Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Life begins where WIFI is weak
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Big casino and a Chinese restaurant

If you for some reason happen to be in Santa Ana, the almost northern tip of the whole Luzon you are really off the beaten track but probably heading for the ferry going to the Babuyan Islands. There are not much here in Santa Ana, but you have the Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort here. This is a big casino and a Chinese restaurant with accompanying bungalows. When you pass by on the road outside it looks really anonymous like a big quiet warehouse or something. It's only the signpost which tells you there is something going on inside the compound.
Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) signpost

The signpost

Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) entrance

The entrance

​​A surrealistic place

But don't hesitate. Just proceed through the gates and walk along the big warehouse wall until you reach the front and you will be amazed! A big entrance with fountains and nice plantings welcomes you. But it's a little bit of a surrealistic experience, in the middle of nowhere, in this small town Santa Ana you find this place and there is almost no people around. By the time we were there having dinner there was only one other guest present. 
Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) reception

The reception hall

Conclusions

However the food was delicious and the portions were huge. We ordered hot and sour soup and beef with mushrooms. The food was price worthy and  they also had a good WiFi here. 

​Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food 
4 Service
4 Value
4 Atmosphere
I was here January 2014.

Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort Philippines
Brgy. San Vicente, Santa Ana , Cagayan Valley Philippines, 3514
Phone: +639088907646
Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) the restaurant

Only one other guest present

Cagayan Holiday & Leisure Resort (Santa Ana, Philippines) the food

Hot and sour soup and beef with mushrooms

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Mt Pinatubo, the Sleeping Giant

If you are in Manila, why not enjoy the magnificent view of this once dormant volcano? Named as the "Sleeping Giant”. Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991 altered global climate and caused mudflows to cascade down its slopes, destroying everything along its path and leaving behind a labyrinth of towering lahar cliffs. The Crater Lake within the mouth of the volcano has a halcyon shade of blue that contrasts with the black, strombolic fury it exhibited years ago.

​​A perfect day trip!

There are tour operators which arrange day trips from Manila to Mt Pinatubo and back. Expect an early pick-up at around 4-5  am, drive for a couple of  hours to Capas, where your local guide will meet you. Upon arrival, transfer to a 4x4 jeep and experience a 2-hour ride and almost 2 hour-trek to the crater.

See the complete story here: Mt Pinatubo day trip
Hiking trip to Mt Pinatubo. I am standing at Pinatubo Crater Lake. © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

I finally made the hike and now posing for the photographer at the Pinatubo Crater Lake. © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

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A part of the Babuyan Islands

Calayan Island is a part of the Babuyan Islands located in the Luzon Strait north of Luzon Island. To come here you need to go to Tuguegarao. From there you can take the bus to Santa Ana where you take the ferry  roughly 4 hours out in the sea. The best time to go here is during April. Although you can go here other times of the year, but there is always the possibility that you can  get stranded because of the unpredictable weather.

Off the beaten track

There are a few Sari Sari stores where you can buy necessities and some homestay to accommodate you. Either you can cook your own food or arrange so they can cook for you in the homestay. Calayan Island is off the beaten track and perfect for enjoying the beauty of nature but not for a bustling nightlife.
Cliffs overlooking the sea at Calayan Island, Philippines

Cliffs overlooking the sea at Calayan Island

Sibang Cove Beach, Calayan Island, Philippines

Sibang Cove Beach

Sibang Cove Beach, Calayan Island, Philippine

You are not likely to meet other sunbathing tourists here at Sibang Cove Beach

Cliff at Sibang Cove Beach, Calayan Island, Philippine

A majestic cliff all alone, standing as a sentry on the beach

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Nice view at Samal Island © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

View over Samal Island, also known as Island Garden City of Samal

Located on Samal Island

The Red Parrot Inn is located on Samal Island, one of the pearls of small islands just outside the city of Davao. To get there you can take the bus from Sasa Wharf in Davao going to Peñaplata on Samal Island. It includes a short ferry trip between the ferry terminals. In Peñaplata you switch to the bus heading for Kaputian. From the busterminal in Kaputian it's only five minutes walk to The Red Parrot Inn.
Going by ferry from Samal Island to Davao City © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Short ferry trip between the islands

Reviews of hotels in Philippines Samal Island The Red Parrot Inn Sea View 3 © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The Red Parrot Inn

The Red Parrot Inn, a wonderful getaway with sea view

Reviews of hotels in Philippines Samal Island The Red Parrot Inn Sea View © Patrik Lord Travel Blog
Reviews of hotels in Philippines Samal Island The Red Parrot Inn View from room © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The view from the room is awesome!

Reviews of hotels in Philippines Samal Island The Red Parrot Inn Sea View 2 © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

This is the strait between Samal Island and Talikud Island

The Red Parrot Inn is beautifully situated by the sea. It has rooms fronting the sea and also four cottages at the back with no sea view. The AC was a little bit old but still possible to adjust the temperature ok. WiFi was only available in the main building. We had one of the cottages in the back and the room was a little bit worn but everything was nice and clean.
Breakfast at The Red Parrot Inn, Samal Island © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The breakfast was not of my taste, it was too sweet!

You could cook your own food

Breakfast was not included in the price for the cottage. But you could order breakfast and other dishes in the little restaurant nicely located with a beautiful sea view. I didn't mind that the breakfast was not included because it was too sweet for my taste anyway. There was a kitchen available so you could cook your own food. We used to buy fresh fish in the market and then let the staff cook it for us for a smaller fee.
The staff at The Red Parrot Inn © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The staff at the reception

Reviews of hotels in Philippines Samal Island The Red Parrot Inn dog © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Can you cuddle me... please!

Reviews of hotels in Philippines Samal Island The Red Parrot Inn Sea View with feet © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

My feet are enjoying the view

​They had parrots here

Everybody in the staff were very friendly and helpful. The beach just outside the main building was clean and perfect for swimming and snorkeling. As a curiosity they actually had parrots here. Two red ones and one white Kakadu with the name Oskar. He was both naughty and funny and he loved to talk!
Reviews of hotels in Philippines Samal Island The Red Parrot Inn Parrots © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

The parrots

Having lunch at the local canderia Samal Island © Patrik Lord Travel Blog

Lunch at the nearby canderia

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Location
4 Sleep Quality
4 Rooms
5 Service
5 Value for the money
5 Cleanliness 
I stayed here several times early 2015

The Red Parrot Inn
Kaputian, Samal Island, Davao​
Landline: +63 82 286 1658
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​Perfectly located in Toril

Monclair Suites has a very good location in the center of Toril. It's near to everything. Just walking distance to the wet market, G-Mall or the jeepney terminal. The room was small but clean and fresh. AC was the modern style and the temperature was easy adjustable. Free WiFi was available in the room. Breakfast was not included. ​

One highlight of Toril is Eden Nature Park & Resort

Toril is is the 3rd District of the City of Davao, located 40 min by car from city center of Davao. So if you visit Davao it's probably more likely you stay near the city center of Davao instead of staying in Toril. But one highlight of Toril is Eden Nature Park & Resort which is a fantastic getaway beautifully located on the slope of Mount Apo. So Eden Nature Park & Resort might be the reason for you to spend the night in Toril and then you should check out Montclair Suites as an option.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Location
4 Sleep Quality
4 Rooms
4 Service
5 Value for the money
5 Cleanliness 
I stayed here a couple of times in May 2015

Monclair Suites
RCFI COMPLEX (Infront of Shell Gasoline Station), Agton St., Toril, Davao City
Phone: 09498323034 (smart), 09433045380 (sun)
Review of Montclair Suites, Toril, Davao

Monclair Suites

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Samal Island, for those who prefer a more quiet island life

Bangka is the name for boat in Tagalog. I found this beautiful boat on Samal Island which is one of those incredible islands found just outside the city of Davao. Samal Island is easily accessible from Davao by ferry and offers a wide variety of nice activities from the most obvious, swimming and snorkeling to hiking in the forrest. The infrastructure for the tourists is well developed for those who prefer a more quiet island life than what Davao has to offer. 
Bangka, boat at Samal Island, Philippines

Here you are overlooking the strait between Samal Island and Talikud Island in the horizon.

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The Paguriran Island Beach Resort

Here is the view from Paguriran Island on to the mainland at high tide. The distance over to the mainland is only a couple of hundred meters and you can easily wade here even in high tide. The small huts among the palm trees is Paguriran Island Beach Resort, a perfect getaway for picnics and some relaxing at the beach with white sand. This beautiful place should be on your bucket list if you are visiting Sorsogon. Just take a 20-30 minutes ride from the city center with a tricycle. 
View from Paguriran Island, Sorsogon, Philippines

View from Paguriran Island at high tide

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Good location

You have two branches of Buzzz Café in Tagbilaran. One is located in the ground floor of Luisa Galleria. Maybe this one is the most accessible of the two due to it's central location near the city square. The other one is located in Island City Mall (ICM) which is 5 min away from city square by tricycle. This review is mainly about the branch located in Luisa Galleria which also is the bigger one and have more tables available.

Locally produced with organic farming

From inside of the restaurant you have a beautiful view over the strait between Bohol and Panglao. Free WiFi is available and AC is functioning very well (read: it's not too cold inside). The unique with The Buzzz Café is that everything they sell here is locally produced with organic farming. They also have a shop here where you can buy fresh bread, pastries, honey etc.

​Healthy and delicious! 

The food is a mix of Western and Filipino style. Soups, salads, sandwiches, ribs, fish, chicken, pizzas and pasta. Vegetarian alternatives are also available. Everything is cooked with their style, unique for The Buzzz Café. Some dishes come with fresh salad and newly baked bread with delicious spreads. The have also a good selection of tea and coffee. The conclusion is clear, healthy and delicious food to reasonable prices.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
5 Food 
5 Service
5 Value
5 Atmosphere
I have been here many times the past years.

The Buzzz Café
Ground Floor, Galleria Luisa, Galleries St. Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Phone: +63 38 502 2288
Complimentary to every meal. Fresh bread with honey and pesto spread.
Fresh bread with pesto spread
Look at this! It's like an artwork for your soul.
Ribs
Ribs, fresh salad and red rice
Caffe latte with a carrot muffin
Grilled squid
Different kinds of honey for sale
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Don't let the first impression let you down

The whole place looks a little bit shabby from the outside. But don't let the first impression let you down. The Golden Cowrie virtually stands alone surrounded by a parking lot, which means there are always free parking space available. When you enter the restaurant all the shabbiness vanish away. It's nice and clean and you are greeted by staff. The food is Filipino style and you have many dishes to choose between and the prices are very reasonable. The only downside is when the restaurant is full of guests, which it often is the sound level tends to be high probably because of the acoustics is not that good.

A little bit unlucky this time

The food shown in one of the pics was Kangkong, a common vegetable dish consists of green leaves mixed with garlic and spices. Bicol Express which is pork with coconut milk, chili and shrimp paste. The Kangkong was delicious but the pork in the Bicol Express consisted almost only of chops of pure fat. When I told the staff about it they replaced it with pork chops which was to my satisfaction. I felt I was a little bit unlucky with my Bicol Express because I have been here several times before and usually the food have been very good.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
4 Food 
4 Service
5 Value
3 Atmosphere
I was here several times in December 2015.

Golden Cowrie Restaurant
0068 Venancio P. Inting Ave, Tagbilaran City, 6300 Bohol, Philippines
Phone: +63 38 411 1323
Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Kangkong (green leaves vegetable), Bicol Express and rice
Pork chops
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​Good priced hotel in Imus, Cavite

Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens is located around 21 km south of Manila in Imus, Cavite. The area of Imus is surprisingly green as long as you stay away from the R-2 highway. Since this is not really a tourist spot you will probably not end up here unless you have a reason to visit this particular area. 
Nevertheless Casa Verde is good priced hotel, quiet surroundings with breakfast included. WiFi and AC was functioning perfect. The room was very fresh and clean and the staff was friendly and helpful. Only 5 min from Casa Verde with tricycle, you reach the R-2 highway where you have plenty of public buses going back and forth to Manila or Dasmariñas.

Rating: 1-5 where 1 is terrible and 5 is excellent
3 Location
5 Sleep Quality
5 Rooms
5 Service
5 Value for the money
5 Cleanliness 
I stayed here February 2016

Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens
254 Bayan Luma III, Cavite, 4103 Imus, Philippines
Phone: +63 917 715 0661
Reviews of hotels in Imus, Cavite, Philippines Casa Verde Boutique Hotel and Gardens, Breakfast © LordProduction

Double breakfast was included in the double room