An Amazing Trip to Japan

Japan has always been in my bucketlist since I started traveling in 2009. I am a freelancer so I thought it would be difficult to get a visa. Luckily, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines  has made some adjustments to ease the process of getting a Japan Visa for Filipinos.

Enjoying the Cherry Blossom (Sakura) at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

There are a number of airlines that operate a route from Manila to different cities in Japan. Recently, Jetstar Japan has launched a new route from Manila to Narita and I was lucky enough to be on their inaugural flight. (Read: Jetstar Japan Launches Direct Manila-Tokyo Flight)

Jetstar Japan's Inaugural Flight from Manila to Narita in full capacity

The moment I got hold of my passport with  a Japan visa, I got really excited. Finally, I'll be able to visit Japan and it's the beginning of spring so I was really hoping to see the famous cherry blossom. I got my passport at around 6PM and the flight was at 1AM so imagine how paranoid I was. I thought I would not be able to fly that night. Fortunately, I did. Thanks to Holiday Travel and Tours, NGP Integrated Marketing Communications and Reli Travel and Tours, I got my visa just in time for Jetstar Japan's Inaugural Flight.

It was the longest 30 minutes of my traveling life. Visa approved! Just in time for JETSTAR Japan's Manila-Tokyo...
Posted by Glen Santillan on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

The trip was very short but definitely sweet. We left Manila on March 16 and departed Japan on March 17. We basically had a full two days to enjoy Japan. We had loads of fun from the airport in Manila to exploring the attractions in Tokyo and Narita.

#Japan #Jafun sagot sa kahirapan! Hahaha. Pinoy travel bloggers @pinoytravelfreak @wandering1juan @escapemanila at @jetstar Japan's inaugural flight.
Posted by Glen Santillan on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

The good thing about flying with Jetstar Japan from Manila is its flight schedule. The flight is at 1AM and arrives in Narita at around 6AM. It departs from Narita to Manila at 8PM and arrives in NAIA at around 12MN. So there, if you take a Jetstar flight, you'll have a chance to stretch your holiday from dawn to dusk.

Aside from the schedule, I also noticed the excellent customer service provided by both the cabin and the ground crews. The flight attendants were really courteous and they would make sure that you are comfortable with your flight. 

When we landed in Narita, we were kinda hungry so after clearing the immigration, we headed to the airport's food court and had our first meal in Japan. It was good and it wasn't that expensive as I thought it would be.

First meal here in #japan #EscapeManilaToJapan #travel #Jetstar Japan now flies to Tokyo and Osaka direct from...
Posted by Glen Santillan on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

After satisfying our gastronomic cravings, we took the Narita Express Train to Tokyo. We reached Tokyo station after almost an hour, took a cab and went straight to Ginza Capital Hotel. The regular check in time in Japan is at 3PM and checkout at 10AM. Since we arrived early, we just left our baggage in the hotel and explored the city as much as we could. I'll tell you more about it in my next post. All I can say for now is, it was really great to see Tokyo for the first time!

With new friends, Midori and Lina. Thank you both for showing us the beauty of Tokyo. Photo by +Pinoy Travel Freak 

We arrived back in the hotel at around 7PM, settled down and went out again to eat and shop. We discovered a small restaurant near the hotel which offers cheap but super delish meals. It became our instant favorite resto. 

After dinner, we walked to Ginza to shop but unfortunately, the stores close at 9PM so it was a bit disappointing. Hahaha. We head back to the hotel, slept and woke up early to go to the famous Tsukiji Fish Market. 

Within the vicinity of the Tsukiji Fish Market at dawn

We checked out at the hotel at 9AM and head back to Narita. We got a chance to explore Narita in a day. Thank you to the Narita Tourism Office for showing us what the city has to offer. Indeed, it's more than just a jump-off point to Tokyo. 

NARITA: Trying out Unagi for the first time

At 8PM we departed Narita and just like that, we arrived in Manila at around 12 midnight. It was really short but memorable. I wish to go back there soon and explore more. 

Thank you Jetstar Japan for the opportunity to see Narita and Tokyo. You're awesome! 

You can book your flights at www.jetstar.com. 

10 Travel Related Websites Worth Bookmarking

Traveling is an exciting prospect for most people, but most people need all the help they can get. These sites provide tips, reviews, and booking services to suit any need and budget. It would be smart to bookmark at least some of these sites to make your travel plans go smoothly and affordably.

TripAdvisor

The main value of this site guests is to offer reviews of location-specific accommodations, tours, activities, and attractions all over the world from both guests and professionals. It has a forum where you can ask questions about a specific place, and most TripAdvisor users are happy to accommodate you. You can filter the search results according to the reason for your trip and budget. It would be advisable to pay attention only to three-star reviews, as some listed sites try to boost their ratings by posting fake reviews. This is not a booking site, so it doesn’t actually sell any rooms, but they do provide you with links to partner sites. It is definitely worth bookmarking.

Skypicker.com

There is many sites for cheap flights, but if you don’t mind long layovers and airplane hopping, this is where you can get the cheapest available. It has a unique ticketing algorithm that searches possible flight combinations from 150 airlines to save you as much as 90% on your total fare. The published rates on the site may not include all fees, though. You will find out how much you actually have to pay when you book your flight. Overall, this is a great resource for budget travelers with an open-ended itinerary.

HostelWorld

This is a good booking site for hostels anywhere in the world. Hostels tend to be much more affordable than hotels and other types of accommodations, which is why budget travelers should bookmark this page. Reviews may not always be accurate, though, so check other sites for reviews before booking.

Matadornetwork.com

This is a great forum for would-be travelers  where you can get everything about anything travel-related, including tons of tips on the best market places in any country and how to say “how do you do?” in Russian. The content is very well organized, provided by travel experts, and includes videos and photos. If you want to make your own contribution, you can through the blog. Whatever you need to know, you will find on this site.

Wego

Wego is very easy to use and sets you up for affordable options for flights and hotels. Simply key in your planned dates and destinations and you get a whole bunch of options.  Sign up and the site will send you email price alerts whenever a deal comes up for a particular search.  Its partners include booking.com.

Seat61.com

If you just love riding trains around Europe, then you should check out train aficionado Mark Smith’s site. He loves to share his considerable insights on how to travel frugally by train all around Europe, as well as Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. He makes it easy for newbies to travel by train and ferry more cheaply than booking your tickets on the official sites. You can definitely benefit from the experience of “the man in Seat 61.”

Agoda

If you want to check out more reviews online, you can head off to Agoda to find them. It provides a lot of information about some popular accommodations, although the published rates may be a bit more than other booking sites. However, it is easy to search for places and provides you with more pertinent data than you would find anywhere else. If you find a room you like, you can always check out cheaper sites to actually book the room.

Expedia 

You’ve probably heard of Expedia if you have ever tried to go on budget travel, because it is one of the most recognized names in the travel booking industry. It is no wonder, really, as it has delivered among the best deals for any travel need. More importantly, it has no service fees, even if you change your itinerary after booking it, although the hotel or airlines may apply charges for changing or cancelling a booking. It rewards its customers with points for each time they to book a flight, hotel, or rental car, which can be exchanged for free travel. If you need travel insurance, you can add that to your package as well. Are you thinking of a cruise or tours? These are also available. Sign up and the site will send you notice when coupon codes are available for your needs. Some coupons may require downloading the mobile app, though, and you can’t use the mobile app to book a car or cruise. You also need to know the specific dates of your travel. Overall, though, this is a one-stop budget travel spot. UPDATE - I had a bad experience with expedia so I no longer recommend them. (Read : How Expedia Ruined My Vacation)

Airbnb

Airbnb is a great site to bookmark if you are looking for affordable accommodations.  The site is for homeowners that want to rent out an extra room or an apartment to transients for as short as a day, Many listings are much cheaper than most hotel rooms and often include amenities such as a working kitchen and laundry room, great  for budget travelers to the US and Europe. The site matches up guests that are on a budget for a 3% commission from the property owners. This is particularly important during the peak season, when most accommodations are fully booked. 

World Nomad

Travel insurance is something that most people think about as an afterthought, but it really is quite important. This site is particularly good for anyone under 66 years old travelling for adventure. The coverage is not as comprehensive as other medical insurance, and it does not cover pre-existing conditions, but it does cover the basics, and provide many tips for travelling safety, free language guides as well as important information about your destination. 

Did we miss anything? Please let us know by commenting below. Happy traveling!

Jetstar Japan Launches Direct Manila-Narita Service

Good news to all travelholics from the Philippines! Jetstar Japan's first international flight from the Philippines has taken to the skies with its inaugural flight to Tokyo departing at full capacity, as travelers from Manila and other cities in the country enjoy the new low-fares service offered by Japan's largest low-cost carrier (LCC).

The first Japanese low-cost carrier to operate services in Manila, Jetstar Japan’s inaugural flight from Manila to Tokyo departed at full capacity on March 16, 2016. This is the first of its three new international routes scheduled for roll-out in the coming month.

"The success of the inaugural flight heralds a new dawn for travelers here and signals the support by local travelers for our brand and low fares to Japan", said Jetstar Japan’s Chairman, Mr Masaru Kataoka, in Manila.

“Our first flight from Manila to Tokyo is sold out and we are encouraged by the solid bookings for the next few months, said Mr Kataoka.

“While a number of other carriers currently offer services to Tokyo, we are confident that Jetstar’s new direct service and timings will introduce accessibility and greater choice to travelers all year-round.

“Jetstar operates the first direct flight to Tokyo’s Narita Airport and the last flight back to Manila, giving savvy Filipino travellers more time at their destination and the benefit of stretching their holiday from dawn to dusk,” said Mr Kataoka.

“Filipino travellers familiar with the Jetstar brand have come to expect a standard for reliable on- time performance, great value and a consistent level of customer service whenever they fly with us from Manila to Singapore.

“Now, as the largest LCC in Japan, our customers can fly to Tokyo and connect to many destinations across Japan through its dense domestic network,” Mr Kataoka added.

Boasting the largest fleet of 20 aircraft among LCCs in Japan, Jetstar Japan is the only LCC that flies directly to Japan’s three major cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. In terms of network, Japan’s largest LCC with more than 50% of the market share offers the largest number of domestic routes among Japan’s low-fares airlines.

The airline has carried close to 13 million passengers since its launch in 2012.

Jetstar Japan had recently announced additional services from Manila to Osaka on 1 April (currently served by sister airline, Jetstar Asia) and commencement of the new Manila-Nagoya service on 7 April.

Jetstar Japan currently operates up to 100 services a day and flies to 11 domestic destinations in Japan and two international destinations.

Manila is the third international destination added to Jetstar Japan’s roster after the launch of services to Hong Kong and Taipei in 2015.

The new return services are operated on Jetstar Japan’s 180-seat Airbus A320, with a flight time of just over five hours.

One-way economy starter fares from Manila start from PHP4448. Book now at www.jetsar.com.

About Jetstar Japan

Jetstar Japan is the largest low-cost carrier in Japan. The airline started flying in July 2012 to Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Okinawa. Other domestic destinations currently include Nagoya, Oita, Kagoshima, Matsuyama, Takamatsu, and Kumamoto. In 2015, Jetstar Japan added Hong Kong as its first international destination, followed by Taipei. To date, Jetstar Japan has served 12 million customers in just three years of operations. It currently has a fleet of 20 new Airbus A320s configured for 180 passengers. Jetstar Japan is a joint venture between the Qantas Group, Japan Airlines, Mitsubishi Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation. Jetstar Japan operates more than 100 flights a day to 17 domestic routes and 5 international routes.

TRIPS: Coron: Palawan's Crowning Glory

Palawan is having a moment.

Voted the most beautiful island in the world three times in a row, Palawan has become one of the hottest destinations on the planet.

Palawan island is actually just a part, though the biggest one, of the province of Palawan. Made up of 1,780 islands, the province of Palawan is an archipelago in itself. Its capital, Puerto Princesa, is in Palawan island and so is the celebrated El Nido which sits up north.

Further north of the province is another gem. Coron, a municipality which also consists of several islands. It's seat of government, though, is situated in the eastern part of the Busuanga Island.

About two years ago, I flew to Coron to celebrate my birthday. It was actually a spur-of-the-moment thing, an answer to the ghastly winter I just experienced in South Korea. Cebu Pacific was having a seat sale, I took advantage and booked myself a trip to Paradise.

Coron doesn't easily give up its charms, may it be Coron Town or Coron Island. Each guest needs to put in the effort to get to know her. In Coron Town, walk up and down its undulating streets or climb the 742 steps of Mt. Tapyas to see the magnificent view that awaits. Coron Island and its surrounding islands, on the other hand, demand an island-hopping tour to see its wonders. 

Behind me is Coron's Municipal Hall.

To get to Coron,you first have to fly to Busuanga.

Passed through lush valleys like this on the way to Coron Town.

Trycs are the kings of the road in these parts. 

A cool refreshing shake is popular in these parts, to both locals and guests. 
 This mango one is for me.

A Coron Couvenir: coconut shell coin purse

Cashew, one of  Palawan's foremost produce

Piggy went to the market... and was weighed. 

For local tourists, fresh fish is the pasalubong to buy. 

The local government reclaimed an area from the water and part of it is now Lualhati.
It now offers an immense space and lovely views to both locals and guests. 

One of Lualhati Park's attractions: a zipline

Mother and Child enjoying the view at Lualhati Park

School kids watching some telly at the corner bakery before heading home.

A local petrol station 

Coron's version of chicken to -go

A motorcycle is the personal vehicle of choice in these parts.  

Yes, I climbed all 718 steps to get to the top of Mt. Tapyas!
 I still couldn't believe it, either.

At the top is this cross, which can be seen all around Coron.

Why not enjoy the view while eating something.  I brought cheese bread and Spanish bread. 

Coron Island is the one on the horizon. 

Some pink to end a good day

Broke my fast to this view. Good Morning, Coron!

Some hawking of eye wear at the wharf 

Boarding the bangka for a day of island hopping!

Heading to our first island!

Early on the tour,  a couple of us was just so ready to jump!

Our first island stop!

One of our stops is the Secret Lagoon

The view from our lunch table

Limestone formations, ubiquitous in Coron and other parts of  Palawan

The image that comes to mind when one mentions Coron

           

Some swimming and snorkeling in Kayangan Lake 

At Kayangan Lake, there are planks to walk on, sit on, or put down one's things to keep them from sinking down to the bottom. 

Sunset by the wharf 

Bangkas tied in for the night

Sunset in Coron is unparalleled. 
La Sirenetta on stilts adds to the magic of magic hour.  

Safari on Palawan's Calauit Island

*My local safari adventure up next 

10 things I learned from a Travel Sketching Workshop with Robert Alejandro

To while away the hours, sketching in Piazza Navona, would be the dream.
Unfortunately, I could hardly draw a straight line. But perhaps, there’s still hope for me yet.

So when I found out that the talented Robert Alejandro was holding a Travel Sketching Workshop, I was one of the first – sixth actually. I saw it on the sign sheet – to reserve a slot.

The first time I met Robert Alejandro, it was for work. I was writing a paper story for Real Living Magazine and we wanted to learn more about how one recycles paper. We tried to talk to the Papemelroti people and so tapped Robert. He’s the RO in the name of the charming store which Filipinos have been obsessed with these past fifty years.  We met one afternoon at Dulcinea in Glorietta IV and spent an hour talking about paper and other things.  

The Travel Sketching Workshop was held at the Ateneo Art Gallery last March 3. Armed with a sketchpad and a couple of pens, I climbed the lib steps and walked through the front door. I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t the only tita in the room but in fact was a group of students of all ages!

“Travel Sketching is a way of documenting a particular space in time,” says Robert.  And quite an intimidating one to a person who could hardly draw. He shared more pieces of advice and here are the ten that really spoke to me.  It seems like half of it could be applied to things other than drawing.

1. The more you play, the more your work will be better.

2. Don’t be pressured in thinking that it should look the way it should.

3. You have a unique way of looking at things. “That’s the way I see it.” You have a unique way to draw. 

4. Travel illustrations, you have to do it fast.

5. Just draw what you are comfortable to do.

6. When drawing structures or elaborate buildings, draw what makes you captivated. 

7. The better medium is the one you’re comfortable with.

8. Practice. Pressure is the key to any medium.

9. Your work doesn’t have to be perfect. It could be, should be, perfectly imperfect.

10. Just have fun. It should always be a joy to do. 

Spent the afternoon with this guy, talking about traveling, sketching, and finding your own unique artist.

Robert talking about watercolor as a medium
He snapped off a leaf from a plant outside and then proceeded to paint it in watercolor. 

Robert shows us some of his works

He then asked us to go outside and just draw from nature.
Robert, and a couple of participants, sketching on the lib steps.

Here's Robert sketching. 

Here's my pathetic attempt at sketching.