NudeAudio MOVE S: Portable/ Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

In case you haven't looked at your calendar, it's only 16 days to go before Christmas. Don't be like me, I haven't started shopping for gifts yet. I am in for another Christmas shopping rush. Wish me luck.

Here's one Christmas gift idea that could bring music to the ears of your family or friends, literally and figuratively ---NudeAudio MOVE S Portable Bluetooth Speaker.

Call me old fashioned but I was yet to personally use a Bluetooth speaker until now and I think this is really cool. It's comforting to know that I can have this cute little gadget less the trouble of adding another device at home with a cable to crowd and annoy.

MOVE S Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

How To Go Sightseeing in MACAU without spending a single penny

With all of the high end hotels, luxury shops and glittery casinos, one might think that Macau is an expensive place to go to. The thing is, it could be the cheapest place in the world for sightseeing. You can actually get around Macau without spending a penny. Yes, you heard it right, you can go around and see so much without spending a single cent. There, I just repeated myself :p

Here's the trick.

Make sure your flight arrives daytime, or at least before midnight.

The reason for this is that you would like to take advantage of the 

FREE CASINO SHUTTLE BUSES in Macau.

All major casinos in Macau have their respective buses. You can hop in and hop off these buses anytime---no questions asked. Just make sure you stay in queue as there are so many other tourists and casino patrons using them. No need to worry, there are trips usually every 10 minutes to and from each pickup points.

MAJOR PICKUP POINTS:

Macau International Airport,
Macau Ferry Terminal and Taipa Ferry Terminal
Gongbei Port (Macau-China Border)

Budget Accommodation in Macau: AUGUSTER'S LODGE

I realized that I wasn't able to extensively blog about our Macau-Hong Kong trip in 2011 compared to what I did in Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand so I am attempting to post a couple more helpful tips despite most of my photos wiped out when my computer crashed last year. Yeah, my existing posts are nothing but those shitty pang-inggit posts na di naman nakakainggit so I hope this one could be more useful :p

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There are only very few budget accommodations in Macau. Last time I checked, there are not even ten. It is quite a challenge therefore for backpackers and budget travelers as most hotels are for high end especially the new ones in  Cotai Strip . If it is budget accommodation that you are after, the old Taipa District is where you should look for. It is here where most historical attractions in Macau are also found.

AUGUSTER'S LODGE is one example.

This was where we stayed during our 24-hour visit in Macau way back 2011. Our first time to stay in such accommodation.

my wife, friend Ro Anne and a new found friend Kuya Ernie

in the streets of Taipa near Auguster's Lodge

EL NIDO vs CORON: Which is Better?

I know it is wrong to compare but I am doing this so as so provide reference for those who haven't been to both El Nido and Coron and for those who are torn on which to choose for their first ever "wow moments" on an island getaway.

We went to El Nido on the 1st week of April this year. I fell in love with the place. If you go here and don't fall in love with it, you should have yourself checked, something is seriously wrong with you. I even told my wife, "if I go missing one day, El Nido is where you can find me. The place made a lasting impression on me. It is still my most favorite of favorites until now.

The trip sparked my eagerness to see Coron to find out which is better. We were lucky to get to see it on the same year, Oct. 18-21, a few weeks before super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) struck.

El Nido Palawan

MALCAPUYA BEACH: Coron's answer to Boracay

Beach finally!!!!
And this is what I mean by beach in contrast with that of Atuayan where we went the day before.
Kung me advantage si El Nido kay Coron, that's because beaches abound in El Nido. But this one is really a standout ---MALCAPUYA ISLAND.

Going to the beach on a stormy weather has never been this good. And when I said stormy, I really mean stormy. The boat ride from Coron Town which usually takes 1.5 hours on a clear day took us three (3) hours to navigate because of strong waves. Not Calaguas level, read, the "sugal buhay" boat ride to Mahabang Buhangin CALAGUAS ISLAND but almost similar. I was not very nervous though because I know our boatman was careful and experienced. Heavy downpours while we were in the middle of the sea had us all wet even before reaching the island.

our boat docking in Malcapuya Island

LOLO NONOYS : Our Favorite Restaurant in Coron

This was by far "our favorite restaurant" in Coron. We dined here for two consecutive nights which is something me and my wife rarely do when we visit a new place. We accidentally discovered it after accompanying our friend Julius in the one and only BPI branch in Coron Town. I ticked  "nearby places" on my Tripadvisor mobile app and it happens to be just a few blocks away.

The restaurant is LOLO NONOY'S.

our favorite restaurant in Coron ---LOLO NONOYS

It's now Easier to FLY AIR ASIA because #AirAsiaZest is in Manila!

DON'T WE LOVE IT WHEN WE HAVE MORE CHOICES?
The entry of AirAsia in the local budget-airline industry has really spiced things up in this country of 7,000+ islands with one of the highest low-cost carrier penetration in the world. We Filipinos love budget airlines and flying has become more exciting now that Air Asia is here as it brings with it many conveniences and advantages.

#AirAsiaZestinManila
I have never flown AirAsia before because their hub used to be in Clark. I find it so much of a hassle to go to Manila from Rizal Province and then travel North to Clark. Such a waste of time to a weekend-traveler like me. I am sure many of you can relate.

It certainly is good news that Air Asia Zest is now flying from NAIA-4 Manila!

I wanna fly back to Macau via Air Asia Zest!

ATUAYAN BEACH Coron : the "never beach"

Sand at last!

I am not supposed to write about the place because I jokingly referred to it as "never beach". That joke is of course half-meant.

There is nothing wow about the place but it was a welcome respite to us having been on the boat for quite a while hopping from place after another and despite the hike to Kayangan Lake, it felt like we were on the water for the most part that there was some sort of longing for land and definitely sand.

Atuayan Beach is located on the Western Side of Coron Island. We noticed a few small coves on this side of the island on our way to Atuayan but the waves were a bit big during our visit so it was difficult to dock as those coves are exposed to the open sea unlike Atuayan Beach.

The call it Atuayan Beach, I call it "never beach"

KAYANGAN LAKE vs. BARACCUDA LAKE: Which is Better?

Cash, Goods, Manpower, let's continue helping our countrymen in Central Philippines devastated by Super typhoon Yolanda in whatever way we can.  ---- Globe users can donate to #YolandaPH victims thru @PhilRedCross. Text RED to 2899. Denoms. in 5, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 and 1000. Also, Text RED AMOUNT to 4143 (Smart)

Also, once it is already safe to visit these places, let's travel there so as to help the local community recover from the tragedy. Remember, tourism means jobs to local people. We don't just travel, we help.

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If you are to choose, which is better, Kayangan Lake or Baraccuda Lake? The two are some of the crowning jewels of Coron. I love comparing for the sake of having a point of reference to places that's why I was excited to try both lakes during our do-it-yourself island hopping tour of Coron Island.

Kayangan Lake of course dwarfs  Baraccuda Lake in terms of popularity despite the latter being larger in terms of size. Here's what I think about which of the two is better.

group pic at the dock to Baraccuda Lake

CORAL GARDEN will make you love Coron over El Nido

Cash, Goods, Manpower, let's continue helping our countrymen in Central Philippines devastated by Super typhoon Yolanda in whatever way we can.  ---- Globe users can donate to #YolandaPH victims thru @PhilRedCross. Text RED to 2899. Denoms. in 5, 25, 50, 100, 300, 500 and 1000. Also, Text REDAMOUNT to 4143 (Smart)

Also, once it is already safe to visit these places, let's travel there so as to help the local community recover from the tragedy. Remember, tourism means jobs to local people. We don't just travel, we help.

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We actually missed it on our 1st day Island Hopping Tour but since our boatman was kind enough, we included it in our 2nd day itinerary---the advantage of hiring a private boat for two consecutive days.

We should have missed it again the 2nd day but thanks to a fellow travel blogger, Marx of http://www.marxtermind.com, he replied on my Facebook shout that seeing Coral Garden will change my verdict that El Nido is still better than Coron.

CORAL GARDEN will make you love Coron over El Nido