Going to Turkey from Riyadh for Filipinos

Turkey is a place of history. If you love to read books, it is the home of the Byzantine empire, Constantinopole who spread Christianity, Roman empire and the longest reigning empire called Ottoman. It is also close to Europe and Asia because it is located in the middle of Europe and Asia. Since I was not able to reach Europe yet, I think this is a great place for me to start my journey.

 If you already have Schengen, UK or US visa, you don't need to go to any travel agency to fix your papers. Instead, you can apply for an e-visa.

Unlike the other embassies, you need to take an appointment and visit their embassy directly. However, in applying for a Turkish visa, the embassy will refer you to an agency. They will just get your name and number and wait for one to two days until one agency  calls you. Amaani Travel and Tours is the agency who fixed our papers. It is located in Askan Kuwaiti, Dhabab Street, Building 14, near Lulu Murabba.

Requirements for Turkish Visa through Amaani Travels:

Payment is 500SR. This includes 150SR of insurance, which is a requirement in traveling to Turkey.

After payment and requirements has been settled, wait for their call after 2 weeks to get your stamped passport. Tip: If in case they were not able to print your insurance, wait until they print you a copy. In my case, they told me that they will send the copy of insurance in my e-mail but after 2 months of calling them almost everyday, no copy was sent until I came back from Turkey to Riyadh. Luckily, nothing terrible happened to me. My friend though was able to get an insurance immediately after getting the stamped passport.




Overall expenses (in SR) in 7days:

2075 - plane ticket to Ataturk Airport (Gulf Air). Because the dates were covering Hajj vacation, it is more expensive than the normal dates. The common fare, however, is only around 1000+ SR.
200 - bus fare from Istanbul to Cappadocia
617 - Cappadocia tours (Rose Valley, Hot air balloon ride, and the Green Valley Tour)
2000 (est.) - souvenirs, food and hotel, trains and taxi fare
TOTAL:  4817SR

Tip: If you want to save from hotel accommodation, better ride a night bus to Cappadocia. It will save you a lot of money since traveling will take 12 hours. Therefore, we chose to use the time at night in sleeping on a bus rather than a hotel. Overall, our stay were only 3 days in three different hotels.

Generally, my visit to Turkey was an amazing and breath-taking experience with its stunning views and amazing culture combined with a mixture of both Muslim and Christian religion. This is also a must for people who want to see the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Cappadocia. I want to visit this country again in the future because there are other places that I was not able to see due to the lack of time and the long travel. FYI, there is a ferry ride to Greece from Turkey, which will take 2 hours. Therefore, you can apply for both Schengen and Turkish visa in Riyadh at the same time.

Going to Bohol from Oslob vs. from the City

When we went to Cebu, our itinerary is mainly in Oslob because we are enthralled by the huge appearance of whale sharks. Whale sharks are massive type of fishes that is inhabiting Oslob. Other than Oslob, Cebu, they can also be found in Sorsogon in Bicol.

Swimming with the whale sharks early in the morning (6am) is a very rewarding experience for me. I learned that they are kind and gentle. They are very close to fishermen because fishermen feed them when there are visitors so that the visitors can encounter the gargantuan sharks. I asked the fisherman if they feed them everyday but he said that this happens only when they have visitors so they will not be dependent on them.

The next day, we planned to left Cebu and go to Bohol to meet our family waiting in Flower Garden Resort. There is a boat from Oslob to Bohol, which takes three hours of travel. Some may ask, what are the pros and cons of traveling from Oslob? Here are the answers:

1. Price: From Cebu city, boat ride is only 200 php plus the bus ride to the city, which is 140 php. Total is 340. From Oslob, fare is surprisingly thrice more expensive at 1000 php.
2. Location: For the location, port in the city is located near the church of Sto, Nino. In Oslob, boats are located near the cemetery in the famous Heritage Park, which is a walk away. 
3. Time: Obviously, if you are in a rush, it is better to ride from Oslob than going to the city because traveling to the city from Oslob will take 3-4 hours. It only means that the 1000 php that you are paying is for less time travel. When it comes to time constraint, the boat from Oslob is better because you do not need to go back to Cebu to go to Bohol. However, if you are not in a hurry and your time is longer then I would suggest to go back to Cebu city because fare is cheaper and the ride is safer. The famous ferry in the city is OceanJet, which is bigger and safer than the boat in Oslob.

Therefore, ride from Oslob if you are in a rush or you don't want to travel for 3 hours, but if you have a tight budget and want to be safe go to the city.

Tip: If waves are rough, go to the city because they use ferries to reach Bohol, whereas small boats are used in Oslob. The boat in Oslob can accommodate 50 persons.

How to go there: From Sacha's resort, walk towards the famous Heritage park. From the park, walk towards the cemetery. Filipinos are hospitable so you can ask them if you're a bit confused of the location.

Boat in Oslob

A Review of Sacha's Resort

View outside the resort

Sacha's Resort is a resort located in Oslob Cebu. It is one of our choices because Tripadvisor has a lot of good reviews about it with its cheap accommodation.

It is a family-run business owned by a Filipina and her German (I am not sure) husband. Guess where the name came from? It is the name of their son, Sacha. You heard it right. He is a male.

This place is very close to the famous whale sharks (30 mins away), Aguinid falls (40 minutes away) and Kawasan falls (one hour away). Additionally, it is a 10-minute walk to the prominent and wonderful Heritage park.

How to go there? From CBST (Cebu South Bus Terminal), there is a bus that goes directly to Oslob. The whole travel will take 3 hours from Cebu city and the bus will pass directly at Sacha's resort. However, because we do not know that it will pass the resort, we asked the driver to alight at the tricyle terminal near the resort. Fare to Oslob from Cebu city is 140php.

What do they offer? They have swimming pool, which has a great view facing the ocean and you can sit outside while waiting for the sunrise or sunset. They also serve breakfast for 125 php plus but I would suggest to walk near the market because there are a lot of street foods offering grilled fish, barbecue and grilled eggplant and sea weeds. It is totally delicious, cheaper and healthier than the foods in the resort. The street food market is near the Heritage park and is open in the morning and at night. Also, they have a driver who can bring you to places I mentioned above that will cost 600php each. Because we are only 4 in the van, we paid 2400 php, Tip: This is a bit expensive because places are near the resort. You can ride a bus instead because it is abundant in the area.

Room: The room that we have stayed has 2 large beds good for 4 persons, air-conditioned and has a bathroom inside. It is simple and if you are a backpacker it is great for a price of 750php each night.

Verdict: 7/10
The staff is kind and hospitable. During our stay, there is a slight rain shower making us apprehensive to leave Cebu to Bohol because we need to ride the boat directly from Oslob. Because of this, the staff from Sacha called the seafarers and asked if the travel is safe. Luckily, they informed us that we can ride a boat from Oslob. The resort is well maintained because they have a number of staff in the resort. The room, pool and bathroom is clean. On the negative side, I think their tour and food is a bit expensive.

Going to Al Khobar

Who said that females cannot travel in Saudi Arabia? As a female, it doesn't apply in my case because I believe that traveling is a great outlet for me to stay happy and enjoy life to the fullest even if I am in Saudi Arabia. You are not a prisoner and this is a chance to see the beauty of Saudi and explore the wonder of their culture and traditions. Because we have a week of vacation during Ramadan, me and my friends decided to go to Al Khobar while staying with a family friend.

Al Khobar is located in the Eastern province in Saudi Arabia and is very well known for its beach and slow pace of life vibe. It is also a few hours away from Bahrain. There are only 2 malls in the place but they are huge and females are more open when it comes to hair covers. FYI, Riyadh is very strict in hair covering but in Al Khobar women don't cover their hair. Another thing that I noticed is that families were becoming open in taking pictures publicly. Because I worked in Riyadh, I easily distinguished the closed cultural differences between the 2 places.

Additionally, you can also visit the prominent Judas cave, which is about 4 hours away from Al Khobar.  Here are a few questions that most of you would love to tackle:

Is it safe to go to Al Khobar especially for first-time travelers?  Yes, definitely. I am also a first timer in Al Khobar and I enjoyed the whole travel. There are x-ray machines for luggage and passengers are checked so this would look like you are just in an airport.

What does the train station like? Train station in Saudi is like a mini airport. There is a waiting area for passengers and both males and females are combined in the lounge. When we arrived, there are no queues, making it easier for all of us to show our online ticket.

Tip: Be sure to book your travel early so as not to cause any delays especially during holidays. Bring a baon (biscuits, chips, etc,) with you so you will not need to buy foods inside the train. Also, you cannot buy foods during stopovers because it is just a quick stop.

Train station in Al Khobar

Train vs. Bus: 

TRAIN: Traveling by train will take 4 hours, whereas bus will take 5 hours. Inside the train, there is a table for each group. A group can be divided into 4 with 2 in front of each other. It is air-conditioned. Therefore, it is very comfortable for the passengers. There are crews inside, mainly Filipinos who are very accommodating. They have a push cart  with food inside it. They offer it to passengers just like flight attendants in planes. It is not free but you can ask them to reheat food or ask for a cup of hot water if you have your own instant noodles. During my travel, my great worry in Ramadan is if I can still eat food publicly because it is a month of fasting. However, I noticed that they are still selling foods and some people are eating inside the train. There are also comfort rooms, which I found clean.

There are 2 stopovers during the whole travel but it is just short and did not hinder the length of travel.

BUS: For the bus, we used it as a mode of transportation on our way home to Riyadh. This is because train booking is already full. As I have said earlier, traveling will take 5 hours even though there was no stopover. The whole ride is not comfortable because the air-con is too weak. I believe that the Saptco bus that we rode is already old. Some passengers complained of the heat but the conductor said that the AC was in full blast.

Pros: Because we booked for VIP, foods are inclusive of the payment. The box that they have given consists of a bread, juice, water, peanut and a tissue. Male and female are also combined but females are in front, whereas men are at the back.

Verdict: Trains are better. Obviously, I would opt for train because of the fact that traveling is swift and more comfortable than bus. Make sure to book round trip earlier online so that  you can ride a train back home. In our case, we are not sure yet of the date of going back to Riyadh that is why we booked only for Riyadh to Al Khobar. Price for the train is almost the same with bus, which is 140 riyals round trip. Install the Saudi Railway App or visit their website for booking and management.

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Flower Garden Resort in Bohol

Flower Garden is not literally a garden full of flowers. However, the resort has a lot of plants making it attractive to the eyes of the guests and has a pleasing ambience. Although its amenity is only a swimming pool, my stay became memorable and ecstatic mainly because I am with my family. The resort has a cozy feel and looks like a hobbit house. Again, it is owned by a different nationality with his 2 kids in the resort.


We stayed there for 3 days and 2 nights. Because our group consists of 11 members, we divided ourselves into 3 different houses namely House I, House II and House V. House I can accommodate 3 persons with 1 queen size bed and a single bed. House II, on the other hand has 1 room downstairs and 1 room upstairs with the same design like that of House I. This can accommodate 5 persons. Lastly, House V has no stairs but has 1 queen and a single bed.

House I and House II has a kitchen consisting of cooking pots, plates, cups and utensils. This is very great for groups who want to cook their own food and is saving money from the expensive dishes in the restaurant. The refrigerator has water and beer inside. If you want to get one, they will charge you for the items that you purchased. As you can see, there is a paper with tables for the items that you took. Tip though, water is cheaper here than in the market. A gallon of water is only 70 pesos. There is also a dishwashing liquid, and this made me realize that the owner has anticipated all the needs of his guests. Amazing right?

Location: It is located at the back of Henann resort and is very close to many restaurants such as Ronduvio (Italian restaurant), Korean restaurants and a lot more.

Verdict: 10/10.

I felt like I am just at home with this resort. All simple things that a guest needs are provided by the owner such as hanging area for wet clothes, money vault, dishwashing liquid and utensils. Additionally, staff cleans the house everyday and adds tissues in the bathroom. We spent 600 php each person per night, and I think this is a very affordable price for guests.

If given the chance to visit Bohol again, I would definitely choose Flower Garden because it is affordable, clean and well maintained by the owner,

Ronduvio Cafe and Restaurant: A Review of My Favorite Italian Restaurant

Have you ever been to Panglao Beach? If you want to savor the taste of  Italian cuisine, try going to Ronduvio Cafe and Restaurant.

Ronduvio is a couple-owned food business located at the back of Henann Resort. We are a walk away from this restaurant because we stayed at Flower Garden Resort. Before we left Bohol, we ate at this restaurant to experience the taste of their distinct dishes. The owner is an Italian married to a Filipina, According to them, all their ingredients are imported from Italy to make the flavor authentic to the taste buds of their Filipino customers. True, indeed that their dishes are scrumptious.

Foods that they Serve: They do not only serve Italian dishes but also Thai and Asian cuisine as well. We ordered Pad Thai and it was one of my favorite dishes because it is a mixture of a bit spicy, sweet and salty flavor. Although one of its main ingredient is the fish sauce, it doesn't stink or smell too fishy.

Other foods that I enjoyed is Carbonara because it doesn't have the usual milk. Instead, they used oil as the base sauce and egg whites, which made it lighter to the taste.

Tip: If you want to order a freshly baked pizza, order a few hours before you eat. However, if you really are craving for a pizza, they can offer you one. Anyway, they are also delicious and has a simple taste, which I loved.

Service: The owners are accommodating. The owner even offered an alcoholic drink for free after a meal. Waiting will not take a long time. We have waited for 10 minutes for the dish to be served and just right for our hungry stomach.

Price: Price is a bit expensive but they serve large dishes on a plate good enough for 2-3 persons. Our bill reached 3,000php good for 9 persons. We ordered 2 sets of Pad Thai and Carbonara, 2 pizzas, seafood pasta and 7 different shakes (Mango, Banana and Pineapple). Generally, all our orders are worth the price for a bulk of 9.

Verdict: 10/10

Cheapest Way to Reach Dubai from Riyadh

Remove the comfort and swift travel of reaching your dream destination, Dubai. Through SAPTCO (Saudi Public Transport Co.), people can now reach Dubai and Abu Dhabi with little spending. In addition to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, they also offer travel to Qatar, Dammam, Jeddah, Bahrain, etc.

SAPTCO is a 2 by 2-seater bus where women and family are seated in front while men are on the back area. It has 2 stopovers for you to go in the comfort room or eat for 20 minutes and another 2 stopovers in the border (exit to Riyadh and entry to Dubai).

EXPENSES:

1. Bus fare- 300SR (back and forth)
2. Exit and Re-entry Visa from Saudi- 200SR
3. Entry Visa to Dubai- 271SR

     TOTAL: 771SR

As compared to fare in the plane, which is around 800 to 1000SR, fare by bus is less than fifty percent cheaper. However, if time is too short for you since travel hours will take 14 hours, it is better to book plane earlier. In our case, travel time took 18 hours since there are delays in the border such as problem with my friend's passport, passengers who were not able to book their entry visa online, and officers who had random check on one of our co-passenger's belongings.

SAPTCO terminal station

The terminal of SAPTCO in Riyadh is located in Azizia Exit 19.

THINGS TO CONSIDER:

1. Book everything online. SAPTCO should be booked online. Don't forget to print hard copies of your booking as a proof. If you don't have a place to stay, then also book your hotel.
2. In order not to create delay in the border, book your entry visa online. Book it a month before you leave since it has expiration. The processing of visa will take 2-3 days but luckily our visa was sent a day after sending the documents. Make sure to send it before the holiday (e.g. Hajj or Ramadan) so as not to cause further delay. Furthermore, there are bus drivers and conductors asking for money when you don't have the visa so beware. This however is the case of passengers who were not able to book their entry visa to Dubai online. To apply visa online, click HERE.
3. Bring your passport and iqama (residence I.D.). The staff from the passport office allowed us to bring both documents since they know that we will travel to  Dubai and it is badly needed.

This is the longest ride I have ever been in Riyadh and all I can say is that it is safe. The ride may be long but I had a great experience and knowledge leaving Riyadh by land. My parents asked if it is safe since the journey takes a while but there are a lot of FIlipinos who will also go to Dubai and even on our way home, the conductor is a Filipino. Unleash those worries, pray, and have a safe journey!