BANAUE: How to Find the Banaue Rice Terraces View Point

April 16, 2014


BANAUE: How to Find the Banaue Rice Terraces View Point

The Banaue Rice Terraces that you will see at the Banaue View Point is the MOST FAMOUS of all the Banaue Rice Terraces. It's the most famous because it's the most accessible. The rice terraces at Barangay Viewpoint is nearest the town or poblacion of the municipality of Banaue. People also see its photo in Philippine peso bills.

When the the Banaue Rice Terraces is advertised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a photo of the the rice terraces near the poblacion, at Barangay View Point, is often attached to the advertisement. This is why there is some confusion as to whether the rice terraces near the poblacion is the World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO. IT IS NOT.

There are 2 rice terraces in the municipality of Banaue declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site: 

(1) the rice terraces in Barangay Batad, and
(2) the rice terraces in Barangay Bangaan. 
The rice terraces at Barangay View Point is not the rice terraces declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The other World Heritage Site rice terraces are in the municipality of Mayoyao, Kiangan and Hungduan. (see  my post on Philippine World Heritage Sites
This is not to say that the Banaue Rice Terraces located at Barangay View Point is not magnificent. It is. It is a sight to behold and worth the 6-9 hour trip from Manila.

I'm making this post because it's not as easy as it seems to find the Banaue Rice terraces viewpoint, especially if you are particular about seeing it from a particular angle. It's along the road and so easy to pass by and miss the signs. So to guide you, I am posting photos of how it will look from the street as you pass by.

Map courtesy of banaue.gov.ph

As shown in the map, you should take the road going towards Bontoc. From the Tourism Center, pass by the Banaue Museum and proceed further until you see the following signs along the road to your right:

1. The FIRST viewpoint

Why stop at this viewpoint: From this viewpoint you can see the view shown on the new 20-peso bill


This is how you will see it from the road:


THE VIEW









2. The SECOND viewpoint 

Why stop at this viewpoint: From this viewpoint you can see the view shown on the old 1000-peso bill


This is how you will see it from the road:

There is no sign at this viewpoint except the name written on the rails that says "NFA Aguian View Deck".
It's easy to miss this view deck especially if a lot of cars are parked in front

At the left side of the rails (the right side of this photo) is the entrance to the lower view deck

The stairs leading to the lower view deck

THE VIEW







3. The THIRD viewpoint

Why stop at this viewpoint: This is known as the Dyanarra Viewpoint. It was named by the locals after Dayanara Torres who was crowned Miss Universe in 1994 when the Philippines hosted the Miss Universe pageant. She posed for a Department of Tourism promotional photo before this view of the rice terraces.

This is how you will see it from the road:








THE VIEW





4. The FOURTH viewpoint

This is the main viewpoint. We couldn't stop at this viewpoint because there are too many stores along the road and no place to park.

NEW YORK with Kids: Suggested Itinerary for 5 days and Details of Cost

March 21, 2014


NEW YORK with Kids: 
Suggested Itinerary for 5 days and Details of Cost 


This is our actual itinerary when we visited New York. We did everything and saw everything listed in this itinerary. So, this has been time tested and proven to be possible, even if you have kids travelling with you. 

Things to note about this itinerary
1. I have to let you know that my kids, who were with me, range from 13 years old to 18 years old. They are fit and capable of walking long distances. They were able to see all the sights listed in this itinerary. 

2. The choice of sights were made in consultation with my kids. So it's a blend of sights that both adults and kids will enjoy.

3. We traveled by public transportation (mainly by walking, riding the bus or the metro) so the itinerary includes directions from the New Yorker hotel to the sights and between sights. Being 6 in a group, we didn't see the taxi as an option.

4. The timing includes lining up for tickets and going through security checks. The only ticket I purchased ahead of time is the United Nations tour tickets, the Statue of Liberty tickets and the Lion King tickets.



MY NEW YORK ITINERARY WITH KIDS

DAY 1. MONDAY: 
ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK
DAY 2. TUESDAY: 
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN TOUR by FREE TOURS BY FOOT
TIFFANY'S STORE FEATURED IN "BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S"
FIFTH AVENUE
UNITED NATIONS TOUR

Read more of Day 2 of My New York Itinerary with Kids 

DAY 3. WEDNESDAY: 
STATUE OF LIBERTY, LIBERTY ISLAND, ELLIS ISLAND 
911 MEMORIAL 
BROADWAY SHOW: LION KING
TIMES SQUARE

Read more of Day 3 of New York Itinerary with Kids


DAY 4. THURSDAY: 
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (MOMA)
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
PLAZA HOTEL
CENTRAL PARK

Read more of Day 4 of My New York Itinerary with Kids 

DAY 5. FRIDAY: 
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
DEPARTURE FROM NEW YORK

Read more of Day 5 of My New York Itinerary with Kids

Cost:

The total cost of this itinerary can be computed as follows: 
Hotel accomodation for 4 nights: The New Yorker Hotel
Meals: see McDonalds New York prices
  • Mcdonalds meal rate x 10 meals (breakfast is free with hotel) x 6 people 
  •  Why use the McDonalds meal rate? I always use the McDonalds meal rate in   places I visit to estimate my meal budget because there's  McDonalds restaurant almost everywhere in the world, and a website that will show you the menu prices. 
Tip based Manhattan walking tour: see Free Tours by Foot: New York
UN tour: see UN websiteOnline guided tour tickets
Statue cruises to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: see Statue cruises websiteStatue cruises tickets
Broadway tickets: see Ticketmaster website
Museums: see Metropolitan Museum websiteMuseum of Modern Art website
Empire State building: see Empire State building websiteEmpire State building tickets
Metro/bus tickets: see New York Metro ticket website


OUR ACTUAL EXPENSES:


*Take note that our trip occurred May 2012. Hotel rates and plane fares are sensitive to and affected by dates of travel.

Plane fare from Chicago to New York: United Airlines, 111.8 USD x 6 adults = 670.80 USD

La Guardia airport to New Yorker hotel airport transportation via NYC airporter: 55 usd

New Yorker hotel accomodation for 6 = 336.67 USD x 4 nights: 1346.68

Meals: 12 meals x 6 adults x 5 USD - 360 USD

Free tours by foot tip: optional but we gave 60 USD

Metro tickets: 20 x 6 adults = 120 USD

UN guided tour tickets: 14 USD x 4 adults + 11 USD x 2 kids + 2USD service charge x 6 = 90USD

Statue of Liberty tickets: 13USD x 6 = 78 USD

Lion King tickets: 155.7 x 6 = 934.2

Museum of Modern Art tickets: 10 USD (we had special rates because of corporate membership)

Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets: free

Empire State building tickets: 138 USD

Souvenirs: approx 120USD

Hotel to Yonkers via metro: 2.25 x 6 = 46.5

Yonkers to JKF airport via Carmel cars: 120 USD

Plane fare from New York to Los Angeles: United Airlines: 159.8 x 5 adults = 948.8

Total: 5098 USD or 850 USD per person with airfare 
Total: 3478 USD or 580USD per person without airfare

My NEW YORK Itinerary with Kids (Day 5: Empire State Building, Departure from New York)

March 20, 2014


My NEW YORK Itinerary with Kids
(Day 5: Empire State Building, Departure from New York)


DAY 1. MONDAY: 
ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK
DAY 2. TUESDAY: 
MIDTOWN MANHATTAN TOUR by FREE TOURS BY FOOT
TIFFANY'S STORE FEATURED IN "BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S"
FIFTH AVENUE
UNITED NATIONS TOUR

Read more of Day 2 of My New York Itinerary with Kids 

DAY 3. WEDNESDAY: 
STATUE OF LIBERTY, LIBERTY ISLAND, ELLIS ISLAND 
911 MEMORIAL 
BROADWAY SHOW: LION KING
TIMES SQUARE

Read more of Day 3 of New York Itinerary with Kids


DAY 4. THURSDAY: 
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (MOMA)
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
PLAZA HOTEL
CENTRAL PARK

Read more of Day 4 of My New York Itinerary with Kids 


DAY 5. FRIDAY: 
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
DEPARTURE FROM NEW YORK


View New York City in a larger map


10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 
Late breakfast at the Hotel
Packing for today's departure from New York

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Check out of the New Yorker hotel and leave your luggage at reception


At the lobby of the New Yorker after checking out of the hotel.


At the front entrance of the New Yorker


Walk from the New Yorker hotel to the Empire State building.
Across the New Yorker hotel entrance
Just a short walk to the Empire State Building


1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Empire State building




Why go up the Empire State Building on the LAST DAY of the trip:


1. In our case, it's only walking distance from our hotel, the New Yorker, so we save more time by doing  it on the day we check out of our hotel. Since checkout time at our hotel is 12 noon, we can still use the whole afternoon to visit the Empire State Building. With the little time that we have in the afternoon, the tourist site nearest to our place, in our case, the Empire State building, is the most feasible place to visit.

2. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLYafter extensively touring New York City the past few days, viewing how New York City is laid out from the top of the Empire State building puts into perspective all the tourist sites you've seen. You remember where the tourist sites were, whether on Midtown Manhattan, Upper East side, Downtown, etc. You have an aerial view of how far you actually walked to explore the place and where those places are located.




Midtown Manhattan, where we went on Day 2


Downtown, Liberty Island and Ellis Island,
where we went on Day 3


You can see the Statue of Liberty at a distance


MOMA, the MET and Central Park,
where we went on Day 4


Going up the Empire State Building on the LAST DAY of your trip 
is the BEST WAY to end your visit to New York City!!!




3:00 PM-4:00 PM
Walk back to hotel


4:00 PM-4:30 PM
Late lunch at Famous Famiglia Pizzeria across the hotel.


4:30 PM
Left Manhattan to go to Yonkers to visit relatives

My Packing List: Why I Love the Envirosax

March 18, 2014


My Packing List: Why I Love the Envirosax

The envirosax is an essential item in any traveler's list. I strongly recommend that you have this item in your handbag or backpack at all times, especially if you're a mom traveling with kids.

WHAT IS THE ENVIROSAX?
The envirosax is a reuseable bag. But it's not your ordinary reuseable bag. I love it for it's special qualities that I'll discuss below.

WHY I LOVE THE ENVIROSAX

1. It's a large foldable bag that can accommodate so many items. It's measured 19.7"x 16.5 " in size. From my experience, I'm able to pack a lot of groceries in it. 




Just to give you an idea, how large it is, these are example of items I was able to carry in an envirosax bag:
a. a 19 inch lcd computer monitor weighing 2 kilos.
b. 4 regular sized shoe boxes
c. 4 2-liter bottles of softdrinks.


2. According to their website, the bag has been tested to hold at least 44 lbs of weight without the straps and the bag itself giving in. 

I have not carried that much weight in a bag. But I have carried 4 pcs 2-liter bottles of softdrinks in it and the straps didn't give in. Since the bag has been actually tested to carry this much weight, you are reassured the straps or the bag itself won't give in 

3. It's foldable into a small piece as shown below, the size of a sushi as stated in its website.




Instructions on how to fold it is sewn in the inner portion of the bag




It is shown below how easy it is to fold it:


Fold it in two

Fold the left side...


Fold the right side

Fold the top/ strap

Fold the one below

Then roll into a sushi




4. Its lightweight and not bulky like other cheaper foldable bags so it doesn't take up much space in the bag.





5. It's stylish.

Since it's stylish, there's greater probability that you will use it in any occasion.

I make it a point to buy one that suits a female holding it, and another one with a male in mind just in case my son or husband happens to carry it.





WHERE TO BUY
At all Fully Booked branches. Check out the branches here


You can see it in these containers at all Fully Booked stores.

6. It's waterproof.

It's made of waterproof polyester so the items you carry will surely be protected in case it rains. At one time, I even used it to protect myself from getting wet when it unexpectedly rained. In that sense, it served an additional and unexpected purpose.



PRICE:
375 pesos. It's worth the price considering it's durability and usefulness.



Groupon Voucher Review: House of Obagi Signature Facial Treatment

March 17, 2014


Groupon Voucher Review:
House of Obagi Signature Facial Treatment

Price: 1750 pesos (regular price is 3500 pesos)

Procedure:

The facial treatment lasts for 70 minutes, and administered as follows:

1. Cleansing of the face with Obagi cleanser.

2. Washing off the cleanser with a sponge.

3. Pressure point massage of the face. 

4. Application of an exfoliating scrub. 

5. 
Washing off the exfoliating scrub with a sponge.

6. Facial steam with eye patch.

7. Head, shoulder massage during facial steam.

8. Vacuum the face to remove the dirt surfacing after facial steam.

9. Extraction of white heads and blackheads.

10. Use of a machine roller to close pores on face.

11. Application of facial mask

12. Washing of facial mask.

13. Application of Profession-C serum (Vitamin C) on the eye and face.

14. Use of Galvanic machine to push the serum onto the face to make sure it penetrates.

15. Application of Obagi Clear.

16. Application of Sunblock

My opinion:

Highly recommended.  Obagi products are known to be very good but very expensive. If you cannot afford the daily use of Obagi products, you can enjoy it's full benefits through the occasional Obagi Signature Facial treatment. At 1,700 pesos, this is definitely value for money. Even if it's 50% off the regular price, you are not shortchanged during the treatment. You get the full value and service of a regular-priced treatment.

Location:
I had my signature facial at House of Obagi, Trinoma. The service was great.



Groupon Voucher Review: Ninyo Fusion Cuisine Fine Dining Set Menu for Two

March 12, 2014

Groupon Voucher Review: 
Ninyo Fusion Cuisine 
Fine Dining Set Menu for Two


Price: 
1660 pesos (3220 pesos value) for 2 persons, inclusive of taxes, not including 10% service charge, which is 166 pesos.


Menu for 2 persons: 

Nasu Miso

Japanese eggplant, pan-fried dressed with a sweet and savory miso glaze - 2 orders

Nori Pumpkin Soup
Creamy pumpkin soup served with pumpkin flower tempura - 2 orders


Shiitaki Confit Salad
with honey ponzu dressing sprinkled with crispy julliened tofu,
 seasonal fruits and assorted mixed greens - 2 orders


Yuzu Sorbet
This simple sorbet is refreshing and filled with 
the complex citrusy-floral flavor of yuzu fruit - 2 orders



Entrée – Beef or Fish | 2 orders 
(choice of either: 2 Beef / 2 Fish / 1 Beef & 1 Fish)

Fish: Salmon confit in wasabi caviar cream sauce

Beef: Grilled U.S. clod tender in garlic soy marinade served with 
grilled japanese sweet corn and seasonal vegetables

Green Tea Panna Cotta
a cool custard with green tea infusion - 2 orders


2 glasses of Wine Sangria
made of cabernet red wine mixed with cranberry extract, 
apple and pineapple bits - 2 orders



My opinion:
This meal is good value for the price of 840 pesos per set menu/per head, but not for the regular price of 1660 per set menu/per head. If you see another groupon offer from Ninyo with this price, it's value for money.

Comment on the service: 
1. Fast service. The food was served to us immediately.
2. Good but not fine dining quality. The waiters didn't notice we didn't have cloth napkins until we asked for it half-way through the meal.

Comment on the food:
I liked the pumpkin soup. The salmon dish was good. The panna cotta was soft and refreshing. The salad and appetizer was just ordinary but tasted fine.

Comment on the ambience:
It's being advertised as a romantic dinner for 2. But the small place of the restaurant does not afford too much privacy for couples. Make sure to request to be seated downstairs. The ambience is better downstairs than the second floor where we were seated.



Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge
66 Esteban Abada Street, Loyola Heights, Q.C.
Tel. 4260301
Facebook page: 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NINYO-Fusion-Cuisine-Wine-Lounge/212177541624