Mga Bisaya in Manila who are constantly broke but are always ready to go on an adventure.

Friday, March 9, 2018

Bali in 4 days - Updated Itinerary for 2018


Sometimes, you imagine your dream destination and wonder how it could be possible to cram multiple experiences in a limited-days-worth itinerary. We get you. For something as diverse as our recently discovered paradise, what can we actually do in less than a week?
So we dared ourselves to create a trip that has it all -- the parties, the shops, the coffee, the beach, the temples, the crafts. 

It was a challenging run for the gold, but really, there are so many things you can see and do in 24 hours, especially if you find yourself in Bali.

So what to do in the "island of the gods"? Here's our compilation of photos and the detailed itinerary below!
A post shared by Katrin Arcala (@katrinarcala) on

From @lookneo, check out the Tegalalang swing!

A post shared by Neo Folgo (@lookneo) on

Here's a perfect pre-nup idea: the nests!!!


TIME
DETAILS
VENUE
Day 1 - Short stay at Kuta

7:00 AM
Breakfast
Kuta
7:30 AM
Visit Kuta Art Market
Kuta Art Market
9:00 AM
Kuta Beach stroll
Tattoo shops and coffee shop visit
Kuta beach
Legian
12 NN
Street Food Kuta
Warung Indonesia
1:00 PM
Pickup to Uluwatu (via private car)
Check details of drivers below
2:00 PM
Checkin at Uluwatu AirBnB
Stone Surf, Kuta Selatan
3:00 – 6:00 PM
Uluwatu Temple and Kencak dance (via private car)
Uluwatu
6:00 PM
Seafood dinner along the beack at Djimbaran
Djimbaran

Day 2 - Stay at Uluwatu
6:00 AM
Yoga
Check out nearest studio
7:00 AM
Breakfast
Surfer cafes along Uluwatu
8: AM – 8:00 PM
Ubud visit:

AM
Batuan Temple
Yan Yan Silver Gallery (pasalubong)
Batik Center
Babi Guling (Lechon)

PM:
Monkey Forest
Tegalalang Swing!!! (must try!)
Kopi Luwak
Anomali Coffee
Ubud / Tegalalang (Badung Regency)

All trips arranged with a driver


DAY 3 - NUSA PENIDA
7:00 AM
Breakfast / Pickup for Nusa Penida

8:00 – 3:30 PM
TOOOUURRR!
Nusa Penida via Idola Express 
5:00 PM
Stop by at Uluwatu Surfer cafes

6:00 PM
Back in Stone Surf

Evening
Legian bars – drinks and dance!
Check local spots for food around Legian!
Try the local Soto for recovery food J
EAT LIKE AND WITH THE LOKALS!
All arranged with a driver

TIME
DETAILS
VENUE
DAY 4 - Surfing
7:00 AM
Breakfast

8:30 – 11:00AM
Surf again J
Blackstone
12 NN
Lunch anywhere in Uluwatu

2:00-7:00 PM
Back in Ubud for coffee

7:00 PM
To the airport!
Ngurah Rai International Airport


Costs:

  • Driver: 1.3M IDR for 4 days (Around 1625php/day)
  • Uluwatu Temple: 100 IDR/pax (around 350php/pax)
  • Surfing: 300,000 IDR/pax/2 hours with board (1,500php/pax)
  • Monkey Forest: 30,000 IDR/pax (150php/pax)
  • Nusa Penida: 700,000 IDR/pax (3,500php/pax all in)
  • Tegalalang Swing: 100,000 IDR (500php/pax)
  • Food: Usually around 50,000-150,000 IDR (60php-200php/pax)

TOTAL: Approximately 25,000php for 2pax

Common Qs and As:

1. How easy can we communicate with locals?
Bali is a very tourist-friendly island. They've basically thrived with tourism through the years so most of them speak good English. Some can even speak Filipino! Also, our roots are quite related so expect to hear some Balinese words which you will surprisingly understand.

2. Where do we spend a longer time, considering the options?
We sorrt of wish that we came to Ubud for a longeerrrr time. So if you can, I think you might want to spend more time in Ubud! Same would be true for Nusa Penida.

3.  I don't like outdoors stuff that much, what can we do?
We cannot stress how huge coffee is in this part of the world. So if you'd like some quiet time with a cup in hand, try out the specialty coffee shop. We'd recommend Anomali Coffee in Ubud!

4. Some tips for pasalubong?
There are go-to areas in Kuta (check Krisna). They're cheap and pretty much complete. But really, of you walk around Ubud and Tegalalang, you will be overwhelmed by the cheap and handmade items there. I'd suggest that if you want something unique. try these areas.

5. Are there other options for transportation?
You can read it all in the blogs. The main problem in Bali is that there are really few public transpos. Getting a cab might double your cost and Uber/Grab is not allowed in most areas. So please hire a driver. Less hassle, less bayad. Here are our contacts:

    • Made Denny: +6281933095370
    • Wayan: +6281999965662
6. Where do you have your money changed?
Bring some IDRs from your home airport to Bali. But just enough to get you to the city center. Once in Kuta, you will already find a lot of money changers nearby. I suggest having most of your pocket money changed in the banks or Western Union. They usually give bigger rates.

----------------------

And if you haven't yet, watch our Bali video here for more feels on how much of a paradise Bali truly is! Bali 2018 video
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Sunday, November 12, 2017

The Newest Online Storyteller to follow is...

For months we've been hyped the #AirAsiaCreateCamp with it's search for the next online storyteller. Honing young storytellers in videography, photography and traveling with a purpose, the boot camp surely was another level of a reality show. This time around, it lives the very dream of the young creators -- powering a dream of creativity and adventure.

After months of rigorous (and that means fun and exciting) training, so comes this month where the ultimate storyteller was named. He is Paolo Garrido from the Mapua Institute of Technology, who bested four other finalists from Baguio, Cebu, and Iloilo.

Paolo will be joining an already set community of AirAsia storytellers, among them are the most followed travel accounts online this date.

Check out the awarding event below headlined by local band The Ransom Collective.

Want to see how it all went down for the Create Camp Finalists? Head over to airasiacreatecamp.com for the webisodes.




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Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Salamat, mga Laagan! 2017 na!

Before we unfold the new chapter which awaits all of us this 2017, here's a look back at all the seas and summits and stories we've achieved for the previous year. We owe it all to every laagan who said yes to an invite; to every organizer who planned the trip; to every kuya and ate guide who looked after us on the trail; for every stranger who made friends with us on the way. We thank you for helping us start and finish a trip. But also, we owe it to every laagan who, despite not being to join us physically on our trips, is still there to share their tales with us online. We owe it to you, our followers. And we do hope to meet you all on the road, the trail or the beach real soon. Let our gratitude transcend distance, thank you...wherever you all may be right now. Lastly, we owe the great 2016 to the Lord for bestowing us with a beautiful Mother Nature. Let's keep exploring our wonderful Earth by being responsible laagans. 2017 na, #brokebutlaagan gihapon!

Broke But Laagan Video 2016 from Wilzon Inguillo on Vimeo.

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Monday, December 5, 2016

The Pink Sand is Real, and There's More to the Sta. Cruz Beach Than That




One of Zamboanga City's rising gems is the Pink Beach of Sta. Cruz Island. With over 28,000 visitors record for 2016, the island's red organ pipe corals, which brought the pink hues of the sand, has truly helped create this wonder.

But what attracts visitors most this year is the fact that the island has become more accessible, and getting there is systematic. The government unit is hands on for every tour, and they can surely answer inquiries and even give you some knowledge on the place's history and current statistics.

With only 50php per head, guests can head to the attraction and spend their time exploring the island. Overnights aren't allowed, as safety precautions.


In the island, Broke But Laagan met Rodel Rodriguez. It's not a surprise people come and visit Sta. Cruz, he says. For years, the island had been an intriguing area to many. While it has been deemed unsafe for a couple of years, everyone knows the wonders of the pink beach.


 


Rodel, our guide for the day, is no ordinary man. He's been a marine biologist for more than two decades. And now, he proudly talks of his new challenge as in charge of the Sta. Cruz tourism operation. "
Both Eco tourism ug environment program among girepresent. Kay dili pwedeng isa ra. Dapat balance," Rodel says in Cebuano. By the looks of it, his first language is Chavacano but hearing that our local tongue is Bisaya, he speaks to us in the same language.


Rodel represents the diversity of culture in Zamboanga City - the Chavacano, the Bisaya, the Muslim groups, and the occasional Tagalogs. He, too, represents the various needs of every tourist spot -- a body that cares both for its development as a tourist destination and its sustainability being part of an environment ought to be protected.

"Many others first thought that the place is unsafe. Pero karon, bisan wa ni namo gipublicize ah, naa ray mga tourist manganhi dayun ishare sa Facebook dayun ang uban makita, naganahan," he boasts. 


Tourism here is organic. And why wouldn't it be? For such beauty, it must be shared.


A photo posted by Katrin Arcala (@katrinarcs) on
A photo posted by Katrin Arcala (@katrinarcs) on

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Monday, November 28, 2016

Avoid the crowd, head straight to Talisayin Cove in Zambales



What do you do when you have two days off from the usual buzz of the metro life? Where would you go? Our answer: Talisayin Cove, Zambales.

It's the youngest among the gems of the Zambales beaches. And with the least tourist volume is an experience so tranquil that for two days, you forget about life throwing rocks at you. You just lay there on the fine, white sand and stare at the sky filled with stars.

What we bring home after the overnight trip are hearts full of stories shared under the shades of the nipa hut, or told while gathering around the bonfire. The two days may be short, but it was enough to refuel us before reality says 'hi' to us again.

Thank you for the dreamy weekend. Until we see you again, Talisayin.

Some photos of our Talisayin trip:

The cove by @lookneo:


A photo posted by Neo (@lookneo) on

On the way to Talisayin on our @brokebutlaagan instagram:

Quick write-up by Lala Magbuhat to accompany @katrinarcs image still OTW to Talisayin:
Layag

Layag, layag
Ating ilalayag
Mga damdaming
Di kayang ipahayag
Iiwan sa laot
Ang lahat ng poot
Malalim na hugot
Ng mga iniwang kirot


A photo posted by Katrin Arcala (@katrinarcs) on

Talisayin takeaway:

Mula sa Talisayin


Nais mawala upang mahanap
Nais mahanap ang nawala

Sa pagdayong ito
Mayroon nga bang patutunguhan?
Mga pusong pagod
At nahihirapan
At nagnanais
Na matagpuan
Ang mga bagay at tao;
Na maipahinga
Ang mga katawang
Biktima ng tadhana

Humayo.
Mawala.
Maghanap.
Bumalik.

 
A photo posted by Katrin Arcala (@katrinarcs) on


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