to El nido 1 person Php 700 El Nido Accommodation (Marina Garden Resort Twin Sharing P1580) 1 night Php 790 Island Hopping Tour A 1 person Php 700 Dinner at Art Café Boutique 1 person Php 200 Tricycle Fare El Nido Php 50 Roro Bus Fare to Puerto Princesa 1 person Php 645 Puerto Princesa Accommodation (Purple Courtyard Inn Twin Sharing P1750) 2 nights Php 1750 Underground River Tour 1 person Php 1500 Ugong Rock with Zipline 1 person Php 450 Dinner at Kah Lui 1 person Php 300 Spa Massage 1 person  Php 400 Tricycle Hire for City Tour 1 person Php 200 Tricycle fare Puerto Princesa 1 person Php 30 Terminal Fee 1 person Php 40 TOTAL 1 person Php 7755 * Airfare not included Lucky to have contacted a friendly travel agency. Here's their contact details.  HARBOUR BAY TRAVEL & TOURS Mobile 1:   +63 908 892 5477 (Smart)  Mobile 2:   +63 917 519 7722 (Globe) Mobile 3:   +63 925 722 2770 (Sun) Email:        harbourbaytravel@gmail.com Website:    www.harbourbaytravel.com

Underground River: Palawan's Pride

Puerto Princesa Subterranean Underground River was chosen as one of the New 7 Wonders of the Nature last 2011. It is also one of the distinguished protected areas in the Philippines.

Van to Underground River

Sabang Beach

This is a must see when visiting Palawan.

Sabang Port

Underground river is 2 hours away from the city of Puerto Princesa. To reach the Park, you need to ride a boat from Sabang port.

Sabang Beach

On the entrance to the Underground river you'll pass through a virgin forest. Monkeys are just everywhere and big trees around.

15-minute boatride from Sabang port

 The River is indeed very famous now. Lots of foreign tourist already waiting for their turn to witness the beauty of the river.

 The River tour is about 30 - 60 minutes depending on your tour guide. We had a funny and full of humor tour guide so the tour is just sooo interesting.

As the boat enter, you can already see limestone formations name it from stalagmites, stalactites and even bats pee and poops!!! lol ☺☺☺

It's too dark inside, no sign of sunlight thats why every boat has its battery operated lights to clearly see the beauty of nature.

The boat man says that water inside the Underground River is soo deep. Its a mixture of river and ocean water.

.. it's happy to know that we Filipinos has preserved this beautiful God-given nature. It's really something that we could be proud of. ♥

..this is the turn back time. end of tour but not the end of the river

Tour rate: Php 1500/person (w/ buffet lunch)

Contact Details:
 HARBOUR BAY TRAVEL & TOURS
Mobile 1:   +63 908 892 5477 (Smart)
 Mobile 2:   +63 917 519 7722 (Globe)
Mobile 3:   +63 925 722 2770 (Sun)
Email:        harbourbaytravel@gmail.com
Website:    www.harbourbaytravel.com

 ☺ ☺ ☺ It's More Fun in Palawan!!   ☺ ☺ ☺

Ugong Rock: Spelunking Experience

Spelunking means to explore the caves.

Sidetrip before heading to Underground River.

Ugong Rock is a limestone rock formation in Sabang and is part of the protected area of the Puerto Princesa National Park.

Tourist come here to experience what they call spelunking or caving and of course the zipline.

Spelunking Joyz

Spelunking Ching

 Ugong Rock Caving and Zipline is a local tourism livelihood project for the community to prevent them from doing illegal logging. Tour guides are definitely from the community and used to be illegal loggers.

We pass this small hole...wheew!!!

With the gloves, and helmet we are now ready to go caving!! Our tour guide lead the prayer for guidance during our exploration on the cave.

On our way up!!

"Ugong" means rumbling sound, so when you knock on the rocks it creates sound.

Almost on Top!

The tour on the caves would last for about 20-30 minutes depending on the traffic of tourist inside. That time we were just few do we made it in 20 minutes.

But were tired enough to go back walking again so we decided to do some zipline which will only take us 20 seconds to go down... weeeehh!!! ☺☺☺