No matter where you travel destination may be, this article is going to be helpful for your trip. Whether you travel by sea, land or air, there are many valuable tips which can enhance your journey.

Always request a room that is up at least two or three flights. It might seem like no big deal, but thieves have an easier time breaking into rooms on the ground floor. Additionally, request a room that has a window but not sliding glass doors. Glass or sliding doors are easier to damage.

It's important to tip the housekeeper and bell station well. Tipping the bellhop around $1 per bag and the housekeeping staff around $2 to $5 per day is certainly not excessive. Tipping the staff will make sure that you receive good service while you are visiting.

Take the local currency with you on your next trip. Trying to get currency changed on your trip can be difficult, especially if you arrive after business hours. Almost all large banks will sell foreign currency, so get it before you go and you'll have one less thing to worry about when you arrive at your destination.

Reading online reviews can help narrow down your search for the perfect resort or hotel, while also making you aware of what to expect. By looking at reviews prior to booking your trip, it will save you from picking the wrong place.

Be careful when receiving any emails that offer great travel deals. If you have signed up for a travel newsletter, you can trust these emails; avoid all others, though.

When traveling, be vigilant about protecting your possessions. Tourists are easy marks for criminals. If you have to carry a purse, remember to keep it firmly tucked under your arm. Avoid bags with easy-access zippers that can be easily accessed by someone other than yourself. Select a travel bag that will help you keep your belongings safe.

Just keep in mind you will probably pay more and it doesn't really save that much space. Try different techniques for folding that save space when you're packing your clothes. Using these can help you find some extra space in your luggage.

These are available in many airports, and they can give your kids the opportunity to get some much needed exercise. Your delay will go more smoothly if your children are happy than if they were tired and bored.

Neatly roll your clothes rather than folding them when you are packing for a trip. Doing this can save a lot of space in your luggage. You can always unroll your clothes and then fold them upon reaching your destination. This should help bring down the needed baggage amounts on your trip.

Be aware of food allergies when you visit a foreign country or new place. If you suffer from severe food allergies, make sure you are able to speak those food related terms in the native language of your travel destination. This way you can be sure to alert wait staff of your allergies to specific foods and, in the worst case scenario, be able to inform medical professionals of your condition.

Plan ahead if you want to travel by air. Most airports are close to major urban areas, making them difficult to get to at busy times of day, like rush hour. Pack your bags, including your carry-on, before you go to bed. Before your travel day, make sure all of your preparations are taken care of. Missing your flight will cost you precious time and money.

If you want to take a pet on vacation, then look for accommodations that will cater to them too. Check many different places before deciding on where to book your stay, this way you can be sure the needs of your pet are taken care of, as well as your own.

The Internet has become an awesome resource when it comes to planning your next vacation. Travel sites will help you plan your travel itinerary with minimal effort. You can line up hotels, rental cars, and flights using your computer! You will be able to see reviews and pictures of hotels without having to go anywhere. You can also save a good bit of money and make last-minute plans on the cheap by using travel sites.

Make sure to book a specific seat to make your flight as comfortable as you can. Often you will be able to choose your exact seat, but occasionally that option is not available. For Cebu Pacific and Air Asia, you can look at the seat map and pick your seat of choice for a certain fee. Make sure to take this option if at all possible. You are sure to be happier with a seat of your choice, rather than having to take any seat that is left.

This article details many ways for you to ensure your trip is fun and unforgettable, so take them all into consideration. You can start making a list to plan for your vacation right away!

 

 


First time traveling? A great way to start for beginners is by using the tips and advice in this article. The following tips will help you plan the best trip possible and make solid travel decisions. By planning ahead, you create more time to enjoy yourself at your vacation destination, so check out these helpful tips.

Make sure to find out if you need a visa when traveling to a foreign county. Sometimes visas can take a long time to process so it is best to apply for one a long time before you are due to travel. If you don't have the correct visa, you won't be allowed to enter some countries.

An HDMI cable will allow you to use your computer through the television in your room. This means that instead of paying for expensive hotel movies, you can enjoy Netflix and other streaming video services just like you would at home.

If you are going on a road trip, bring your favorite music to listen to while you ride. After a while, the radio will keep turning to static as it goes in and out of different broadcast areas; your own music allows you to have something to listen to the entire trip.

When you make travel plans, thinking ahead is important, so do not forget about the weather. Keep a close eye on the forecast and check it regularly until the moment you actually depart. Even the best-laid travel plans can be quickly overturned if you wind up shivering on a Florida beach or roasting on a Colorado ski slope.

Sign up for online newsletters from the major airlines you like to use to fly. Their online newsletters often include last-minute discounts, special offers and other promotions not offered to any other consumers. They may clutter up your inbox, but saving money is what counts.

These days, you can do almost all of your vacation planning on a single travel site. Travel sites aid in planning out your travel itineraries with little effort. You can take care of plane tickets, car rentals, hotel bookings, and more, all without looking up from the screen. You can research your destination and read reviews of potential lodgings. These websites also include special deals when your flight and hotel are booked together in a single package. They also offer discounts when vacancy is high or when you are traveling at the last minute.

Contact cases can be used for more than just holding contact lenses, and are wonderful to have on a trip. These cases can double as pockets for carrying lotions and gels if you don't need full-size bottles of them for your trip.

Don't exchange your currency until you get to your destination if you want the cheapest conversion rate. Change a minimal amount of money before departing if you are uncertain about conditions at your destination, or if you know for sure that you will not be able to exchange currency for a while.

Sometimes the best vacation locations are right around the corner. Many times you can enjoy yourself right in your own state or a neighboring one. Travel expenses can be greatly reduced by staying in your home state with the added benefit that you will be supporting local merchants, restaurants and attractions. You might be surprised by the attractions that are hidden so close to home.

Try to go to the gym prior to getting on a flight. Long flights are found to be hard to sit through. Sitting the same way for a long time can cause your legs or back to cramp. You will be more relaxed during your flight and can help avoid body aches by stretching before your flight.

You should not take any extra belongings that are worth a considerable amount money. Having valuable items with you on a trip is just asking to have them lost or stolen.

Prior to traveling, all important documents must be copied. Photocopies of your passport, insurance, and other travel documents should be stored separately from those that you are carrying with you. Also, have someone you know keep a set of copies, too. This helps if all copies in your possession are lost.

Educate your family by traveling. By taking time and preparing, there is nothing to fear from the developing world. It is a great way to show other cultures to children. Through cultural exposure abroad, your family can build understanding and tolerance for many types of people.

Are you going on a cruise? Do you get seasick? Don't wait until your ship departs to find out that you can't handle being on a boat. Not knowing can put a huge damper on your plans. You will be bedridden, recovering from the seasickness, and not having fun. Try to find out beforehand if you are prone to seasickness, so you can come prepared with medication, if necessary.

This article has supplied you with good information for travel planning. These tips were carefully selected in the hopes of inspiring readers to make smarter choices while planning upcoming trips.

Aside from the people and history, our culture also boasts colorful dances, costumes and songs which can only be best described in a cultural presentation.


Me and friend Anica, Officer In Charge of the Museum of Weaves



It is very seldom that I get to watch cultural presentation but the feeling after watching it is the same every time. The park has its very own cultural dancers, out-of-school youths that the foundation has housed and taken care of. But they are not merely dancers, but employees of the park as well. I always watch out for the Singkil, my favorite among the very many traditional cultural dances that we have. In high school, I was lucky to be a part of the curriculum of studying cultural dance like the Malong for P.E. But that was a long time ago, and I have already forgotten the steps.


From Wikipedia:
The Singkíl originated from the Maranao people who inhabit the shores of Lake Lanao. It is derived from a story in theDarangen, the Maranao interpretation of the ancient Indian epic, the Ramayana. The name of the dance itself means "to entangle the feet with disturbing objects such as vines or anything in your path". It is a popular dance performed during celebrations and other festive entertainment. Originally only women, particularly royalty, danced the Singkíl, which serves as either a conscious or unconscious advertisement to potential suitors.
The lead dancer, in the role of Putri Gandingan (the Darangen name for Sita), graciously step in and out of closing bamboos poles arranged in either a parallel, rectangular, or criss-cross fashion while manipulating either apir (fans), mosala (scarves), or even just their bare hands. A kulintang and agung ensemble always accompanies the dance.
While often erroneously referred to by non-Maranaos as a "Muslim dance", the Singkíl is in fact secular in nature, performed by the Ummah communities of the Maranao and Maguindanao. Initially, the dance was performed with just one pair of bamboo poles, eventually adopting the use of two criss-crossing pairs. 


            
            











Paso Doble 

One of the dances we inherited from the Spanish. This is almost similar to the flirtatious Spanish Flamenco Dance. 










La Jota Manilena or Castanets Dance










Pista sa Nayon

The Philippines is a country of festivals. And each day from January to December, a town is celebrating a feast day of their patron saint. Here, the Nayong Pilipino Cultural Dancers showcased the festivities through dance.

Sayaw ng Bulaklak or Bulaklakan 








Tinikling


"The tinikling is a pre-Spanish dance from the Philippines that involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. The name is a reference to birds locally known as tikling, which can be any of a number of rail species; the term tinikling literally means "tikling-like."[2] The dance originated in Leyte among theVisayan islands in the central Philippines as an imitation of the tikling bird dodging bamboo traps set by rice farmers. The dance imitates the movement of the tikling birds as they walk between grass stems, run over tree branches, or dodge bamboo traps set by rice farmers. Dancers imitate the tikling bird's legendary grace and speed by skillfully maneuvering between large bamboo poles." - From Wikipedia



/Guest Participation

Guest Participation



Sayaw sa Bangko












                              

Sayaw ed Tapew na Bangko (dance on top of a bench), is a dance which originates from Pangasinan and researched by Jovita Sison. It is performed by a couple on a narrow bench, inching and hopping from one end to another. Dancer show skill in staying up the bench as they exchange places by moving their way around or the girl thrown in the air while boy moves to the other end. They do not compete but rather complement each other so that no one falls. It is usually performed during town fiestas. - Likha.org


Music: Nayong Pilipino Rondalla


Laro-Aral ( Traditional Malong Dance- The Many Ways to Wear a Malong)

The Laro-Aral ( Study-Play) Program of the Nayong Pilipino is something that we can be proud of. The students (for educational trips) and foreign visitors can actually have a feel of wearing the traditional malong. The Malong has many uses

The malong is a traditional "tube skirt" made of handwoven or machine-made multi-colored cotton cloth, bearing a variety of geometric orokir designs. The malong is akin to the sarong worn by peoples in MalaysiaBrunei and Indonesia. The malong is traditionally used as a garment by numerous tribes in the Southern Philippines and the Sulu Archipelago.- Wikipedia

The pictures show the Nayong Pilipino dancers the many uses of the malong for men. Also, after many, many years, I was able to actually wear the many uses of the malong. I have a malong at home, but it's main purpose for me is to be a blanket.









Beat and rhythm of the dance comes from these traditional folk instruments

We get a first hand experience in trying the malong. 


I am earnestly trying to digest the instructions on how to wear it on women.

Still struggling..using it as a mask.



Isn't it obvious I am struggling to get it right?

Finally, after a few attempts I got to wear it the simplest way!






            

The best part of all of these is just like having to travel the whole Philippines in just a matter of hours. It is just a shame that the government is not subsidizing the park. And that the finances used in the maintenance solely comes from the park's revenues. And mind you, they are still being taxed. 

Comparing to other 'world-class" theme parks we have here in the country, I think that preserving and maintaining Nayong Pilipino is more important because this is what our children need more, an educational institution that would re-introduce them to their roots. If we have friends who visits our country, this is the best place for us to bring them, to give them a better experience in culture immersion in one day.


My overall experience in Nayong Pilipino surpassed my expectation.The only problem and reason that I know why the park isn't getting any walk-in visitors is the location. It is so difficult going to the park when commuting. Clark Freeport Zone does not have any form of public transportation inside area. Even the staff would walk about 2 kilometers from the main gate to Nayong Pilipino.  


In my opinion, if the government can spend millions of pesos in gaming facilities, why not invest in something like the Nayong Pilipino and this would definitely be at par with other world-class theme parks.


Read my next post on How to Get to Nayong Pilipino.



I am so lucky to be invited to the Familiarization and Orientation Tour of the Nayong Pilipino. I intend to have a good time so as to give myself a break from the past week's drama which sent me to an emotional roller coaster ride. And fortunately, I did had a good time. I just try to learn, to savor the pieces of information that I got and acted as if it was the first time I had been there.

Program for the Famtour/Orientation




I have not been to the old Nayong Pilipino in its former location in Paranaque City, but I have been here, in this new location in Clark Freeport Zone and I could say that this time, I was impressed.



Lucky also to have the Executive Director of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation Atty. Jun Anota as our guide. I can say that he sure does know his Philippine History. I learned a lot from him. I can see the passion in his eyes when he talks about the changes the park will be going through in the next years to come.


Garland for the special guests



The Orchidarium

Nayong Pilipino is not just a theme park, but an educational institution as well. Science has now become an integral part of the park, and can even be a model environment structure to combat climate change. It has added fountains in the park to add moisture to the orchidarium. This orchidarium will be better than that of Singapore once the plants are in full bloom come August. After a video presentation on propagating orchids, guests were given first-hand experience in artificially pollinating an orchid. The orchidarium is also home to the rarest orchids in the world.







Executive Director Atty. Jun Anota explaining how the pollination of orchids is done.


Guests have first-hand experience in pollinating orchids.

This fountain has many purposes, one is to maintain the moisture inside the orchidarium.
Rarest orchid..:)




The Villages

Nayong Pilipino has replicas of some of the more known villages of ethnic tribes in the Philippines.  Among them were the Aeta Village, Kalinga and Ifugao Village. I felt a sense of pride to know the ingenuity of the Filipinos , of being great architects even in ancient times. The houses that they built were earthquake proof, such as the Maranao's and the Kalinga's houses. Did you know that Kalinga Apayao once became the capital of the Philippines around the 1900's when Gen. Aguinaldo retreated to the north? The very house that the general stayed at has a replica in the Villages.

An authentic Kalinga lass sits at a replica of their houses. Notice the ingenuity of how the houses were built.
The stone stove sits in the middle of the house, which also serves as a heater, giving off heat to the whole house,
cooking the rice and smoking the meat which were placed on the top level of the stove.


An authentic Ifugao man sculpts which is one of their main sources of income..

and the ladies weave...






The Historical Houses 

A Maranao house..earthquake-proof and typhoon-proof.



Stepping inside the replica historical houses in Nayong Pilipino, one cannot help but be amazed. Imagine getting inside the house of Jose Rizal, Apolinario Mabini and Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. Or hear mass in the Barasoain Church. These houses played a very important role in fighting for the independence that we are all enjoying today.
Inside Jose Rizal replica house, behind me is a bust of our national hero.


"Ang hindi magmahal sa sarilingwika, ay higit sa hayop at malansang isda."- Dr. Jose Rizal
"He who doesn't love his own language, is worse than an animal and a stinky fish." (my literal translation)


Replica's of Jose Rizal's compositions.







Replica of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's house, the seat of the First President of the Philippine Republic.


Behind me is a replica of Emilio Aguinaldo's house.




Museum of Weaves

This is a new addition to the park. This museum contains artifacts of the different weaves of our forefathers. Too bad the tradition has stopped and has not been passed on to the younger generation. It is sad that the most beautiful weaves and materials used to come from our country. The designs were just so intricate and the weaves were so fine that only experts with dainty hands could have woven those elegant pieces of silk.



OIC of the museum, Anica Alcopra.


Woven pieces usually used by the Tausugs.





The details,design and weave is very intricate deserving to consider this our culture's treasures.



The treasures of the Philippine's can be seen not only in the fineness of these artifacts, but specially in the smile and beautiful faces of it's people.

I'm proud of my culture, I'm proud of my heritage. I am proud to be Filipino.

See more of our culture in my next post Nayong Pilipino: A Cultural Presentation.