Zoobic Safari, Subic Bay | Take a Walk on the Wild Side

The stokedtraveler and his family was treated by a generous cousin to a free trip to Zoobic Safari. Last time he visited the place was about 3 years back. He still recalls the vastness of the area and how tiring it was to walk through the various attractions.

Zoobic Safari is situated in a 25-hectare forest land that was converted into a tourist attraction. It claims to offer a safari experience where guests can see "exotic" animals in a simulated living environment. The published attractions are Zoobic Park, Savannah, Serpentarium, Rodent World, Animal MuZOOeum, Close Encounter, Tiger Safari, Bird Walk, Aeta's Trail, Croco Loco, Zoobic Cave and Forbidden Cave. They also host animal shows and animal parades during the weekends and holidays.

Camayan Beach Resort, Subic Bay | Just Another Relaxing Day at the Beach

As much as the stoked traveler wanted to find a different beach venue for his niece’s birthday, Camayan Beach Resort still remains to be the best pick when choosing a beach resort near Pampanga. They have been to this resort atleast three times last year and it hasn’t failed to deliver. This time was no exception.

Cottages for day trippers

The kids still enjoyed the clear waters and the clean sands. The adults got some good rest and relaxation with the comfy accommodations while the shade of the trees provided a good place to take in the ocean breeze; a fine addition to the resorts relaxing ambiance.

The following were what the stoked traveler considered in choosing this resort again:

•           Land travel is safe and possible from Pampanga (or even Manila and other nearby areas)
•           Tried and tested quality accommodations and service
•           Luxury at a reasonable cost
•           Safety of the kids while roaming around the beach and during swimming
•           Well mannered guests that will not ruin the general atmosphere of the vacation

Pilar, Bataan | Shrine of Valor & Mt. Samat Cross Good Friday Day Trip

After getting inspiration from the 1000 PHP Bataan trip blog, the stokedtraveler takes off to the nearby province of Bataan.

Bataan is just about 2.5 hours drive from Metro Manila. It is most popular for the infamous Death March during World War II where allied forces were made to march all the way from Bataan to Tarlac - some 128 kms. The stretch of the march was characterized by the most gruesome abuses the Japanese army could inflict resulting to deaths of thousands of Filipino and American soldiers.

It was on a Good Friday and the stokedtraveler had the curious desire to visit the largest cross that could be found in the Philippines. True enough, the Mt. Samat Shrine of Valor in Brgy. Diwa, Pilar, Bataan would be the best candidate.

The plan was to drive from Pampanga to Mt. Samat. This would let him stop by other nearby attractions and historic markers along the way minus the hassle of the commute. Luckily, he googled up the drive and found out that the path leading to the top of Mt. Samat was nothing short of winding and sharp turns. His driving skills were not up to the challenge yet so he decided to take the bus and commute.

The stokedtraveler boarded the Balanga bus (Bataan Transit) in SM Pampanga. An hour and a half later, the bus arrives at an almost empty Balanga terminal. He followed another blogger’s directions and started asking for jeep going to Brgy. Diwa. There were very few people on the terminal and only a few jeepneys and tricycles.