Alibijaban, a DIY island, Philippines

It was one of the best and indeed different experience for us visiting this island. It would be tough for anyone to find Alibihaban island unless someone points it on map.  It is almost 7-8 hours journey from Makati to this island. We need to take a boat from San andres to reach this island.

The white sand island beach, we can say that is raw and untouched island, will give you immense closeness with nature. There is no tourism info about this island,  no entrance fees, no lodging, no restaurants etc.. you will really need local people to visit this island and plan every bit of things yourself.

Altogether, it is a DIY island. Information can only found on blogs and internet. You need to carry your own cooking setup and tents if you are planning to stay overnight.

I was lucky to find a local group planning to visit this island and they seemed to be pro in organizing trips. Fully equipped with all camping tools, tents etc.. I just had to stick to their plan. Well planned and very nice group with an jaw dropping beautiful island destination made our trip memorable.

We started in night around 11PM on Friday 12th-Jun and reached early morning on Saturday. After doing some shopping on main land for our food requirements, we took a boat ride to this stranded island. 20 minutes waving on sea and we landed our feet on white sand beach. Island is a home for almost 300 families and we got a warm welcome from village kids.

we encroached a part of shaded land by the beach and landed our feet there. While one group starting setting up the open air kitchen, another group started working on tent and command center. Yes, our one tent was quite big to accommodate 10-12 person and we named it command center.

Tent and command center by the beach. Open air kitchen is on the back side.

We took a quick walk around to see the island, followed by lunch session. While others went for snorkeling in sea and searching sea creatures.

I was quite astonished with the friendly and honest nature of villagers, specially kids. when everyone went for a walk, no one was around to look after our luggage or things. When we returned, even many kids were sitting near our tent, our luggage remained untouched and so was our food or snacks which was there in open air kitchen. Local kids guided us for a long walk in Mangrove forest which was on the other side of island. there was one river flowing in the middle of forest and which added beauty of this forest. After taking lot of pictures and analyzing few creatures of mangrove we decided to return. we took the way through sea. Yes, a part of land was coming out on sea, which will get submerged once we get high tide in night.

After an exhausting yet interesting walk, we reached our base camp. Sun was already fading away and sky was displaying different color on big canvas. We sat down on beach with our cup of coffee staring at sun, mesmerized in nature's beauty.

Enjoying Sunset 

After a nice dinner everyone got busy in casual chit chat. It was nice experience for us to sleep in tent for first time. Sooner dreams engulfed my tired body and mind. Day started quite early then usual. As per plan, we got in boat to go around island. Mangrove forest was half submerged in water due to high tide last night, creating a nice place for swimming. We couldn't resist jumping in clean water.

After an adventurous trip on boat around the island, we headed back to our base camp. Had a nice feast over fresh fishes caught from sea. Journey came to an end with unforgettable memories recorded in our brain cells and moments captured in camera :) . Paid our sincere thanks to the enthusiastic group before saying bye to everyone.

Enjoy the photo slideshow below :)
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The Philippines

Manila, The Philippines

Famous for the most beautiful beaches on earth, Philippines was always on top of my places to visit. I had no idea that I would be getting this opportunity so soon. The island of Philippines (Filipino: Pilipinas) is an archipelago in Southeast Asia with more than 7000 islands located between Philippine sea and South China Sea. My flight was in bright day time and I was curiously staring out of window when I heard announcement that flight will be landing soon. Plane crossed sea and I got first glimpse of Philippines with greeneries all around on wavy land, hills and mountains assured me that I am really landing in a natural wonder.

It was a little troublesome at airport collecting luggage, standing in long immigration queue shifting my wait from one leg to another and later a taxi to hotel where taxi driver gave a bitter first experience in Manila. Got few dollars exchanged to Peso at airport (43 peso/1USD Aug2014). Taxi moved through big and small congested streets and skyways. We reached Makati, my destination, sooner which moreover looked like a concrete jungle and rising towers all around.

Taxi stopped in front of a high tower and we got room on 24th floor. The gazed out of glass wall toward the glittering lights of towers standing parallel to us. Slow moving traffic with vehicles twinkling lights was also clear.

Our hunger to know the place and try new cuisines sooner forced us to start exploring the city.

Locals are in general sweet and soft spoken. Tagalog is the local language here but English is also widely spoken and understood. Showing respect in polite words addressing sir/ Mam is quite common here. Public transport(Metro) is generally crowded and bone crushing during peak office hours. We still found people offering their seats to girls and older people. Jeepneys are another local public transport with low height and windows with no glass. Around 20-30 people can sit inside depending upon size of Jeepneys. Taxi is also easily available at reasonable rate.

Jeepneys, pulbic transport in Philippines

It was tough for us to find local food shops here. City is full of international food chain brands like KFC, McD and few local brands like Jollibee & Inasal giving a tough competition to them. We tried some local street BBQ and had an opportunity to enjoy local delicacy in some restaurants. Halo Halo (dessert) in Inasal tingled my taste buds along with its main course.

Halo Halo Dessert

Philippines is endowed with awesome natural beauty black lined with sudden weather change and natural disasters like typhoons quite often. We already experienced 3 typhoons within 1 months of our stay.

It is rare to see people following their traditional dress although men can be seen in silk shirts which is not tugged in pant. These shirts are status symbol here and hence mostly wore by rich people.

Shopping in Manila:

There are some local market areas. Weekend morning market also held in Legaspi Park(Sunday) near to greenbelt 1 and Salcedo Park(Saturday). You can get local and fresh items here for your full week. Mostly sellers here are from near by villages.

Morning Market, Legaspi Village

There are few wet markets here called Dampa. Dampa at Macapagal open all days and rich of fruits vegetables and seafoods. You may need to bargain as prices may be high for foreigners.

Farmer's Market: is very nice traditional market located near Cubao MRT. Fresh vegetables, meat and seafoods are available at cheaper rate with lot of local shops available for household items as well.

Farmer's Market

Greenhills : This market is a big stretch of cloths, bags, mobiles and souvenirs shops at affordable price. You can bargain at your best here. This is located near Annapolis MRT. Although I didn't experience anything as such, as per local people input, pickpocketing is common in this market so you should be careful with your belongings . In general, it is a safe place for shopping.

Other than these markets, Greenbelt, Gloreitta(nearest MRT Ayala) and "Mall of Asia"(Nearest LRT EDSA) are the malls to satisfy your shopping greed. 

Chinatown: 168 Mall and lucky Chinatown one of many shopping heavens in Chinatown. Prices are cheap still you can bargain further. you can find almost everything there, from jwelleries, cloths, household and kitchen items, electronic goods, furniture etc..

Places to Visit:

There are many churches across Manila while few are quite old and spectacular.

You can visit few of the listed places here.

Intramurous Church

Intramuros: Old Spanish City, still alive located at the sea belt gives you historical idea of Spanish influence on Philippines. The city is surrounded with high walls equipped with Canons.

Nearest LRT united Nations.Take Jeepney to Intramuros

American Cemetery: The place I liked most few Kms from Makati is a nice place to visit. A big stretch of American soldiers tomb here. A total of 17,206 tombs are here.

China Town: Oldest Chinatown of world lies here. With a smell of chinese culture and tradition with cuisine, this place is also a haven for shopping lovers. Although, for shopping you need to go a little ahead of Chinatown known as Binondo or Diversoria. 

Manila Bay: You can spend your evening here with lot of eateries around. Just sit at the bank of river and spend your evening with nature.

Star City: Located close to Manila bay, Star City is amusement park which can keep you busy for a day. Starting time is 4 PM on weekdays and 2 PM on weekends.

Ocean Park, children's museum can be also considered in your visiting list.

Visit Tagaytay

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Aamchi Mumbai

Mumbai at a Glance

A place of dreams .. dreams transiting to reality.. dreamz transiting to ashes…
Place where bada pav and sandwiches are quite common food added with famous mumbai cutting tea..
A place which never sleeps.. a place which enjoys the life at its best.. A place which is home for many celebrities and stars.. A place where in spite of busy life you can find people flocking at the sea beaches by evening…

Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai

My mouth left wide open when one guy at my work place distributed sweets saying that it is his birthday marriage day and rebirth day i.e. 12 march. I was amused by the word “rebirth”.
Rebirth ?? I murmured.
He heard it. He responded "yes. Rebirth"
It would have been my death day on 12 march 1993.
How? I asked.
“in 1993 my office was near BSE. I had my lunch and was coming back to my office. I was just crossing BSE when I heard a loud blast and everything was flown and scattered around. Luckily I was not on the front side of BSE where impact was most. All the glasses of BSE scattered and were falling down. Luckily my brain worked that time and I hid myself under a wooden luggage trolley parked on the road and saved myself from falling glasses. All the people on the front side including food sellers, people waiting there, taxiwala and whoever were there died on spot, Many got injured. When I came out of that wooden pulley I saw road was colored red. It was a close escape from death. If bomb would have exploded after 2 minutes I would also be on the front side and in the list of dead”.
I had no comments but to keep my mouth open and listen to his story.

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I felt people are more honest and helpful in Mumbai wrt Bangalore( except my first day bad experience :) ). Taxi starting meter charges are Rs20 and autoricksaw is Rs10. They never argue with you if you want to hire one and never make a scene or ask extra money when they drop you.
You are from which place, I asked the cab driver. “Allahabad sir”.
How long you are here in Mumbai?
“Almost 9 years”.
You met any bollywood star here?
“Amitabh and abhishek and many other celebrities I saw. It is easy to see stars here.”
What changes you see from the time you came here and now?
“Lot of things changed sir. Now people are not so honest and life is not so cool. It became crowded unexpectedly fast”.
So the time you came here, you are taxi driver?
“I worked at many places. Now I run my own 3 taxis and I own one house in Mumbai.”
That’s great I said. Having a house in Mumbai is itself is a life time achievement that too for a taxiwaala.