Johor Hotels Blog

How to Go to Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines

Chocolate Hills in Carmen, Bohol is one of the wonders of the world. It has 1,776 hills spreading in about 50 square kilometers (20 sq mi). Chocolate Hills is one of the tourist attraction in the Philippines listed in Philippine Tourism Authority. The 1,776 hills are covered with green grass that turns brown during the dry season that looks like a chocolate. That is why this wonder is called the chocolate hills. This marvel of creation is probably the famous tourist attraction in Bohol.

How to go there to luxuriate in the beauty of this wonders of the world? First, if you’re in another country like USA, Canada, Australia and anywhere in the world, you need to take a flight to the Philippines via Philippine Airlines or any Airlines that have a flight schedule to the Philippines. Once you arrived in the Philippines most probably your in Manila, you need to take a domestic flight to Cebu. From the Mactan International Airport, you need to flow a taxi color yellow especially for passengers from the plane, to the Cebu port terminal wander for Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

There are many vessels to choose but I suggest riding the fast craft, like the Ocean Jet, Supercat, or Weesam bound for Tagbilaran City. The earliest departure for Tagbilaran City is the Ocean Jet at 6.00 A.M. and arrives in Tagbilaran within two hours, more or less 8.00 A.M. When you are in Tagbilaran City port, there are many vans for hire that you can hire for P3,000 – P3,500 in a day tour to many tourist spot in Bohol including the Chocolate hills in Carmen or in Sagbayan. You can ride a bus too; from Tagbilaran City Bus Terminal to Carmen is cost only P100. There is also an air condition van that you can hotfoot that cost around P200 one way only.

If you’re coming from Tubigon in a boat from Cebu, a few buses go to Carmen daily. You may wait for a while because the buses bound for Carmen need to fill up before they go. When you arrive in Carmen, your next move is to hire a motorcycle taxi or habal-habal to bring you to the Chocolate Hills site. or you will wait a Jeepney or bus bound for Bilar, Loay or Tagbilaran that brings you near the Chocolate hills complex. But the most easy and fast way to go from Carmen town to Chocolate hills area is to hire a motorcycle taxi or “habal-habal” as the native called it..

When you near at last in the Chocolate Hills site, you can now see the natures beauty of creation that inspires you to admire how loving our creator are. Don’t forget to bring your digital camera or video gadgets and take shots in every angle as you want.

Where to stay? You can ask the van driver to gain you a decent hotels for you to stay. In Tagbilaran City, there are so many decent hotels that you can stay like the Bohol Tropics, a nice hotel beside the sea. if you are in a budget you can stay in a pension house that cost only P500 a day.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • MySpace
Tags: , , , , ,

Related Posts

Perlis – Malaysia’s Northern Gem – a Beautiful Place for a Holiday with Nature

If you want a more rural cheap holiday with paddy fields, beautiful region parks, sugar cane plantations, traditional markets, cities with a more relaxed way of life and awesome museums, then Perlis, Malaysia is definitely for you. The Malaysians call it The Northern Gem because of its natural beauty and ancient archaeological finds. It is the country’s smallest state and has a population of only 210,000 people. It is at the absolute top of Malaysia sharing a border with Thailand. This makes it easy to see both countries in a shorter period of time.

There are many things to do in the station of Perlis, but here are some of my favorites to have an awesome holiday, cheap travel with a unique twist.

Perlis State Park - suitable next to the border of Thailand and Malaysia, Perlis State Park is beautiful. Here you can go caving, trekking, bird watching and hiking. There are many species of birds and animals only found in this park, as well as unusual flora and fauna. There are also huge cave systems to explore. Fair be careful in the rainy season, as these caves can flood quite quickly.

If you want to spend a couple of days there, you can stay in small hostels in the park or you can camp. To camp though, don’t forget, you must get permission from the park management first. Both forms of accommodation though are very cheap, so the state park is a perfect place for an inexpensive getaway.

Wang Kelian Sunday Market – this neat little market straddles the border of Thailand and Malaysia, so you can actually visit both countries as they allow it without a passport provided you quit within the market state. They sell Malaysian and Thai products, so you’ll find great handicrafts, clothing, silks, wooden carvings, artwork, and much more. Don’t forget to bargain and you should get some great prices.

The Royal Museum - has an interesting exhibit of royal regalia. They have daggers that were used in royal ceremonies, swords, headgear, clothing etc. all showing the history of the Perlis Royal Family. As Malaysia has 9 different royal families, the Perlis Family, like all the others, have taken it in turns to ‘rule’ Malaysia. You have to get permission from the Arau Palace officials though to visit the museum, but any hotel you stay at can tell you where to go to do this.

Kuala Perlis – This is the main port in Perlis and where tourists catch the ferry to go to Langkawi, a famous Malaysian beach resort. Kuala Perlis is a small town, consisting mostly of fishing but it’s interesting to walk around and observe the fishing culture at work as well as try some of the superb (and cheap!) seafood restaurants that are all over the place.

Kangar – Kangar is the capital city of Perlis and has many historic buildings to leer. The Syed Alwi Mosque is an almost 100-year old mosque that people come from miles around to see. With the typical white walls of the Malaysian architectural style, yellow blinds and the domed roofs and spires, it really is a beautiful building.

Kangar, for being a state capital, is a relaxed laid-back site, where you can wander around and look at the old shophouses, or check out the local history. Dato Wan Ahmad’s House is also here. It’s a shapely 70 year obsolete kampong (village) wooden house with gorgeous woodcarvings and colorful painted panels and is an excellent example of traditional Malay architecture.

In the evening, check out one of the little markets or eat at one of the roadside restaurants that you’ll find everywhere. Or, if you’re wanting more comfort, there are many choices of air conditioned Western restaurants to choose from. Whatever you choose, the food is excellent in Perlis province and very inexpensive.

Perlis is mainly an agricultural state and is very sleepy and relaxed. Don’t let this fool you though. It has many charms, not only the clean air, the worthy people and the unspoiled beauty. It also has some of the best food in Malaysia (both Asian and Western), fabulous fishing and also tremendous shopping. You can buy things in Perlis you won’t see anywhere else. Also check out the sugar cane plantations, and the Snake and Reptile Farm, with its snakes, crocodiles and monitor lizards.

To earn there, you can take a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Kepala Batas, Kedah. Here you can get a taxi to Perlis. You can also take a bus from Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Terengganu, Malacca, Penang or Kedah. There are also several trains that run through Perlis as the line from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore runs right through it. You can also take the ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis. With so many ways to get there, it would be a pity to miss it.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • MySpace
Tags: , , , , , ,

Related Posts

Travel Guide to the State of Melaka, Malaysia – Ancient Heritage in a Nutshell

The State of Melaka with its capital Melaka (Malacca) is probably Malaysian’s state with the most fascinating heritage and culture, named the historical state Negeri Bersejarah. The city Melaka was founded by Parameswara a prince from Indonesia and during the times of the Dutch VOC it was once known as the Venice of the East

History of Melaka

The strategically located port of Melaka, harboring at the Straits of Malacca brought most history to this district. When the spice trade flourished in the early 1500′s and 1600′s the Dutch, Portuguese, British and Sumatran all left their footprints in Melaka, and their heritage can still be found all over the state.

Melaka City offers much more to the tourist than just a day plod, there is so much to see and to discover, enjoy many fruitful days in and around this pretty city. Plentiful well maintained historical buildings, temples, churches and a real fort, a maritime museum with a life size Portuguese galleon, enough to fabricate ones mind wander back to ancient times and feel how live in a community like Melaka was lived. Jonker street is a true shoppers delight. Every tourist should at least once be transported by a Trishaw, it’s an absolute treat.

Tourist Attractions

The North and center of the State offer even more variety for the traveler, A Reptile Park, Fish World, Gadek Hot Springs, Mini Malaysia and Mini ASEAN, Crocodile and Butterfly Farm, Melaka Zoo and Durian Tunggal Recreational Park and lots of endless scenery and lavish landscapes.

A’Famosa resort & Water World is named after the Portuguese fort in Melaka City. It offers the only Animal Safari in Malaysia, from an begin truck the visitors are able to get up stop and personal with tigers, lions, giraffes and ostriches, The bumpy jungle track and crocodile river make this an exciting piece of the visit. The day would not be complete without visiting the Wild Wild West show where cowboys and Indians battle in an idyllic setting. A’Famosa further offers a golf club and a micro light flying club & sports center. The resort offers various degrees of luxury whether the traveler wants a room, condominium or private villa to ensure a comfortable vacation.

In the South of Melaka State close to the border of Johor the Melaka Traditional House can be found.

Melaka Foods

Melaka is the region where special foods developed over centuries, Dodol a sticky sugar and coconut substance which is eaten as a dessert, Asam pedas (sour and hot curry) normally eaten with white rice (nasi putih)

Melaka is also home to the Straits Chinese Nyonya and Baba communities, which are traditional Chinese descendents married into the Malay culture they introduced many new spices and cooking styles to the region, which later spread all over the country. There is a special museum called Baba-Nyonya Heritage Museum located at Tun Tan Cheng Lock street in Melaka City.

Melaka Islands

Just of the skim of Melaka City two small islands can be found, Ideal weekend get-a-ways. Pulau Besar the larger of the two is a small but hilly island with lush greenery to be found everywhere. The Japanese occupied the island during the Second World War, and some reminders still can be found. By boat the Pandanusa resort with its 18 hole golf course can be reached, boats leaving from the Umbai Jetty or the Melaka Town Jetty. More basic accommodation can be found at Pulau Upeh, where chalets close to the beach offer freedom and tranquility. During the day snorkeling, swimming and fishing are enjoyable and pleasant past times.

Melaka is a wonderful state to travel around, less then 2 hours from Kuala Lumpur a well-behaved daytrip, the traveler will find exhilarating views and enjoyable moments of relaxation when becoming one with Melaka’s nature.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • MySpace
Tags: , , , , , ,

Related Posts

Travel Guide to Pulau Tioman Island, Malaysia

Travel Malaysia and you know you arrived at in a special country, full of cultural and historical discoveries.

Pulau Tioman, the largest island on the East Coast of the Malaysian Peninsular.

Belonging to the state of Pahang, but situated approximately 50 kilometers of the coast of The state of Johor. Tioman Malaysia Island has a good variety of water sports and accommodations to offer. For many years Tioman was mainly know for the scuba diving and snorkeling options around the island. While tourism developed over the years, jungle tracking and eco tourism became significant leisure activities.. But above all the magnificent beaches and the lush jungle are the main attraction for many holidaymakers.

Duty Free Zone Tioman Island

Tioman is one of the few Duty Free zones in Malaysia, no one is allowed to transport any duty free goods back to the mainland. Alcohol, cigarettes and chocolate are extremely inexpensive compared to other parts of the country.

Transportation to Pulau Tioman

Two options to come to the island, by boat or by plane. The only airline flying to Pulau Tioman is Berjaya Air, and the comfortable DeHavilland Dash 7 transports any traveler in fair over one hour from Kuala Lumpur. Large ferries and snappily speedboats leave from early morning till dusk from Mersing and Tanjung Gemuk. The Ferry is dull and steady and takes two and half hours to reach the destination. The speedboats swoop to the island in less than an hour.

The South China Seas surrounding Tioman can be unpredictable. But from the middle of March till ruin of September the seas are mild enough to gain the sea crossing.

At the Mersing and Tanjung Gemuk jetties operators offer rooms, chalets and home stay options. The accommodations on the island are basic to standard, luxury is not really found unless visiting the 5 star Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf & Spa Resort; a top resort in Malaysia.

Almost every town and beach, have their maintain jetty where speedboats and ferries from the mainland moor of for departing visitors.

Once on the island, boats will be your way vehicles to earn to other sites or villages. Many little fisherman boats bring your for a few dollars from one beach to the next.

Only the town of Tekek, has local transport as motorbikes and cars. But as a tourist you easily walk across town in less the ten minutes.

Jungle tracks and tracking are organized from Tekek. Hiking the long trail is possible; some choose the four-wheel drive transport options crossing the island from west to east and vice-versa.

Pulau Tioman is fun, cheap, and full of adventure. Tioman Malaysia a great place for travelers to become absorbed by island life, for a weekend or long halt holiday.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • MySpace
Tags: , , , , ,

Related Posts

Travel Guide for Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Public Transport

This guide helps the traveler with the next step when arriving in Malaysia’s KLIA or LCCT Airport; explaining tourists about the transport options.

When visiting Kuala Lumpur for the first time, traffic might feel chaotic at first, however a traveler will soon feel at home and get a good feel for Kuala Lumpur’s transportation systems.

Kuala Lumpur offers many alternative transport options. Bus, monorail, train and taxi are all fast and qualified. Traveling this plan also gives more pleasure, enjoyment and the best views of this magnificent city.

Kuala Lumpur by Air

Most people will travel to Malaysia by air, either arriving at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport), LCCT (Rude Cost Carrier Terminal) both located 60 kilometers South of the city center or Subang Airport (Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport) 20 kilometers West of the city center.

From KLIA and LCCT there is a variety of transport options to make it to the city, busses, taxis and the KLIA Express; all take less than one hour to Kuala Lumpur City and the major Kuala Lumpur hotels. From Subang Airport the only option is by road, taxi is the fastest means of transportation and takes about 30 minutes to the booming heart of KL.

Busses Crowded But Fun to Do

Busses are a great way to travel, crowded but cheap in the city center. RM1 or RM2 bus heed lasts all day. When traveling outside of Kuala Lumpur the bus is the best option. Inexpensive transport travels to any destination within the Peninsular. Buses leave from various bus stations in the city; KL Main Bus station Puduraya at Jalan Pudu, Putra Bus Terminal at Jalan Putra, Duta Bus Terminal at Jalan Duta and Pekeliling Bus Terminal near Titiwangsa. Most operators offer standard or luxury options. With the local bus operators any destination can be reached, Genting, Penang, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Langkawi, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru and all other major cities including Singapore.

Driving a Car in Kuala Lumpur

Driving in KL can be disorientating as highways are not built like other major cities. Road users apply their fill set of rules, drive carefully is the best advice. Major car rental dealer can be found at all airports.

Kuala Lumpur’s Unique Monorail System

KL Monorail is a perfect intra-city public transit system. KL Monorail operates from KL Sentral to Titiwangsa over a distance of nearly 9 kilometers. With its 11 stations stopping at major destinations in the city it is the most ideal form of transport. Over rush hour it might be a bit crowded.

Motorbike Not an Ideal Way of Transport

Thousands and thousands of small motorbikes swarm the city. Unless there is no other option renting a motorbike within the city is possible. Owners of cars have no respect for motorbikes.

Taxi Come In Many Colors And Sizes

Yellow cabs, abundant and relatively cheap can be found everywhere in Kuala Lumpur. Two main systems exist, vouchers and general pick-up. Vouchers can be bought at major taxi stands around the city. There is a place price from point of departure to any destination. Taxis should use the meter which should start at RM3 (US$0.90). When a taxi does not drive on the meter, score another one; or agree on a price. After midnight there are no rules.

Local Trains

This is where KL traffic really gets gripping. Five different train companies operate within the Klang Valley. They do not always inter-connect at the same location; hopping from one train to the next might take as worthy as a 500 meter scoot. Monorail, Putra, Star, KLIA express, Komuter KTM are all reliable services and a great means of transport, cheap and pretty efficient.

National Trains Services

KL Sentral train station offers trains to succor the south all the way to Singapore, and the north to Kedah and Kelantan even crossing into Thailand and on to Bangkok. Trains are a magical means of transport; a variety of landscapes passes by while the traveler sits back and relaxes.

Walking The Streets of Kuala Lumpur

Car drivers, taxis, motorbikes and busses offer no respect to pedestrians, our best tip can only be, be careful and stay on the pavement.

Traffic Jams Bring Mayhem to The City

Kuala Lumpur is notorious for its early morning and after work traffic jams, try to avoid these hours as a tourist.

Road Signage Not Distinct and Bold

Signage in Malaysia is not always as one may expect, Asian street signs have often no hard rules, bold and clear directions are hard to get. Owning a map is a must for every tourist. Not all signage is in English.

Traveling in Malaysia can be a small adventure. But traveling in and around Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia is a apt pleasure.

Also visit: www.malaysia.com

Credit:

Author: Frank Amptmeijer – www.frankamptmeijer.com

Research: Franklin-Paul Blake

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • Twitter
  • Technorati
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • MySpace
  • MySpace
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Related Posts