Defying Gravity!
SKYDIVE — Pushing yourself to the limits is an ecstatic experience. I have been dreaming of trying to throw myself off the plane like how James bond does and im so blessed that finally I have tried too! Recently during my annual vacation —only time I can have a life each year— I visited sky dive dubai. These institution was established since 2010 (more or less) in Dubai since few Royal blood is a big fan of this extreme sports. To cut it short, it was SPECTACULAR experience, woh! So blessed ^_^
PS: since this blog opt to help others who wanna try, here are some details
General
– They have two dropzones: Palm & Desert. The former is more ideal for recreational divers (it’s gonna be the PALM JUMERA on your pic, common) and the latter holds their Diving School students, mostly.
– The Palm DZ costs usually 250+/- than the other. We’ve booked our online for 1,999 AED. I have talked with a friend that he was able to book for roughly a thousand AED. So better check their site for promotions
Something more PERSONAL
– Put on something comfortable and picture/video pleasing (your discretion though). Sporty is the best but I was on denim shorts since I had some wardrobe malfunction. Pick something lively in color for your top especially when you’ve got other friends to shoot you when you land, it’s easier for them to identify it’s you. Remember, they really get super nice HD pictures and videos, you would want to look best on this once in a lifetime experience .
– Better just grab a bite (they have a cafeteria right next to their main building) before your flight just in case you get nauseated. You dun wanna throw up right after you land, it will ruin your personalize Skydive video.
– They usually asked few general questions before and after your dive. So if you’re an OC you can start making up your script: P
– If possible check if your DVDs (photos & video) are working before leaving the center. My friend’s got jammed up and policy wise they ask for 100 AED for another copy. Maybe you can ask the staff in the gear store (where you wait and get your DVDs) to check it for you.
– Enjoy! Savor the experience, not everyone got a chance to try this. Chat with your tandem and your camera man. Most of their staffs are really cool! — People who are lucky enough to do their hobby everyday and on top of that get paid, envious
My —ahem ahem…— personalized video here
Skydive Dubai Official Website
©KrystaPalma2013
BKK — it’s sweeter the second time around ♡
who doesn’t love Bangkok? everyone, i believe, who have set foot on this metropolis have fallen in love on its culture and how it could offer multifaceted experience radiating from Siam’s era to its contemporary society.
personally, i favor this country because of my amazing thai-family and the rest of amazing things are just bonuses 😀 my second visit last 2012 made me appreciate more the soul of Siam — got overwhelmed with shopping the first time —. I was able to explore the city by foot and just bum around with the best perk, THAI FOOD 😀
What to see?
JIM THOMPSON HOUSE MUSEUM – old well preserved house owned by an american businessman who saved Thailand’s silk industry from extinction. nice place to see old Thai paintings, antiques and the old fashion way of extracting silk from cocoons. also they got a boutique that sells wonderful silk products
GRAND PALACE – of course. but can’t tell much about this one except one must wear heel lenght pants/skirt (definitely no leggings), at least a shirt-sleeve length top and shoes for them to admit you — got a clue why i can’t tell much? T.T — plus 400 baht entrance fee 🙂
WAT PO – the temple of the humongous reclining buddah. it aint that strict as the Grand Palace’s dress protocol therefore i was able to appreciate the sophisticated details of a thia buddist temple
TEMPLE OF THE DAWN – we ran out of time therefore we just had a glimpse of it while on the water ferry.
SIAM PARAGON – high end shopping mall along the bts train station
CENTRAL WORLD -a station away from Siam Paragon. a huge shopping mall that is just behind the low cost MBK. they got really wonderful decoration during holidays
MBK – perfect place to shop if you dun mind the labels. one can find quality products from head to toe in a pocket friendly prices, more if you’ll go whole sale (3 or more pcs)
the best PERKS! 😀
there’s no language barrier nor cultural gap once we talk about food and being in Thailand, i’m so thankful that it’s true ^_^
©KrystaPalma2012
SunSandSurf!
Siargao is a heaven for thrill-seeker-beach-lover pals like me.
Located in the northern most of Mindanao is a group of island that faces the Pacific, the Dinagat Islands. One of these is Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines. Year long it hosts various surfing compitition which culminates usually on the 3rd week of september.
the Cloude9 Boardwalk
How to get there?
Air: direct flights to the island from cebu are available everyday via cebupacific airlines
http://cebupacificair.com
Land: from Surigao City you can take a ferry ride (approx 1.5~2hrs) or lantsa* (1~1.5hrs) to cross to Siargao. You will dock at Dapa then you’ve got to catch a tricycle, a van or a habal-habal to General Luna. Fare range from 15-50 Php/pax
*lantsa usually leaves earlier than the ferry, around 5:30am
Where to stay?
Nature inspired hostels (huts/cottages/bungalow) to high end resorts are available. We stayed on Shot’s, a family owned bungalow type place. We paid 1000Php for an AC, 2-bed, private bath room. There are more cheap place but we opt to stay on ate Shot’s because they just welcome us like we’re folks.
For references these are the other resorts’ prices:
What to try/see?
Surfing – of course! For rookies, there are a handful of local surfers who can teach you. An hour of tutorial from basics to hitting the waves including the board will cost 500 Php.
For pros (or wannabes), most of the resorts on the island rent off surfing board on these rate range: Whole day – 600, half day – 400, hourly – 200
Started with a 9″ board
then leveled up to a 7″
Sight Seeing – Magpupungko & Taktak Falls. The former is a must-see. For details please refer to my older post “Magpupungko — squat pool”
Island Hopping – 😦 sadly we weren’t able to do this because of unsupportive weather condition. But base on the facts gathered (naks.) there are various islets nearby Siargao that has wonderful white sand shorea. Or if you wanna go big time, check Sohoton Cove & Bucas Grande
©KrystaPalma2012
Random travel thought on a sleepless night :D
It’s been 4 years since i have discovered that i have fallen inlove with travelling. I blame it to my genes, haha!
For those few years i have visited quiet few places. God was so gracious that since 2009 i got to add at least a country on my list. And one thing i have learned in my yet short journey is that it’s not much about the place or the type of travel you had but to whom you share those memories with. I’ve been in a cruise ship for roughly 52 days; docked on 5 countries within ASEAN and experience the best of it’s culture; flew out to japan and ate ramen in a ramen house, wear ukatana sewed by my foster grand mom and laid a hand on an antique katana; biked more than 10kms to&from to see the ankor watt’sunset (yet just got soaked); explored most of the beautiful beach places of philippines… But in the end when i look at those pictures or play it again on my mind what surfaces are the laughs, not too nice comments and conversations of the people i’ve been with. I’m blessed that in all those trips i had much of what matters most and so looking forward to find someone whom i can permanently share those in tha future (haha!) 🙂
Magpupungko —- squat pool :D
Siargao Island is famous for its humongous waves but this is (well, for me) the icing of the cake 😀
Magpupungko which literally means to squat is a reefy pool that shows on low tide. Located in Pilar, another baranggay in the island, is a stunningly clear & deep natural infinity pool just right next to the beach. I personally love seeing the species swarm down to the bottom. Kindda scary but something you dun see too often, cool!
How to get there?
Hire a habal-habal ( around 700 Php, cheapest we’ve got with our bargaining skills) from Dapa or General Luna to show you around the island. You get to see Taktak Falls too. (t’was also low tide there 😀 )
What to prepare?
-sunscreen and something to cover you up along the road trip (sarong, towel etc). You’ll be ridding on a motorcyle on a mostly rough road. Ours took almost 4 hrs, from the time we left Gen. Luna, stayed in Magpupungko, pose for a shot in Taktak and the ride back. So expect some uneasiness on your bottoms after 😀
-HYDRATION –water– , something to nibble or a real meal ( Sari-sari stores are found along the way but it’s a hassle unless it’s necessary)
-underwater cam or a waterproof case (this one we missed T.T )
Being someone who loves to be under the sun i enjoyed the blue sky on the way.
preparing for the aurora burealis :D
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one up side of an expat is having all the luxury of time to explore new environment. Being one for almost 2 years now here in Al’taif, KSA, i have done numerous sight seeing. The latest is catching (tried to) the sunrise in the highest peak of the city at Al’shafa.
happiness is a warm puppy ~peanuts
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Now it’s HAPPINESS! 😀
This photo* was taken in Bega Falls in Mabuhay Agusan del Sur. Located in the north western part of Mindanao, Philippines, this is one of the few falls found in the province. For people who are into trekking this one is for you. From the town proper of Mabuhay you would need to trek for around 1 to 1.5 hrs (if you’re used to walking). The falls has three cascades with ‘natural’ pool each open for swimming. To reach the top most you would need to climb up the quite steep rocky side of the falls, ain’t that difficult though 😀
How to get there?
PLANE : nearest airport is in Butuan City (fare ranges from 2,900 – 3500 PhP from Manila)
LAND : buses & vans are available from Butuan City to the crossing of Maug where you would need to take a habal-habal (motor cycle with a wooden extension made like wings) ride to Mabuhay. I would advise that you would go straight to Prosperidad (5km more from Maug crossing), the capital of the province. And from there hire habal-habal to and fro Mabuhay. Rent costs around 1,500-2000 (vehicle + gas)
What to expect?
– purchase or prepare food & drinks before leaving Prosperidad or a town before heading out since very few stores are found in Mabuhay.
– travel time from Prosperidad to Mabuhay is around 45 mins, Maug crossing to mabuhay is 30mins.
– arrange a tour guide to trek with you from the town to the site. You can bargain up to 500 Php for the whole group
– hydrate yourself. The last time i trekked t’was rainy season,the trail was muddy and it took us 2hrs to reach the site from the town proper. It was exhausting, how much more if the sun is up.
– the trail is moderate to rough. So better wear something comfortable from head to toe 😉
*taken at the topmost cascade.
Eto na 