The Kuripot Diary in the Holy Land: Travelling from Amman, Jordan to Jerusalem

I had the privilege to attend the Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security in Amman, Jordan from August 21-22, 2015. The moment I stepped out of the plane, the song A Whole New World kept playing on my head. Everything was new to me: the sights, sounds, and food. Jordan will always be special to me, not only because it’s the first Arab country that I’ve ever visited, but because of the kindness and warm welcome I received from its people as well. After the forum, I decided to visit one of the places included on my bucket list – Jerusalem.

I started my journey to Jerusalem on the 23rd of August. I took Jett Bus from Amman to the border or King Hussein bridge for 10 JD. Posted below is the address of Jett Bus station in Amman, it’s written in Arabic by a staff of Jett office near our hotel, you can show this address to the taxi driver. Jett Bus has only one trip to the border everyday, be sure to catch it at 7:00 am, the trip is more or less 1 hour long.

Jett Bus Station Address – Amman, Jordan

Jett Bus Ticket to King Hussein Bridge

View from my window, Jett Bus from Amman to King Hussein Bridge

When I reached the Jordanian side of the border, I proceeded to the passport check area. Take note that small pieces of paper are available to write your passport details, give this to the officer together with your passport, the officer will not put a stamp on your passport but on this piece of paper. You also have to pay 10 JD exit pass fee. Your passport will be given back to you once you are already inside the bus which will take you to the Israeli side of the border (crossing King Hussein Bridge/Allenby).

Part of the Exit Pass

The same Jett Bus that brought you to the Jordanian side of the border will also take you to the Israeli side. You don’t need to pay for this trip if you have taken this bus from Amman, however, you need to pay for your baggage at 1.50 JD each. In my case, I did not pay the baggage fee since I only had a backpack.

When I reached the Israeli side, I lined up for the passport check. Afterwhich, I proceeded inside the building for a baggage check and another passport check. Right after this, the passport control followed where I was given a small card/stay permit that included my passport details. I am posting my stay permit below for your reference.

Stay Permit

After receiving my stay permit, I went outside the building where transportation from the border to Jerusalem is available. Take note that there’s a money exchange booth located near the exit, so I purchased 62 Shekels for 20 USD, which I thought was not a good rate so I only got Shekels enough for me to reach Jerusalem. I took a shared taxi (it looks more like a big van) to Jerusalem for 42 Shekels, I also paid 5 Shekels for my backpack. The trip from the border to Jerusalem was more or less 45 minutes – 1 hour long. It brought me near Damascus Gate of the Old City. I left Amman at 7:00 am and reached Jerusalem at around 12 noon.

Tickets for taxi (42) and baggage (5) fees

Damascus Gate

I stayed in Jerusalem for two nights and left on the 25th of August for Amman, Jordan.

Jerusalem!

Going back to Amman, Jordan is easier. You only need to take the shared taxi/van going to the border. The shared taxi/van terminal is located at the back of Golden Walls Hotel, near Damascus Gate. The trip to the border will cost you 42 Shekels.

Ticket from Jerusalem to Allenby

In the Israeli side of the border, after the baggage check, proceed to the passport control area where you will pay 181 Shekels exit fee, you will also be given a small card/exit permit. Again, I am attaching a photo of my exit permit below for your reference. You may also exchange all your remaining Shekels to JD at the money exchange booth.

Exit Pass

Outside the building, there are buses which will take you to the Jordanian side (crossing King Hussein Bridge/Allenby), this short ride will cost you 8.50 JD.

When I reached the Jordanian side, I proceeded to the passport control area. An officer will just check your passport and you do not need to pay anything. After this process, you may now look for a transportation which will bring you to Amman. There are taxis available for 30 JD (some would offer a lower rate), and to minimize my expenses I shared my taxi with another traveller.

I left Amman on the 26th of August but I felt the need to come back to Jordan in the near future for these reasons – the food, the ruins at Amman, Petra, and of course the Jordanian friends I met during my stay.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Note: God sends help when we’re lost and we don’t know what to do next in our journey. Hasan from Amman volunteered to keep some of my things which may be questioned when I cross the border. The Jordanian taxi driver gave me a cup of coffee because he said he knows a lot of Filipinos living in Amman. The Jordanian driver assistant spoke to me in Tagalog which he learned from his Filipino friends when he worked in Dubai. He endearingly called our driver “sira ulo.”  I met Mei, from Beijing. She jumped for joy when she saw me because she thought I was from China too. We also met Frank, from the US, & is working for the UN. He gave us instructions on the process involved in the border, and assisted us in looking for a ride going to Jerusalem. A Franciscan friar from Spain at the church of the Holy Sepulchre tried to speak in English and introduced me to the Spanish-speaking pilgrims because he said I never left him when he started the Mass, despite the fact that I was the only one present when he started the liturgy. And lastly, Fr. Jean-Daniel Gullung, AA, welcomed me to stay at their community in the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu.
Thank you God for sending me these angels during my trip. Bless them always.

The Kuripot Diary in Lovely Bali

The Lotus Pond at Ubud

I believe that eating, praying, and loving in Bali need not to cost you an arm and a leg. 

In 2008, my participation in a youth conference in East Timor led me to a very short stay in Bali, Indonesia. I was very fascinated with the place, that’s why when I was about to leave the island, I made a promise, in the tradition of General MacArthur, that I shall return.

Fast forward 2015, I finally fulfilled my promise – and spent less than Php 15,000.00 ($339.00) for the whole trip, airfare, airport fees, travel taxes, transportation, food, and pasalubong included.

My roundtrip airfare costs Php 5, 940.50. I bought it during the “Piso Fare” promo of Cebu Pacific last year. Plane tickets during the promo period go so fast, so make sure to follow Cebu Pacific via Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) to keep yourself updated on their latest promo.

It is important that you do your research before leaving for your destination. Be familiar with the places you want to visit and know essentially how to get there. In my case, I decided that I will be staying in Ubud for my first 2 days, and the last 2 days in Seminyak. Upon arrival at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, I proceeded to the airport’s second level where I hired a Taxi going to Kuta for IDR 140,000.00 (Php 480.00 or USD 11.00). In Kuta, I took an almost 2-hour mini bus ride to Ubud, operated by Perama Tour (www.peramatour.com). The ticket costs IDR 100,000.00 – round trip (Php 344.00 or USD 7.77), and compared to other means of transportation going to Ubud, the price is way cheaper.

Perama Tour Office in Kuta

If you want to immerse in Bali’s arts and culture, Ubud is the place. Beautiful handicrafts and paintings are available for sale in arts shops everywhere, especially in Ubud Market. Cultural shows are also being staged here regularly.  In Ubud, you can see a lot of temples, explore mountains, rice paddies and terraces, interact with monkeys at the monkey forest, and of course, try local food. I stayed in Hostel Ubud for 2 nights, for Php 720.36 (IDR 209,304.00 or USD 16.16). I booked the place through http://www.agoda.com. Hostel Ubud is ideal for backpackers. There is only one big room with 10 bunk beds for both males and females. Their facilites are clean and well-kept.

One of the temples around Ubud

The Monkey Forest

For my last two nights in Bali, I stayed in Seminyak. This place is far from Ubud (2-3 hours of travel by mini bus) but quite close to the airport. Seminyak is one of the beach areas of the island, it is located in an area frequented by tourists, thus, more commercialized and expensive than Ubud. Here, you can see a lot of high-end bars, shops, and restaurants. I stayed in M Hostel, in an all-male dorm, for Php 1,009.66 (IDR 293,362.76.00 or USD 22.66) which includes breakfast. The staff members of M Hostel are very accommodating, they can also provide you with helpful information on how to go around the vicinity. Their facility includes a recreation room, where you can watch DVD, surf the internet, and meet people from around the world.

Seminyak Beach

To fully experience Bali, I tried their local food. Trying the local food is indeed a culinary adventure – and it’s cheap! Prices range from IDR 17,000.00 – 30,000.00 (Php 59.00 – 103.00 or USD 1.33 – 2.33). There are many places around bali which offer local food and delicacies, look for the words “Warung” and “Masakan Padang.” Food are generally very spicy and there are many choices for vegetarians. In Bamboo Restaurant (located at the ground floor of Hostel Ubud) I found the best tasting vegetarian mi goreng (stir fried noodles); and my favorite tempe (bean cake) is available in most restaurants and is usually included in local dishes. For cheap groceries, fruits, and drinks, go to Foodmart located in Kuta Center.

Vegetable, tempe, chicken barbecue

Tuna, beef, potato ball, vegetable

vegetarian mi goreng

Lots to choose from!

I went back here in my country fully inspired to do more Kuripot Diary travels in the future 🙂

Food Trip in the City of Smiles, Bacolod!

I had the chance to live for a year in Bacolod, Negros Occidental in 2006 when I studied for my master’s degree on conflict and reconciliation studies. My whole stay in Bacolod was an enriching one, not only in terms of what I have learned inside our classroom, the wonderful places I visited, the friendships I gained, and the people I met, but also due to the fact that this place, oftentimes called the “City of Smiles” is a culinary heaven! That is why when I was given the chance to visit Bacolod again last November, I did not pass the opportunity to indulge in various food that are famous in this place.

First stop is “Chicken House” along Lacson Street. Chicken House is one of the best “Chicken Inasal” restaurants in the country. Their marinated chicken is grilled just enough to preserve its flavor, it’s not overly done and dry, in fact, it is juicy and tasty even without the vinegar-soy sauce-calamansi dip.

Chicken House’s Inasal
Photo Credit: limledi at virtualtourist.com

For our dinner we initially planned to have “La Paz Batchoy,” and so our host, Royce Morales, brought us to “21.” To our disappointment, “La Paz Batchoy” was not available during our visit, with a heavy heart a hungry stomach, we settled for “Molo Soup.” To our surprise, 21’s version of “Molo Soup” is very satisfying! It has quite a generous serving of chicken strips and ground pork wrapped in “wanton wrapper.” Settling for this soup, instead of “La Paz Batchoy” is not a bad idea after all.

21’s Molo Soup
Photo Credit: kurapengpeng.blogspot.com

For our dessert, we went to “Calea” – which many people claim to be the best dessert place in Bacolod. They have different kinds of cakes, pies, and anything sweet, name it, and most probably, they have it. Upon entering their store, my eyes feasted on their display that features their products, with all those yummy-looking cakes and pies, choosing which one to have is a difficult task. So, after 10 minutes of complete indecisiveness, I went for my all-time favorite, indeed a safe choice – Blueberry cheesecake! Calea’s Blueberry Cheesecake is creamy. It’s sweetness is just fine, not overpowering compared to other blueberry cheesecakes I have tasted. You will enjoy this one, even its crust.

Calea’s Blueberry Cheesecake
Photo Credit: lakwatsero.me

To fulfill our longing for a good bowl of “La Paz Batchoy,” we went the following day to “Deco’s” – which boasts of its claim as the house of original “La Paz Batchoy,” since 1938. “La Paz Batchoy” is my comfort food. In our market today, there are many instant La Paz Batchoy variants which fail to satisfy. Tasting Deco’s La Paz Batchoy made me believe all the more that nothing beats the original.

Deco’s La Paz Batchoy
Photo Credit: jeannycdj.com

Since I was already in Bacolod, I took the chance to visit my friend and one of my teachers, Ms. Jo Villanueva. It’s always a joy to see her because of her welcoming spirit and good stories. After hours of talking with each other, she invited me to “Dalum Balay” for a burger. She told me that normally, she does not eat burger, but not until she had tasted Dalum Balay’s burger. I ordered bacon mushroom burger and it was indeed delicious! They have a big serving at a very reasonable price. Their beef patty is quite thick and juicy.

Dalum Balay’s Bacon Mushroom Burger
Photo Credit: foodspotting.com

During our last night in the City of Smiles, Rodel and I decided to eat in Manukan Country – a strip of Chicken Inasal joints located near SM Bacolod. After seeing all the restaurants that offer chicken inasal, we went to Aida’s. We chose Aida’s because among all the restaurants in Manukan Country, it has the most well-lighted place, the most number of customers, and it has the most friendly crew. It is also adorned with a lot of masks used in the city’s annual “Masskara Festival.” Aida’s chicken inasal is not as expensive as the other restaurants found in Bacolod, but its chicken inasal is as exciting as its festive store.

Moi at Aida’s 🙂

Indeed, Bacolod is a place of culinary adventure. I left the place with a satisfied soul…and stomach – and I realized upon my return to Quezon City that I still have a lot or food and restaurants to discover in my beloved City of Smiles – Bacolod!

Special thanks to Mr. Royce Morales, Ms. Jo Villanueva, my community, the Assumptionists, and the Augustinian Family for this very enjoyable trip. By the way, we visited Bacolod not solely for food tripping but to attend the Augustian Youth Festival 🙂

Bontoc – Sagada – Banaue Trip

The view from Teng-Ab Retreat House

Last October 22-25, we had the chance to visit Bontoc, Sagada, and Banaue for our community outing.

I think, Banaue and Sagada are worth exploring separately. Last year, we went to Sagada and stayed with the relatives of our classmate in LST. We payed a minimal amount for the accomodation and breakfast. There are many simple hotels in Sagada. It’s meant usually for backpackers. For our meals, Sagada has a lot of interesting restaurants; there are also lots of activities to do – you may visit the hanging coffins and go inside the caves, have a swim near the waterfalls, etc. Sagada has a curfew, as part of the culture of the locals, so establishments close at around 9pm or earlier.

We have visited Banaue several times but we haven’t experienced staying overnight there. Like Sagada, there are also many hotels in Banaue area, you may choose from Banaue Hotel (the finest) to a village inn, where you will experience staying in a native hut, in the midst of a rice field. The rice terraces near the town proper is just one of the terraces in the area, Batad rice terraces (quite far from Banaue proper) is one of the well-preserved. It is like a big ampitheater of rice fields. To go there, you have to walk for more than an hour but it is all worth the trip.

The majestic Banaue Rice Terraces

If you want to have a quick experience of Sagada and Banaue, just like what we recently did, stay in Bontoc. It is halfway through Banaue and Sagada. We stayed in Teng-Ab retreat house, owned by the Apostolic Vicariate of Bontoc Lagawe. The staff members of the retreat house will take care of your group, even with your desired itinerary. They also serve very good food. We rented their vehicle plus they provided us with a guide and a driver. For our expenses, we shelled out more or less, 35,000 – good for 6 persons, inclusive of 3 nights and 4 days accommodation, and round trip tickets to Manila-Bontoc, all-inclusive!

To go there, there is a bus that goes directly to Bontoc (Cable Bus Tours, located near St. Luke’s Hospital and Trinity University) but I suggest that you take Victory Liner to Baguio instead and from there, take a bus that goes to Bontoc.

Our contact person in Teng-Ab retreat house is Val. He will be of great help in your stay there. Here’s their website:http://www.teng-ab.com/ – and by the way, Teng-Ab is primarily a retreat house. If you wish to have your soul refreshed by the beauty of nature and the Spirit of the Lord, I highly recommend that you go to this place and allow yourself to be in the great mountains’ embrace!

in awe of Sagada’s beauty