Lazada : Convenient Shopping Haven for People on the Go

As most of my free time’s filled with food and hiking trips, the willpower to hop to the nearest shopping mall for what I need often eludes me.  

I’ve had great experience buying from other online sites so I find myself visiting a couple of those every now and then for convenience sake.  But I don’t just buy from any site, I only purchase from those  with awesome referrals from people I trust. One of those, which a male colleague has developed a fanatical appreciation on is Lazada, a Philippine online shopping mall.  A busy working dad turned energetic shopper, now that's something! 

I can see why he's so amused with it. Their site doesn’t require a lot of brain cells to navigate. Most of the information you require can be found on the upper portion and several other FAQ’s on the lower left part of the home page.  Apart from the distracting BDO Installment scheme on the right side, the site is clean and pretty straightforward. 

On the left portion, you will find 14 product categories including Lazada High Street which contains featured products to give you some shopping ideas. I often find myself browsing the Women’s clothes and Women's shoes section, however, the most interesting for me at the moment is the Travel & Luggage category . I've got my eye on this National Geographic pouch where I can put my camera and other accessories. It's shabby chic. Look what I found! :)

I adore the design inside. It's so simple. :)

Scoring good finds is only a click away with a variety of payment schemes available. You can pay cash on delivery, via Visa or Mastercard or pay installment through  BDO credit card with a minimum purchase of 3,000 Pesos. 

Below’s several other helpful information about Lazada straight off their website.

Delivery 

For orders within Metro Manila, we deliver within 5 business days upon finalizing the full payment. For orders outside Metro Manila, we deliver within 5-10 business days.

Shipping Rates 

Lazada offers FREE shipping nationwide within the Philippines for orders Php 1,000 and above. Lazada is commited to offering low shipping rates for orders below Php 1,000:

Metro Manila – Php 55

Outside Metro Manila – Php 99

Return

You have up to 7 days from the receipt of your package to process a return at your own costs. Just fill in the return form, send the item back in its original packaging, and we'll be more than happy to process your return.

For more about Lazada, watch this feature from Thumbs Up featuring their gorgeous founders. :) 

Lazada
To begin shopping, visit their website here
To receive quick updates, like their Facebook Page : Lazada Philippines

Free Airfare Promo from the New Tiger Airways Philippines!

I'm helping a sassy friend spread some exciting news that will ignite the wanderer in you! :) 

To those who have been avidly booking their flights online, you might have noticed that the Sea Air website, www.flyseair.com has a note on the left part of the screen that asks you to go to the Tiger Airways website for bookings on May 20 onward, even their Facebook page  now has the logo Tiger Airways all over it. While, I don't have insider information on what transpired between these two carriers, what I can share with you is the fun stuff. :) 

Known as the leading and most trusted value-for-money carrier in Southeast Asia, Tiger Airways Philippines will make its formal debut in the skies beginning July 10. 

And what better way to kick off  this news with a free airfare promo?! 

Filipino flyers get a chance to fly to their favorite destinations (local or international) for FREE as part of the launching of Tiger Airways Philippines.  

“We at Tiger Airways Philippines embrace the simple belief that travel is about bringing people closer to their desires and experiences.  One way of making air travel more accessible is through offerings such as the free fare promo,” says Olive Ramos, President and CEO of Tiger Airways Philippines. 

Flights booked on www. www.tigerairways.com from June 1 until June 30, 2013 and with travel dates from July 1 to September 30, 2013 can be availed with for free. 

Like a thief in the night, the promo  is made available at varying times during the day from June 1-30 for a duration of two hours only. Subscribe to their FB Page to get this information quickly. Decisive travelers with fast fingers get free flights. :) 

Among the destinations that Tiger Airways Philippines flies to are Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, and local destinations such as Clark, Laoag, Bacolod, Kalibo, Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban, and Puerto Princesa. It has also increased its flight frequency between Manila and Bacolod, and Cebu and Kalibo. A Singapore to Kalibo route will also be launched on July 18, making the carrier the only one to directly fly this route. 

“Travellers now have more freedom to choose an airline that is safe, reliable and seamless.  We are offering this free fare promo for everyone to get a chance to experience the joy of finding a travel partner that understands their needs and truly cares for them.” Ramos adds. 

Tiger Airways Philippines carries a distinguished regional brand that gives importance to safety and reliability, while offering the best value fare to travellers.  The airline operates Airbus A320 and A319, with wider leg rooms to give added comfort to its passengers.  

For more details, log on to www.tigerairways.com or like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/flyseair. 

Disclaimer : 

I am just helping spread the word. For any feedback/questions/complaints about Tiger Airways, please course it through the proper channels. :) Their FB Page is at https://www.facebook.com/flyseair/.

Mt. Hibok-Hibok Day Hike Traverse

Mt. Hibok-Hiboks unclimbed peaks

Excitement burst out of my system as we began our hike to the summit of Mt. Hibok-Hibok. Located in the province of Camiguin in Northern Mindanao, it is the island's most popular volcano, frequented by both local and foreign hikers.  It's trails are known to be steep and thick with vegetation, a challenging yet rewarding hike with views of nearby islands and provinces.

Accompanied by friends Ed of Eazy Traveler, Sharon, Rosa,Tupe, a German guy whose name I can't recall and our funny guide Ronald, we entered the mountain at 5:30 AM via the trail in Barangay Yumbing, known to be the longer but more forgiving trail in terms of ascents. We started on an concrete, uphill road providing us a great warm-up.

We saw a lot of Medinilla Pendula growing around the mountain, a flowering shrub endemic to the Philippines

Vibrant shades of  green kept my eyes glued towards the trees. Occasionally, we would see interesting flowers along the way. After 4.5 hours of breathing heavily on the sharp ascents, we reached the crater lake. Fog quickly covered the peaks and the enormous deserted grassland brought out the kid in us. It felt as though we were in a lost world with no one else but us as the survivors.

As it was still summer, the lake is murky and not swimmable. Photo from Edgar .

We happily munched on sweet and juicy ferns that grew on the sides of the trail which our guide pointed out to us. On the grass, we took a long break, snacking and laughing as we let fatigue subside.

After an hour of resuming our hike, we reached the peak where we saw the crater lake like a big hole emerging from the ground.  Then fog settled in again covering the view.

Foggy summit. Photo from Edgar Yap.

For some reason, seeing the crater lake from the peak felt very rewarding. 

The hike down was still quite steep on most parts while on some sections, we had to step over sharp rocks, which is a typical terrain of a volcano. Despite the challenging portions, I was just grateful that the trees shielded us from the sun. It would have been a grimmer story had the sun shined  heavily down on us.  

By 5:14 PM, Sharon and I, along with our patient guide Ronald arrived at Ardent Hot Springs. Most of the people in our group went ahead to catch up on other things while ever reliable Edgar had buttered chicken and soup waiting for us when we arrived at the restaurant. :P

Hiking Notes :

Mt. Hibok-Hibok is in Mambajao, Camiguin. From Manila, take a flight to Cagayan de Oro (costs around 4K, regular fare). From CDO, travel 30-45 minutes via taxi (250 Pesos) or 2 jeepney rides (about 25 Pesos in all) to Agora Bus Terminal, then take a 2 hour bus to Balingoan Pier (143 Pesos, aircon). From Balingoan, there are ferry trips throughout the day to Camiguin (170 Pesos).  From Camiguin, you need to take a habal-habal or ride a motorela to your chosen jump-off. You can also start via the trail at the back of Ardent Hot Spring which is recommended for those who have issues with their knees. Do consult with Ronald, he's knowledgeable. :) 

If you want to avoid sea travel, you can take a flight from Manila to Cebu, then Cebu to Camiguin via Cebu Pacific. More Camiguin Travel info. can be found via PinaySoloBackpacker. 

On an average hiking pace, the Yumbing-Ardent Spring day hike traverse  would take 6-8 hours. Bring ample trail water (at least 1.5 Liters, more if you drink a lot) and packed lunch.  Maybe I just missed it but I don't remember a water source along the way. You also need to register at the DENR and pay a fee of 200/head.  

For guideship, contact Ronald Rabile at  +63(0910) 659-3349 - (he's the same guy who  accompanied other blogger friends - Jules of RunningMistress and Gideon of PinoyMountaineer, where you can find a hiking itinerary to Mt. Hibok-Hibok).

Post Run Dispatch : Ayala Land's Explorac Trail Run

Sun was just beginning to appear from the sky as the gun went off for the 11KM division. As my friends and I stood in the middle, squeezed in the midst of an enormous crowd, we had a very relaxing start and just walked the first few feet away from the starting line.  

I was feeling lethargic and wasn't in the mood to sweat the morning off.  None of us managed to get a decent sleep as we rushed for the media shuttle that departed at 1:30 AM from Manila and got to Pampanga in about two hours. 

Sleepy but excited. Taken before gun start with fellow bloggers Darwin (TrackingTreasure.net),
Nel (Pasahera.com) and colleague Don. :P 

When I finally felt like running, I didn't stop until I got to kilometer 5. The scenery got so interesting, I had to stop for souvenir shots and lavish the view of mountains and enormous trees along the way.

One of the challenging parts of the trail was going up this rocky ravine.
 It  was scary!

The route passed a community of our Aeta bros and sis. I heard them giggling as we approached their area.
I looked up happily and waved back. Seeing how excited we were to see them,
they went down from a hill and had photos taken with us.  It was the sweetest thing.  :)

Unlike the first kilometers which was through a flat and sandy trail, the farther part of the route led us under the SCTEX bridge, an Aeta community,  small waterfalls and several sections where we had to dip our shoes in mud and water. 

With the nice combination of flat and hilly terrain accompanied with awesome nature views,  this has got to be one of my favorite race routes to date. :) I crossed the finish line in under two hours which is an average time, but still, I was just happy to have finished the entire thing. :)

Congratulations to all the participants, race organizers and sponsors. Special thanks to KC Aguila from the PR of Primer Group of Companies for the invite. 

Oh and if you're interested to join running events, just check out the organized races at takbo.ph. 

"This event is presented by Ayala Land which is about to develop a 1,000-hectare residential area complete with recreational facilities, leisure park as well as schools, industries and golf courses within Porac." (Info. courtesy of JazzRunner) It is hosted by R.O.X. and is part of their vision to allow individuals to choose their own adventure and go for it. 

EXPLORAC would not have been made possible if not for sponsors such as Primer Group of Companies, The North Face, Gatorade, AXN, Nathan, Sea to Summit, Black Diamond, Dispatch, and Center for Outdoor Recreation and Expedition.

R.O.X. is owned and operated by the Primer Group of Companies, Asia's next retail giant.

Funding Your Dream Adventure : Save or Loan?

These days, we're encouraged to live life, NOW.  While we're all free to fantasize on journeying to awesome destinations as far as our minds can conjure, a ginormous factor in fulfilling one's dream adventure is paying for it.

For most of us folks in the working class, we’re left with two popular options :  to save or apply for a loan. Options for unsecured loans, also called personal loans are provided by banks and other institutions at varying interest rates.  Heck, I get tons of text messages from these people! While some travelers would advice against loaning for the sake of travel, you are given the freedom to follow your bliss, well, RESPONSIBLY.    

Emotions aside, I don’t see loans as a monstrous thing for as long as you stay on top of your finances and not let your bills pile over your head. Before deciding, I suggest you use an online loan calculator. Some financial institutions have it on their website.  It’s a great tool to know how much interest you will be paying back in exchange for that amount you loaned  just so you can fuel your wanderlust in an instant. It’s also a good way of keeping your feet on the ground and making sure you’re not being delusional and setting yourself up for financial depression.

Saving up on the other hand is a wonderful thing, although it is one that’s personally challenging for someone  as impatient as I am.  You won’t owe anyone a cent and you can frolic listlessly without having to think about bills to pay after. However, waiting time is a factor and quite a pain. But you know what? I am getting the hang of it, especially now that I’ve decided on my priorities in life. How I got to this state of mind was an adventure on its own. I made some financial mistakes, faced it and took responsibility for it. Now, I'm much more at peace and I know that when I pack my bags, I am not going home with an empty pocket. 

At the end of the day, going after your dream adventure boils down to making a thorough decision and committing to it. Remember that you’re doing it for yourself.  Ignore all dramatic factors such as competing for attention, proving your worth, craving for acceptance  or what have you. After all, we only live once so we must live it as happily as we can.  

Save or loan? Up to you, but think and consult (with trusted, knowledgeable people), before you act. :)

Events : Explorac Invitational Trail Run By AyalaLand (Pampanga)

Here's some great news from our friends from Southeast Asia's Biggest outdoor superstore, R.O.X.. 

Ayala Land will be having an invitational trail running event on a newly established route this June 8, 2013. I just confirmed my participation and I hope to see you there! :) How to join? Browse below. 

Trail Description : 

Explorac Trail Run offers 11k and 22k rough terrain. Trail run will start at Ayala’s Visitor Center and will end at the Ayala Nature Park. The course has a flat to hilly terrain and majority of it is hard surface. The trail features wet/dry river bed, it not all, are heavily silted by mudflow due to Mt. Pinatubo eruption way back 1991 and succeeding lahar flows. In some areas, moderate steep climb will be experienced along the rough terrain portion and huge lahar track will potentially challenge your trail running skills. Opportunity like running under the SCTEX bridge and passing through beside waterfalls are a few of the scenery that the trail offers. Rise and Shine as your explore Porac through trail running.

How to Join:

Visit R.O.X. Marquee or R.O.X. Bonifacio High Street to register. This is an INVITATIONAL RUN, no registration fee required.

How to get to R.O.X. Bonifacio High Street? Directions here.

For further information about the race, please visit the event site,  http://www.explorac.ph/ or like R.O.X. on Facebook and receive updates through their page. 

In connection to this event, a Trail Running 101 clinic will be held on June 4 in R.O.X., Bonifacio High Street. Speakers are ultra runner goddess Pen Nepumoceno and runner blogger, Atty. Jon Lacanlale of Ultra Running and Beyond. To join, just register through the event page. Click here.

The Sleeping Lion and the Wide-Eyed Wanderer

Hazy Sunday morning at the pier

I woke up from my hotel bed feeling uneasy. The sun had just risen but the windowless room remained as dim as it did when I dived under the covers the night before. Breakfast buffet, one of the things I look forward to when staying in hotels was starting in 30 minutes but today, my head’s occupied with something else. 

Sleeping Lion, also called Kapuntukan Hill is located just across Embarcadero de Legazpi, a mall by the pier that offers a scenic view of Mt. Mayon, an active volcano shaped like a perfect cone and one of Bicol region’s greatest natural attractions. 

My friends and I had just attempted a hike to its crater rim  the previous day. (Read about it here) However, due to bad weather, we had to abort after four hours of trekking. Now I’m back in Legazpi with my flight back to Manila taking off in a few hours. Despite lacking sleep, I’m feeling restless and yearning for one last hike. 

I packed a sling bag with mints, towel and calamansi juice, the only refreshment I could grab as I had depleted my supplies from the hike the day before. I had no fresh clothes left and what I had on where the same one I came home in. :P

The foot of the hill is just on the side across the building of Ellis Ecotel where I checked in. It took less than 10 minutes to get there. The trail up fits one person and is a very clean and straight-forward mild ascent on a dirt road. 

Boulevard near the pier. 

After another 15 minutes, I passed a shed. Two guys stood and approached me. I struggled with talking as I was panting from the short hike. I was informed that I was passing through a private property. Didn’t I see the signages? As I had approached the hill from another side, I missed the markers that have been placed in the area. Fortunately, I didn’t even have to lie and say I didn’t see any of it. Also, none of the locals I asked on the way had told me that. I was embarrassingly clueless. 

I maintained a friendly approach and told them how I knew about the place, that I just saw a photo of it from the web. There were instructions how to get there giving me the impression that it was a tourist spot. The guys eventually let me through and was escorted towards the view deck. 

It was a short hike to get there and much less steep. My escort was quiet and maintained considerable distance. I guess he’s just doing his job. I was a trespasser turned unexpected visitor in a span of 30 minutes. I was grateful I had on my least threatening outfit – a striped blouse with the cartoon version of Audrey Hepburn printed at the front :P. It’s quite a convincing look that screams, “I’m just a harmless tourist.” 

Here's what I saw from the view deck

The clearing opened up with a view of Albay gulf, a massive body of water almost as reflective as a glass. I spotted Lignon Hill on the left side.  The imposing presence of Mt. Mayon was right across where I stood with clouds hovering just below its crater as if posing for a seductive shot. It’s a very exciting sight.  After marveling gleefully at the view, I made my way down quickly. The humidity of the morning grew. In no time, I was back in my room, drying sweat off my shirt before gorging out on a gratifying breakfast. 

How to get to Sleeping Lion/Kapuntukan Hill:

From the Cubao Provincial Bus terminal, take a bus to Legazpi or Sorsogon. The cheapest fair is Belleza bus departing at 8:00 PM (500 Pesos, aircon, one way). Be prepared for some discomfort during the 12 hour commute as the seats are quite slim. From Legazpi, take a jeep or tricycle (70 Pesos) to Embarcadero de Legazpi. As the view deck at Sleeping Lion is now a private property, the recommended and respectful way to hike it is to get a permit from the Administration office of Embarcadero de Legazpi.