I’m composing this publish in between piles of clothes. I’m still in the middle of packing my stuff for my very first trip to Athens, which is just a few hours from now. as well as I can’t tell you exactly how excited I am. It’s all I’ve been believing about for the past few weeks.

When my buddies discovered I’m flying to Greece, they expressed their concern about the timing. As a Mediterranean country, Greece is understood as a summertime destination. A simple mention of Greece conjures pictures of stunning beaches cradled between golden cliffs, boats leaving slipstreams across cerulean waters, as well as ruins under the intense warm of the sun.

But if you’ve been complying with our blog long enough, you understand that we like traveling in winter. In fact, our travel season — the period when we go on consecutive trips — always begins in December. It’s not by chance. There are reasons why we prefer to roam in the chillier months:

Off-peak season. more frequently than not, costs of flights, hotels, as well as tours significantly go down in winter. It’s a fantastic time to check out for budget plan travelers like us! In fact, Scoot currently has a fantastic promo. They phone call it: Take-off Tuesday. starting December 5, you can grab fares for Athens for only P9,999! Seats are restricted so make sure your quick fingers are prepared on December 5.

Smaller crowds. Understandably as well as expectedly, Athens is one prominent destination so huge crowds during peak seasons are not surprising at all. however during winter, things are not as hectic.

Friendlier temperatures. As a guy who spent most of my life in the tropics, I state I’ve had more than my share of the heat. chilly weather condition fascinates me, as well as I discover it more comfortable for sightseeing as well as just walking around.

Although Athens is our entry point, it is really the last stop in our itinerary. We’ll be checking out other regions of Greece as well as other countries in Europe very first before ending the trip in Athens, so we still have lots of time to add or modification our plans. however right here are a few of the things we are looking ahead to!

Τι καλύπτεται σε αυτόν τον οδηγό;

1. Skydiving in Athens
2. The Acropolis minus huge Crowds
3. chill Hilltop Views
4. getting lost in Plaka
5. Greek Food Trip
6. The altering of the Guards at Syntagma Square
7. Skiing!
Top Athens ApartmentsSearch for Athens Hotels!

Περισσότερες συμβουλές για το YouTube ⬇️⬇ΡΙENTHINE DESSICES:

1. Skydiving in Athens

Skydiving in Athens is open year-round, so this may be a fantastic option for winter.

Last year, we were supposed to make our skydiving debut in Prague. It took us a few days to make a decision, as well as when we lastly did, it rained, prompting the company to cancel our flight. We ended up leaving Prague still skydiving virgins.

But we’re hoping to modification that in Athens. “Hoping” since we’re still not sure about it, to be honest. budget plan is an issue. Skydiving in Athens is fairly cheap. The key words there is relatively. At EUR160-210 per person, it is definitely one of the cheapest skydiving choices we discovered online, however it is still a hefty sum for a 3-hour activity. So we’ll see if we have sufficient money towards the end of the trip.

Do you believe we should lastly try skydiving?

2. The Acropolis minus huge Crowds

Not just Acropolis however likewise the other ruins as well as historic sites scattered around the city. I’m expecting a more relaxed, more comfortable touring experience, without having to wait in long queues as well as battle other tourists for a picture spot. ΧΑΧΑΧΑ.

The Acropolis is likewise understood for not having much shade within its vicinity, so the cooler environment will most likely assist make our time more enjoyable.

3. chill Hilltop Views

You what else we plan to do other than visiting the Acropolis? Taking nice panoramic pictures of it from afar. Fortunately, my on the internet research study informed me that Athens has lots of areas just for that, as well as many of them are perched on hilltops: Filopappou Hill, Lycabettus Hill, Aeropagus Hill, as well as Strefi Hill. as well as we like hiking when it’s cooler, so this should be fun.

4. getting lost in Plaka

Standing in the shadow of the Acropolis is the maze-like community of Plaka, the oldest district of Athens. since of its proximity to the Acropolis, it is dubbed the village of the Gods. My curiosity is definitely piqued!

Online accounts motivate keeping an eye on the colors as well as design of the homes here, in addition to dining at a cafe.

5. Greek Food Trip

Ah, I keep in mind a half-Greek buddy who got somewhat upset with me years back when I stated I wasn’t a fan of Greek food. “Don’t judge an entire cuisine if you haven’t visited the country yet,” he quipped.

Again, that was years ago. At the time, I wasn’t truly into Japanese food either, however when I lastly set foot in Japan as well as got a taste of their food in all its authentic glory, I was sold. exact same with Korean food. So I’m excited to join Greek food tours for a much better as well as more informed appreciation of it!

Because the Yuletide season is here, I should most likely expect bakeries to be full of rows as well as rows of melomakarona, little egg-shaped cakes made of olive oil, honey, as well as flour.

6. The altering of the Guards at Syntagma Square

I have witnessed a number of altering of the guards ceremonies around the world, as well as I have to state that this is one that I truly am looking ahead to. I’ve been mesmerized by videos of the slow, calculated, as well as synchronized routine that the Greek guards (called Evzones) perform. as well as yes, since it’s off-peak season, they state that the tourist crowd won’t be as huge right here either.

7. Skiing!

This one is not truly within Athens, however the closest ski resort, Mt. Parnassos, is just a few hours away. The last time I was able to ski was four years back near Mt. Fuji in Japan, as well as it would be wonderful to get to do it once again in Greece. Vins has not tried it ever, as well as I understand he’d enjoy it. Unfortunately, we may be as well early for skiing since the resort opens December 15-ish (ugh!), however I’m including it right here just in situation you’re going to Athens as well later this season.

So there. hope whatever goes as organized — particularly the skydiving bit. however we’ll be updating this publish after the trip to add more tips based on first-hand experience so don’t fail to remember to inspect back soon!

Top Athens Apartments

Living near Acropolis by Sylvia Staikou. picture from Agoda.

Living near Acropolis by Sylvia Staikou. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

TONI’S studio for couples near ACROPOLIS Museum. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

Feel Athens Studios at Monastiraki. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

Blue Ark elegant Athens 1&2. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

Acropolis comfort guest house. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

24K Athena Suites. inspect rates & Availability! ✅

Search for Athens Hotels!

This publish is given you by Scoot. Scoot flies to Athens from Manila (via Singapore) 4X weekly.

2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ • 1️⃣1️⃣ • 3️⃣0️⃣

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Either the wind desired me naked or it just hated that shade of pink on me. The latter, if the wind were buddies with the band of alpha male tourists that stood just a couple of lawns from me. My pink polo stood out in a sea of greens, prompting them to quip “confirmed” when they believed I might not hear them. It must have been their very first time to see one more guy in pink. bad souls.

Αλλά τέλος πάντων. In a location as gorgeous as this, nothing as well as nobody might ruin my mood. From afar, a pink dot — me, the pink dot — dashed across the grass-covered waves that peaked as well as sank softly across the tough seaside landscape. Locals phone call this Racuh a Payaman. Tourists have one more name for it: Marlboro Country.

The view right here was nothing short of spectacular. I might clearly see Tayid Lighthouse, crested on an opposite hill, contending for attention. however even a lighthouse as bright as Tayid pales in comparison to the grand as well as gracious way the virid cliffs plummet to Diura Beach, where they satisfy the overzealous waves in a splashy embrace. In the middle of all the action is a rocky pinnacle, a directed islet, that breaks the waves in half.

That pink blob right there is me. Teehee.
The Tayid Lighthouse as well as Diura beach as seen from Marlboro Country
Ο φάρος Tayid στέκεται περήφανα εν μέσω των λόφων του Mahatao

A cone-shaped islet catches the interest of tourists admiring the view.
I might touch the sky!
Photographers setting up their stuff.
Narrow foot tracks snake around the crumpled land, ushering visitors to other corners as well as viewpoints. The angle modifications however none of them any type of less outstanding than the previous. as well as what is Marlboro country without horses cows? If they’re not grazing, they are resting comfortably in one of the shallow holes on one of the slopes.

Of all the stops on the Batan Island South Tour, this is most likely where I stayed the longest. getting from the jump off point to the prominent viewing area alone demanded a great deal of time (and energy). professional photographers perched on a hill with their tripods waited for their money shots unfold, while others held their jaws in place, lest they autumn as well as roll down to a little pocket of sand below.

How to get to Marlboro Country: From the Basco flight terminal or Basco town Proper, you may reach Honesty Coffee shop by tricycle (P200-P220, 30-40 minutes). You may likewise lease a tricycle for a SOUTH BATAN TOUR, which makes a stop at Marlboro country (P1500, great for 2 pax).

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in some cases you get to a restaurant and quickly you can tell you’re going to love it. Lofos restaurant in Zakynthos Greece was just that kind of place for us. A warm welcome as we walked in the front patio area and of course, those spectacular views over the rugged interior and rolling hills of Zakynthos.

Where is Lofos Restaurant?

?Unnamed Rd,, Meso Gerakari 291 00, Greece

Lofos restaurant is located atop one of the highest hills in Meso Gerakari in the center of Zakynthos. To get here you’ll pass through some very narrow roads and meander your way to the top of the hill where you have the wonderful panorama of nearly all of Zante Island.

The restaurant is about a 19-minute drive from Zante Town, 24 minutes from Laganas and about 20 minutes from Tsilivi, which, if you’re trying to figure out where to stay in Zakynthos, are 3 of the main areas.

Basically you’ll need a automobile to get to the restaurant, but having a automobile in Zakynthos (around €16 / day) is certainly worth it anyways.

Must-Try meals at Lofos Restaurant

We returned to Lofos Restaurant, Zakynthos quite a few times and we had a few different meals on the menu. The roast lamb and the beef stew were both extremely tasty and they also serve pizza, salads, steak and numerous other dishes. 

Every time we went there we were too full for dessert, but that didn’t stop the waiter from coming out and giving us one for totally free anyways. Basically, everything on the menu is great, but even if you just come for a couple of drinks while the sun sets, this is a wonderful restaurant and it certainly is one of the best restaurants in Zakynthos.

Η υπηρεσία

Every time we went to Lofos restaurant Zakynthos we had outstanding service. The place feels like a common small, family-run restaurant and when you’re there, you feel a bit like family too. especially when you return a couple of times and they get to know you!

It’s a small restaurant with only about a dozen tables, so the service is intimate and efficient. The staff is attentive and friendly and we had good service each time we came here.

The Ambiance

The ambiance at this place, particularly at sunset is fantastic. There’s in some cases some Greek music playing, the sun is setting over the hills, the church is glowing on the hill behind you and the restaurant is buzzing with people having wonderful food, drinks and of course, taking photos of the view.

Η θέα

Τι μπορώ να πω? The view from Lofos restaurant is spectacular. You can see the farmland below as well as some dramatic cliffs. The deck faces the west so in the late afternoon the warm Mediterranean sun pours onto the patio.

In the summer it can be a bit hot just before the sun goes down, so it’s best to come in the final hour or so before sunset if you don’t want to be roasting while you’re enjoying your drink.

To the best of the vehicle parking lot for Lofos restaurant is the stunning Agios Nikolaos Greek Orthodox Church which sits atop a slightly taller hill. At sunset, the church is the only thing in the area that’s lit up as the shadows creep over the restaurant and the valleys below.

Το κόστος

The price is actually very good at Lofos restaurant in Zakynthos Greece especially considering the location. Usually, a place with a wonderful view like this would charge up to twice the price of a regular restaurant, but Lofos is around the same price as an average restaurant in Zakynthos.

The roast lamb that I purchased was €9 and came with veggies and potatoes, while the beef stew was €8 and very filling. Both are delicious. Beers are around €2.5 and appetizers are just €4 each.

If you come here as a couple and have a half litre of wine, an appetizer, a couple of mains and a dessert you won’t likely pay much more than €30, which is terrific for Zante Island.

How To Reserve

Call +30 2695 062643

m.me/111215223550062

When we were last in Zakynthos it was March, in the shoulder-season (the best time to check out Greece) so there weren’t too numerous tourists here and we didn’t have to reserve in advance, but if you’re here in the high season you may want to give them a call to see if there will be tables available. 

Every table on the deck has a terrific view so you don’t have to worry about not getting a good seat as long as you’re outside. They also have a Facebook page that you can contact them on.

Our Opinion

At the end of our stay in Zakynthos this was certainly one of our preferred restaurants and in fact, heading to this place at sunset was one of the best things to do in Zakynthos. 

We found the staff to be kind and courteous and made us feel like family (even thΕξάλλου, μας έτρωγαν πάρα πολύ). Το φαγητό βγήκε πάντα γρήγορα, η ατμόσφαιρα ήταν ωραία, τα μερίδια ήταν γενναιόδωρα και το φαγητό ήταν νόστιμο.

Αν ψάχνετε για ένα εστιατόριο στο Ζακύθο όπου μπορείτε να απολαύσετε μια θεαματική θέα του νησιού και της Θάλασσας του Ιονίου, ενώ έχετε καταπληκτικό φαγητό σε οικονομική τιμή, τότε ο Lofos είναι μια καταπληκτική επιλογή.

Υποθέτω ότι το μόνο μειονέκτημα θα ήταν η τοποθεσία. Είναι λίγο μακριά από τα πάντα, αλλά σε ορισμένες περιπτώσεις πρέπει να οδηγήσετε λίγο για να φτάσετε σε ένα εκπληκτικό σημείο όπως αυτό.

Συνιστούμε ιδιαίτερα να έχετε ένα ενοικιαζόμενο αυτοκίνητο, τουλάχιστον για μέρος του χρόνου στον Ζακύθο, ώστε να μπορείτε να εξερευνήσετε το νησί, και αυτό είναι ένα ιδανικό μεσημεριανό ή δείπνο σε οποιοδήποτε πρόγραμμα οδικών ταξιδιών γύρω από το νησί. Εάν μένετε προς τα νότια, μπορείτε να σταματήσετε στο Lofos στο δρόμο σας προς την παραλία Navagio, ή στο δρόμο σας πίσω αφού δείτε την παραλία από την πλατφόρμα που βλέπετε.

Συνολικά, διαπιστώσαμε ότι ο Ζακύνος ήταν ένα από τα καλύτερα μέρη για να ελέγξετε την Ελλάδα και το εστιατόριο Lofos ήταν ένα από τα καλύτερα εστιατόρια (σίγουρα με την καλύτερη θέα) που πήγαμε στο νησί.

Όπως αυτό το άρθρο; Κάντε το!

Αποποίηση ευθυνών: Οι κατσίκες στο δρόμο είναι ένας συνεργάτης του Αμαζονίου και επίσης θυγατρική για μερικούς άλλους λιανοπωλητές. Αυτό υποδηλώνει ότι κερδίζουμε προμήθειες εάν κάνετε κλικ στο σύνδεσμο στο ιστολόγιό μας και αγοράζετε από αυτούς τους λιανοπωλητές.

Last Updated: 10/10/20 | October 10th, 2020

I’m not going to lie: I believe I have a quite great travel blog. (You most likely do as well if you’re here.) I work difficult to provide excellent practical travel advice to assist you travel better, however I’m not the only excellent travel blog writer out there. In fact — and I understand this may be shocking — there’s a great deal about travel that I’m not an professional on. household travel? Δεν έχω ιδέα. travel as a woman? Clueless. info on hotels? μόνο ένα μικρό. Φωτογραφία? I can handle to turn my camera on if that counts. Food expert? only at eating it.

I’ve realized that it’s been a while since I last talked about the very best travel blogs available — the ones I checked out — so I wished to take a moment as well as highlight a few of my preferred travel blogs that can likewise assist you travel better, cheaper, as well as smarter. There are so many great blogs out there, I feel like I’m long overdue to point you to a few of them:

Legal Nomads

Besides being one of my all-time preferred people in the world, Jodi is likewise a damn remarkable blog writer who composes commonly about food as well as culture. She devotes a great deal of time to food on the road, taking mouthwatering pictures that make me jealous of her capability to do so. A former lawyer, she likewise composes a series called “Thrillable Hours” about other lawyers who provided up being a business lackey forever on the road.

Uncornered Market

If there was a contest for the very best travel blog, I would tell everybody to vote for me. then I would go vote for Audrey as well as Dan. They tell heartwarming stories as well as take incredible, out-of-this-world photographs. Their blog focuses on cultural travel as well as sustainability problems (they even work with the UN worldwide sustainable tourism Council). I focus on the nuts as well as bolts of going places, whereas they focus on the people. They are just excellent storytellers.

Alex in Wanderland

I satisfied Alex years back in new York City as well as we’ve been good friends ever since. The author of the article on diving in Koh Tao, Alex is a photographer, graphic designer, travel lover, as well as dive expert currently roaming the States. Her blog features excellent photos, dive tips, travel stories, as well as a biting as well as self-deprecating humor. Plus, I assisted pick out her blog name, so it’s difficult not to like it.

The Blonde Abroad

Kiersten’s site focuses on the intersection of fashion as well as travel. She provides tips as well as advice for women on what wear, pack, as well as see while overseas as well as focuses more on higher-end, comfort travel than I do. I believe her blog is one of the very best for female travelers and, though it’s not targeted to me, I discover useful info that I show others. Kiersten as well as I are friends, as well as I like seeing her site grow as well as expand, particularly over the last year. She seems to be everywhere!

Hey Nadine

This prominent YouTube channel by Nadine Sykora documents her experiences as she travels around the world. Nadine’s zany, nerdy handle travel makes her videos entertaining to watch! She’s funny, smart, as well as a bit awkward, however her filmmaking style truly puts you there in the destination with her. There’s a reason she’s one of the biggest travel channels on YouTube!

View from the Wing

Gary Leff is the “OG” of travel hacking. While I checked out many travel-hacking blogs, I comply with Gary since he provides market analysis as well as behind-the-scenes info on loyalty programs as well as airlines. Gary doesn’t just provide trip reports or share offers as well as reward opportunities, he provides you context as well as a higher comprehending of exactly how travel hacking as well as airlines operate.

Wandering Earl

My kindred spirit, Earl is a vagabonding nomad backpacker like myself. We both like budget plan travel, backpacking, blogging, as well as whatever in between (and yes, we’re great good friends in genuine life too). I checked out Earl’s blog since he goes to locations few people ever see (Kurdistan, anyone?) as well as tells raw, honest travel stories that don’t sugarcoat the travel experience. extremely few blogs do that, as well as for that, I believe he’s one of the very best travel websites out there. I’ve been reading him for many years as well as he deserves a feature! (He’s likewise one of the few other blog writers I understand that doesn’t accept sponsored material or trips!)

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Oneika the Traveller

One of my preferred blogs as she talks about the “real” side of travel as well as is not afraid to get political, talk about racial prejudice when she travels as well as discusses life as a black female traveler. So much of travel composing is from a white perspective, it’s truly excellent to hear from somebody else. Not only that, however her tips as well as techniques are super useful as well as her composing as well as pictures outstanding too.

Never Ending Footsteps

Lauren is the most mishap prone traveler I know. Anything that can go wrong usually does go wrong when she travelers. She’s one of the unluckiest travelers I know. however all that misadventure leads to some remarkable travel stories as well as her blog is full of funny tales that will keep you captivated for hours.

Additionally, she provides some wonderful practical tips on travel as well as detailed cost breakdowns on exactly how much she spends in each place.

Be My travel Muse

Kristin is an adventurous solo female traveler as well as my resident professional on all things solo female travel. She isn’t afraid to get off the beaten path as well as check out less-visited destinations, sharing her tips as well as techniques along the way. She takes incredible pictures as well as likewise makes remarkable YouTube videos (she’s one of the most underrated travel YouTubers available if you ask me). She’s been traveling for over 5 years now as well as produces insightful, entertaining content. even if you’re not a solo female traveler, you’ll still enjoy her posts as well as videos.

HoneyTrek

Mike as well as Anne stop their tasks in 2012 to go on an prolonged honeymoon. eight years later as well as they are still on the road. They’ve road-tripped around the us in their camper van, stayed at a few of the most incredible glamping sites in the world, as well as composed the book on ultimate couples travel experiences. They’re an adventurous couple with a focus on the outdoors as well as sustainability as well as they share tons of tips on living in an RV, couples travel, as well as long-lasting travel as well.

Chubby Diaries

Chubby Diaries is run by Jeff Jenkins as well as focuses on plus-size travel. His blog tackles body shaming head-on as well as provides travelers of all shapes as well as sizes with resources as well as inspiration. His optimism as well as positivity are contagious as well as he never shies away from telling it like it is. Jeff is going above as well as beyond to shake things up as well as make the travel area more inclusive. He’s an remarkable guy who produces incredible content.

Travels of Adam

Adam has one of the very best LGBTQ blog writers out there. (He likewise composed a lot of LGBTQ material for this site!) He focuses on gay travel as well as way of life content, with a specific focus on hipster city guides. If you want to understand where to discover the coolest bars, hippest cafes, as well as the very best nightlife spots, Adam is the guy to ask. As a former expat, he likewise has tons of excellent material on Berlin, one of Europe’s hippest as well as artsy cities.

Hey Ciara

Ciara is a full-time solo female traveler who shares honest, insightful travel reflections as well as advice. She’s been featured in major travel publications as well as has developed up a solid complying with of visitors who appreciate her authentic style as well as her honesty about traveling as a solo black female traveler. She’s a great writer as well as produces a great deal of practical as well as practical content.

***
So there you have it! My present listing of preferred travel blogs on the web (besides mine) that I read. This is an ever-changing listing so I’ll be updating as time goes on! After all, new travel blogs begin every day. Go checked out these ones, laugh, learn, as well as be inspired!

Are you looking to begin a blog too? These posts can assist you do that:

How to begin a travel Blog

19 things I discovered From 10 Years of Blogging

9 methods to ended up being a successful Blogger

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Book Your Trip: Logistical tips as well as Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a affordable flight by utilizing Skyscanner. It’s my preferred browse engine since it searches websites as well as airlines around the globe so you always understand no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, utilize Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses as well as hotels.

Don’t fail to remember travel Insurance
Travel insurance coverage will protect you against illness, injury, theft, as well as cancellations. It’s comprehensive security in situation anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to utilize it many times in the past. My preferredΟι επιχειρήσεις που προσφέρουν την καλύτερη εξυπηρέτηση καθώς και την αξία είναι:

SafetyWing (καλύτερο για όλους)

Ασφαλίστε το ταξίδι μου (για όσους άνω των 70)

Medjet (για επιπλέον κάλυψη εκκένωσης)

Είστε έτοιμοι να κλείσετε το ταξίδι σας;
Ελέγξτε τη σελίδα πόρων μου για την καλύτερη επιχείρηση για να χρησιμοποιήσετε όταν ταξιδεύετε. Καταχωρίζω όλα αυτά που χρησιμοποιώ όταν ταξιδεύω. Είναι το καλύτερο στην τάξη, καθώς δεν μπορείτε να πάτε στραβά χρησιμοποιώντας τα στο ταξίδι σας.

The question always pops up. I had been to Sagada three times. Each time, I visited the Echo Valley. Each time someone always asked the guide this question: Why do locals hang coffins on the side of the cliff? Although the answers vary in small details, they are basically similar — the locals believe that the higher the coffins are, the closer they are to heaven.

Only a short walk away from the town’s main road, the Echo Valley is probably the most accessible of all the tourist spots in Sagada. We started our walk at the St. Mary Church through the Calvary hill (Mission Compound) Cemetery to get there. What welcomed us was a vista of sharp cliffs with hanging coffins affixed to one of its edge.

A small sign nailed to a pine tree caught our attention on our way to the valley. “This area is restricted for graves,” said the sign. Behind it is a gorgeous landscape: a small hill covered with grass and pine trees, and dotted with white graves of different sizes. The group agreed to take a minute to explore the graveyard. The chilly atmosphere was made eerie by the gravestones that surrounded us. Still, we hopped from one spot to another, looking for something that would spark interest. Our short stop became a long moment of reflection for us as the graves served as mirrors of how we lived our lives. It wasn’t long until our guide called us and asked us to follow him to the valley before the dark starts blanketing the site.

The mission Compound Graveyard in Sagada
On one end of the cemetery was a well-worn trail, a testament to how popular this site is to tourists. The reddish walking trail stood out in a sea of greenery. The ground was rather soft, veiled with dry pine tree leaves. The sight was a wonder in itself — pine trees standing like sentinels of the dead, the deep valley that seemed to invite us to walk down, and the limestone cliffs that rise gloriously from the ground. We could not help but snap away, trying to capture everything we laid eyes on. It was an easy walk; so easy that we actually forgot that we were traversing the side of a cliff and that one wrong step could cost us our lives. Needless to say, any tourist who will visit this place has  to watch his or her step and be careful.

Pine trees in the area

Echo Valley and the Hanging Coffins
When we finally reached the viewpoint, we stood there and just looked at the hanging coffins from afar. Our guide encouraged us to shout for it would echo. This is Echo Valley after all. We started throwing one shout after another to the other hill and heard them bounce back to us, to our delight and amusement. It was quite ironic in a way. I remember one foreign travel blogger who shared his view about shouting at the Echo Valley. He said that he found it rude to shout at the site, knowing that there were hanging coffins ahead of us and a relatively modern cemetery behind. His view was that we should keep the place quiet and peaceful as a sign of respect to the dead. I agree with him now.

Although I had been to Sagada a few times before, I have never tried going down the valley and see the hanging coffins up close. It’s not because I was scared but more like exhausted. In all three occasions, I had visited this site in late afternoon, after a trek to Bomod-ok Falls or a spelunking tour through Sumaguing Cave or Cave Connection. I just couldn’t exhaust more energy going down to the valley after a tiring day. but that gives me a reason to go back to Sagada soon.

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I had never been on a cruise ship before. I’m not even sure if I had seen one before. I had been on a ferry a number of times but many of them were short trips. I had spent a couple of days on a ferry once, when I was young, to general Santos City but there was nothing remotely elegant about the trip. We did not even have a personal cabin and there was nothing I could do but watch the horizon. A cruise ship complete with home entertainment facilities and buffet dining? Nah, never experienced it before. It was also my very first time in Malaysia. That’s why this trip is so special for me. It provided me many very first times. I was beyond thrilled.

Τι καλύπτεται σε αυτόν τον οδηγό;

Boarding the cruise Ship
The cruise Card
The Cabin: Compact but Clever
The Amenities
Dining
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Boarding the cruise Ship

When the clock hit 4pm, all of us gathered at the HarbourFront Centre. While some blog writers had just completed hours of buying at VivoCity, Winston and I came from a brief go to to books Kinokinuya in Orchard Road. We shown up just in time to inspect in our baggage.

After providing us our baggage claim stubs, we proceeded upstairs to line up for boarding. It was a long queue. thanks to my iPod and blog writer friends, I was saved from boredom. When we reached the end of the queue, we approached the immigration Counters and our passports were stamped. (Yass! another stamp!)

Afterwards, we walked all the method to the ship’s entrance. We had a few photo-ops with star Cruises’ mascot’s along the way. before stepping into the ship, our passports were collected. We would not see our passports in the next couple of days.

The cruise Card

I phone call it “the cruise Card” but I don’t understand what it is called really. It serves as your ID and passport while on the ship. It appears like your regular credit report card and it acts like it, too. On the cruise, we didn’t have to whip out cash. All we needed to do was flash this card and we were good. everything we would purchase or pay for would be charged to this card, to be settled before leaving the ship. Thankfully, everything we needed was included in the Airphil express bundle so I did not spend anything on the cruise.

The Cabin: Compact but Clever

The space assigned to us was an ocean view Stateroom on the 5th level. As the name suggests, it has a window and provides a view of the outside. The outside being the ocean most of the time. ΧΑΧΑΧΑ.

There were four of us sharing the room. The moment I went into the room, I wondered exactly how four people could in shape as there were only 2 single beds. It was such a relief when we found that there was a pull-over bed on one side of the space and that the sofa sitting in one corner could magically transform into a bed. It was very, extremely clever! The space was arranged in such a method that could fit as much as 4 people comfortably even within the restricted space.

One of the very first things that I did when I went into our cabin was inspect the restrom. Ηταν φανταστικο. like the room, it was compact but set up in a wise way. The sink was at the center and the very first to greet the user. To the left was the toilet which makes this scarily loud flush. It was like a truly loud gulp and I felt like I’d be taken to another dimension via the toilet in an instant. (I have a vivid and rather ridiculous imagination.) and to the right was the restroom equipped with hot/cold shower.

Oh, by the way, there was cable television TV with a number of channels although none of us in the space were interested to utilize it. all of us were seldom in the room. We were just there to sleep because there was so much — SO much — that we could do outside. but there were 10 channels or so including HBO. Ομορφη.

The only issue I encountered was that there were only a couple of outlets and there were four of us sharing a room. all of us had phones, cameras and iPods. We had to take turns.

The Amenities

What blew us away was the number of amenities inside the ship. It’s a floating hotel! A StarCruises policeman offered to provide us a tour of the ship and show us around to take a look at the facilities on board.

The Grand Piazza. After freshening up, we left the space and took the elevator to the Grand Piazza on the 7th floor. The Grand Piazza is the ship’s primary lobby where events are held and where the primary reception desk is located. The primary reception desk is like the traveler central coz this is where you avail of the a number of tours they offer, where they can assist you with your concerns, and where you inspect out.

On the other side of the piazza was a stage with a statue of three horses. around the piazza were a number of establishments — restaurants, shops, and more. On our second night on the ship, the pre-pageant for miss Resorts world Manila was held at the Grand Piazza.

The Parthenon Pool. Στην κορυφήmost level lies an outside swimming pool called the Parthenon Pool. This was where we would go whenever we felt tired and wished to take a great look of the islands. aside from the fact that it’s extremely near the Mediterranean Buffet (which I liked so much but that’s for another post), it also offers an incredible view of the ship and from the ship. There were also jacuzzi units right here but we never tried utilizing them.

On our very first night, there was Barbeque Buffet and it was a great experience. There was also a bar on the upper deck of the area.

The universal fitness center and health and wellness Club. This surprised me. I didn’t believe there’d be a fitness center on board. Although I never had the intention to utilize it, I still believe that it was a great feature. In fact, a few of our companions utilized it on our very first morning on board. They also have Aquaswim here, which is a jet current exercise pool.

Η βιβλιοθήκη. another thing I didn’t expect to see inside a cruise ship. I was expecting casinos and theaters and a ton of restaurants but NOT a library. but I super liked the idea! They even had chairs by the window. staying right here was extremely relaxing and it was an oasis amidst the extremely busy activities outside. They have wi-fi right here but I didn’t catch the rates.

Other Facilities. There so many other amenities that this ship offers. They even have a Mahjong Room! They have salons, computer centers, video arcade, child care center, and many others. On my next post, I will talk about the food and home entertainment on board. The ship also homes all kind of restaurants offering worldwide cuisines! They also have a theater.

Photography is not enabled when the show is on so I have no pics of the performances, just the stage. ΧΑΧΑΧΑ.
Dining

Τρώει. most likely my favorite activity in the world. and it’s even more enjoyable on cruise! On board the SuperStar Virgo from Singapore to Port Klang, Malaysia, I discovered myself eating most of the time! To hell with my tummy, I would enjoy the many gastronomic delights aboard this lovely cruise ship!

SuperStar Virgo homes a number of restaurants serving a range of worldwide cuisines. From fine dining to buffet restos, you’ll find something that caters to your taste. The Airphil express Fly and Sail bundle includes free meals from three restaurants — Bella Vista (international), Mediterranean Buffet (halal certified), and The pavilion (Chinese). This means that you won’t be charged if you eat at any of these three restaurants.

It was Barbeque night on our very first night on the cruise and they set up a barbeque buffet by the pool! Φοβερός! perfect for gluttons like me! among the many dishes were grilled beef, squid, and sausages, and steamed corn among others. dessert and soup were also overflowing; it was indeed a pig-out moment for me. ΧΑΧΑΧΑ. For a moment, I declared that day (and the next 2 days) my cheat days from my non-existent weight-loss diet.

Barbeque buffet! #Βαφή
When we shown up from the tour the next day, we headed to the Bella Vista for dinner. There was a dress code (smart casual/semi-formal). They served a five-course dinner, which was part of the package. right here are some snapshots of what I had for dinner that night!

Salmon (main course), Greek salad (appetizer), and Cheese and biscuits (dessert). Sorry about the high quality of the photos. It was a bit dark inside the restaurant.
Aside from the Mediterranean Buffet and Terrace, the Pavilion, and Bella Vista, here’s a listing of the other restaurants on board.

Noble home (Chinese cuisine, fine dining)

The Taj (Indian buffet – halal)

Samurai restaurant (Japanese food)

Blue Lagoon (Southeast Asian food)

Palazzo (Italian combination restaurant)

The Taverna (Snack bar)

Bellini (Liquor bar)

Café Gelato (desserts!)

I can’t state anything about them coz I wasn’t able to try what they had to offer.

There was a charm pageant happening at the Grand Piazza — miss Resorts world Manila. but since we weren’t into pageants, Hannah, Winston, Marcos and I selected to return to the Lido movie theater for another free show. This time, it was a magic-slash-comedy-slash-magic show. It was cool. especially when Philipart, the magician-slash-comedian-slash-singer-slash-host was enabled us to have a short photo-op with him. :ΡΕ

After the show, we returned to Mediterranean Buffet for supper (midnight snack). Again, the meal was part of the bundle so we weren’t charged extra for this.

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