Visita Iglesia: Isabela

Isabela boasts of some pretty outstanding Spanish Era Churches. In this Visita Iglesia i visited 8 Churches of Isabela and here is how i did it via Public Transportation.

1. Manila-Cauayan: I bought a plane ticket to Cauayan via Cebu Pacific. You can also take the Bus going to Santiago City from Manila but this will be several hours long. From Airport ask Tricycle to bring you to the Caoayan Church. Fare: When i asked the driver how much he answered “Bahala na kayo” or “It is up to you” gave him P100.

2. Cauayan-Santiago: From Cauayan i went to Santiago City.  Buses and Van’s going to Santiago can be hailed along the high way. The fare to  Santiago City via bus: 40 pesos. At Cauayan take a Tricycle to the Saint James Parish Church

(Saint James Parish is not Old but i still added it to the list to make it 8 Churches)

3. Santiago-Alicia: from the Church of Santiago i took a tricycle to the bus terminal going to Alicia (just board bus going to Cauayan, Ilagan or Tuguegarao). The Fare (Bus) to Alicia: P20

4. Alicia-Guibang, Gamu: From Alicia take a bus or Van (Just hail a bus across the Church) going to Ilagan City or Tuguegarao and ask to be dropped off at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Visitation in Brgy Guibang (the Shrine is just along the highway before going to Gamu proper) Fare (Bus) to Guibang, Gamu: P45.

(The Shrine is also not old but a Pilgrimage Site and worth visiting)

5. Guibang, Gamu-Gamu: from the Shrine ride a tricycle to Gamu Church. Fare: P60

6. Gamu-Ilagan Cathedral: from Gamu Church take a Tricycle. Asked to be dropped off at the Cathedral. Fare (Tricycle) to Ilagan Cathedral: P60. Distance: 5km.

7. Ilagan-Tumauini: from Ilagan take a bus or Van going to Tuguegarao and asked to be dropped of at the Tumauini Church. The Church is not along the Highway, it is around a 100 meters away. Fare(Van) to Tumauini: P30.

8. Tumauini-San Pablo: from Tumauini ride a bus or van going to Tuguegarao and asked to be dropped off near the Church of San Pablo. The Church is not along the highway, you can walk to the Church but i took a tricycle. Fare(Bus) to San Pablo: P25. Fare (Tricycle Round Trip) to San Pablo Church: 100 (fare is probably just around 50 but gave him 100)

How to Go Around Singapore by MRT, Bus & Taxi

Getting around Singapore is Very Easy, the MRT & Bus services are Fast, Efficient and COLD! Get the Singapore Tourist Pass which can be bought from the Transitlink Tourist office for $10 (1 Day Pass), $16 (2 Day Pass) and $3 (3 Day Pass).The Tourist Pass can be purchased at the following MRT Stations: Changi Airport, Orchard, Chinatown, City Hall, Raffles Place, Ang Mo Kio, HarbourFront, Bugis, Lavender and Bayfront.

Personally I have not used the Tourist Pass as i have a EZ Link Card which i just Top Up whenever needed. Minimum Top Up is $10. If you frequent Singapore a lot, just get the Stored Value Card for $12. The $7 of the card can be used. This card can be used in the Trains and Buses and can also be used as payment in some stores.

Getting around Singapore by Taxi is the easiest. Just hail a cab from the streets and say where you are going. In Singapore, ALL TAXI DRIVERS USE THE METER. And there is no choosing of passengers except though when the Taxi driver will be going home.

UBER and Grab Taxi are also available in Singapore.

Stored Value Card which can be bought at MRT Stations. Available for $SGD12

Bangkok’s Airport Link – The Fastest and Cheapest way to the City

Going to Bangkok from the Airport and going back to the Airport again has become easier, cheaper and faster thanks to the Airport Link. But of course if you have a lot of Baggage this is not a good option. the Airport link operates from 6am-12mn ONLY.

As you exit Customs just follow the signs going to the Airport Link. You have 2 Choices to the City, The City Line or the Express Line (Stops at Makkasan or Phaya Thai only.

CITY LINE:

Use the City Line if you are not in a Hurry.  Usually you will need to stop at Makkasan, Ratchaprarop or Phaya Thai as these are the stations where the hotels are usually located.

the Fare for City line from Suvarnabhumi

• to Makkasan Baht 35
• to Ratchaprarop Baht 40
• to Phaya Thai Baht 45 (Travel time is just 27 Minutes)

EXPRESS LINE:

As of July 2015 the express line is not operating. 

The Express line takes you directly to Phaya Thai or Makkasan.

From/to MAKKASAN it is 15 Minutes

Fare: Baht 150 Round Trip, Baht 90 Single

From/to PHAYA THAI it is 17 Minutes

Fare: Baht 150 Round Trip, Baht 90 Single

At Phaya Thai Airport Link Station

At Phaya Thai Station, going up to the trains/ticket booth

Ticket Vending Machine accepts notes & coins

Entrance to the trains

At Suvarnabhumi Airport

  

Hua Lamphong Railway Station (Bangkok, Thailand)

The Hua Lamphong Railway Station or the Bangkok Station was built in 1910 but opened for business in 1916. It can be easily reached via MRT (Hua Lamphong MRT Station). This is where you should go if you want to take the train to northern, eastern, northeastern and southern Thailand.

The Train Station has a very simple layout. It will be Impossible to get lost as when you enter the Ticketing booths will greet you and the Platforms to the trains are just beside it.

There is an Electronic Signboard above the ticketing booths showing the departing and arriving trains. To the left is a Signboard showing all the destinations available and their frequencies.

Below are the Six Types of trains available and their differences (from Bangkok.com)

Special Express: long-distance trains connecting major destinations, such as Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Yala, Bangkok-Surat Thani, Bangkok-Sawankhalok (Sukhothai) and Bangkok-Butterworth (Malaysia)
Types of seats: First and second class air-conditioned sleepers and non-air-conditioned second class sleepers

Express: long-distance trains connecting major regional hubs, such as Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Ubonratchathani, Bangkok-Nongkhai, Bangkok-Trang, Bangkok Udonthani
Types of seats: First and second class air-conditioned sleepers, non-air-conditioned second class sleepers, second and third class seats (either air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned)

Rapid: long-distance trains connecting major regional destinations, making more stops than Express trains, such as Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Bangkok-Pitsanulok, Bangkok-Nongkhai, Bangkok-Ubonratchathani, Bangkok-Yala, Bangkok-Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bangkok-Sugnai Kolok
Types of seats: Second class sleepers (either air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned) and second and third class seats (either air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned)

Ordinary: long-distance trains connecting regional destinations, making every stop, such as Bangkok-Nakhonsawan, Bangkok-Suphanburi, Bangkok-Hua Hin, Thonburi-Ratchaburi, Thonburi-Nakhonpathom, Bang Sue (North Bangkok)-Nakhon Ratchasima
Types of seats: Non-air-conditioned second and third class seats

Bangkok Commuter: short-distance commuter trains running between Bangkok and the outskirts (within the 150km radius), making every stop. This is the train you would take to Don Muang Airport. Other destinations include Bangkok-Lopburi, Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi (Saraburi), Bangkok-Ratchaburi, Bangkok-Suphanburi, Bangkok-Prachinburi
Types of seats: Non-air-conditioned third class seats

Rural Commuter: short-distance commuter trains running between rural provinces, such as Lopburi-Pitsanulok, Nakhonsawan-Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya-Lopburi, Surat Thani-Sungai Kolok, Chomphon-Hat Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima-Ubonratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima-Udonthani, Kaeng Khoi (Saraburi)-Khon Kaen
Types of seats: Non-air-conditioned third class seats

Please Visit the Thai Railways Website, the Official State Railway of Thailand Website for more detailed information including Fare Prices. Do also visit A Man In Seat 61’s Guide to Train Travel in Thailand.

  
  

How to Go Around Bangkok – By Sky Train, MRT & Ferry

If you want to go around Bangkok, taking the MRT, BTS and Ferry seems the better way. With Bangkok Traffic getting to your destination takes longer than using Public Transportation but of course you will do some walking.

If you will be using the BTS a lot in one day, get the Day pass for Baht 140. You can ride all you can from 6am to 12mn. If it is the MRT that you will be using the Day Pass is Baht 120. And if you will be using a lot of the ferry a Day Pass costs Baht 150.

BTS One-Day Pass Baht 140

MRT One Day Pass Baht 120

Chao Phraya Tourist Boat Baht 150

BTS – Bangkok’s Skyway is composed of 2 Lines. The Sukhumvit Line (Mo Chit – Bearing) and the Silom Line (National Stadium – Bang Wa).

What You can see Here.

Sukhumvit (Mo Chit – Bearing) Line

• Mo Chit (N8) – Chatuchak Park, Chatuchak Weekend Market
• Saphan Kwai (N7) – Sam Sen Nai Philatelic Museum
• Victory Monument (N3) – Victory Monument, Fashion Mall, Santiphab Park, Century Movie Plaza, Tops Supermarket
• Phaya Thai – Airport Link
• Ratchathewi – Asia Hotel, Vie Hotel, Evergreen Place Hotel
• Siam – Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Central World, Siam Kempinski Hotel, Centara Grand
• Chit Lom – Intercontinental Hotel, Holiday Inn
• Phloenchit – Plaza Athenee, Novotel Bangkok Fenix
• Asok – Benchakitti Park, Park Plaza, Sheraton, Westin, Sofitel