Isla Shekhina: An island in a lake on a mountain

Location: Cavinti, Laguna Province, Philippines

Just discovered a unique and  little-known retreat from families and groups– an island in a lake on a mountain.

Isla Shekhina is a pearl on Lake Lumot, nestled in Cavinti, Laguna, in the Sierra Madre Mountain Range.

“Your paradise for the moment is just three hours away from the city.

Think of it – your own 3,000 square meter island for the weekend in the clear waters of Lake Lumot, Cavinti, Laguna.

Go boating, fishing, wading, strolling, bird-watching, star-gazing, isle-hopping or just meditating and counting your breath slowly while viewing blessed Mt. Banahaw in the distance. If you are a certified swimmer, you will enjoy doing laps on the eastern side of the island.”

I did check the website at http://islashekhina.angelfire.com and fell in love with the place immediately.  Isla Shekhina is like no other regular resort.  It’s very private, and allows for great communing with nature. Amenities are sparse, but then that’s the beauty of the experience, right. One can sleep in the 4-person cabin, or sleep under the stars, in tents or in the gazebo. Electricity is available 4 hours in the night, enough to charge your cellphone, or check mail on your laptop. Torches light your way the rest of the night.

What to do on Isla Shekhina? Swim in the freshwater lake, catch fresh fish for your lunch in the open lake, run around with the2  resident pet dogs, count the stars and constellations, practice your yoga or taichi exercises, watch the grass grow, contemplate on your life achievements,  “stare in amazement as the rising moon’s reflection becomes a pillar of light that breaks nto a million shards across the lake.” Of course work-a-holics will also surely have fun conducting mini-workshops on the island.

Suggest you bring you own pillows and beddings, sweater or jacket, flashlight, fishing rod, swim wear and towels, food supplies, a bible or your spirituality book.

Visit Isla Shekhina website to whet your appetite for a simple outdoors retreat, which is only a 4-hour ride from Metro Manila, via the zigzag road of Rizal Province through Pelilia and Paete, or via the SLEX through Los Banos and Pagsanjan in Laguna Province.  A motorized banca provides round trip transfers from docking to house,which is just 3 min.away from the barangay.

Wonders of North Vietnam

8-day package tour, starting at $295 per person
Tour with the best attractions in the North like Hanoi, Halong, Sapa, Ninh Binh

Day 1: Arrival Hanoi

On arrival, you are picked up by a tour guide for transfer to hotel.  If time permits, we embark on a cyclo for a short excursion through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places.  Overnight at Hanoi.

Meal: Dinner

Day 2: Hanoi-Halong

After breakfast, depart for Halong City.  Along the way, we make a stop over at Hai Duong province to observe embroidery-making women at work.  On arrival, we embark on a boat ride for an exploration of the legendary Halong Bay.  This exciting five-hour cruise will provide us a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery blending with the sky and some 3,000 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clean and emerald water.  Thelimestone Karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves.  Visit the amazing Thien Cung and Dau Go grottoes. After a seafood lunch on board, we return to Halong City.  Free afternoon to discover Halong City at leisure. Overnight in Halong City.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Day 3: Halong – Hanoi

Enjoy sunrise at Halong City. Free day until transfer to Hanoi.  Visit the Lake of Returning Sword and Ngoc Son Temple. Enjoy a famous Hanoi water puppets show before dinner. Tranfer to train station for Lao Cai. Overnight in train cabin.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Day 4: Lao Cai – Sapa

7:30 am arrive in Lao Cai, pick up at Lao Cai station for transfer to Sapa.  Breakfast and shower in hotel before the trip starts.  An 8-km on the rim of a deep valley, followed by 30-minutes walk take you to the so-called rattan bridge and the ethnic Ta Van village where the Dzao people dwell, followed by a walking visit to Cat Cat village. Lunch at a local restaurant.  Dinner and overnight in Sapa.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 5: Ta Van – Giang Ta Chai – Sapa

Start the trip after breakfast, heading up to Giang Ta Chai village of the Red Zdao tribe, where lunch will be served.  Visit amazing scenery and beautiful waterfall inthe afternoon before going up to the main road where you will be picked up by motorbike/jeep. Rid eback to Sapa, and picture taking along the way through the fabulous valley of Sapa. Overnight in Sapa.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Day 6: Sapa-Bac Ha – Lao Cai – Hanoi

Upon leaving Sapa, we set off on our scenic drive through theborder town f Lao Cai to the colorful Sunday Market at Bac Ha (we change route on other days). Tjis market also attracts a wide variety of ethnic minority groups including the Variegated Hmong, Dao, Phu La, La Chi and Tay. They still retain their age-old cultural traditions and are recognizably distinct from each other by their dress.  The experience of this congregation is colorfuland unique.  After themarket, we enjoy a walk around the area, visiting the Hmong King’s former residence,  and Ban Pho where the villagers ,ake the potentlocal maize alcohol.  In mid-afternoon, you are transferred to Lao Cai train station for a night train journey to Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: Hanoi-Ninh Binh

After breakfast,depart for Ninh Binh, the so-called “inland Halong Bay”.  We visait Hoa Lu, the ancient capital inthe 10th century and relax on a rowing boat along Tam Coc. Return and overnigh in Hanoi.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Day 8: Hanoi – departure

After breakfast, enjoy a half day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Comples, containing the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh, the Preidential Palace, and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts.  The complex also comprises the One Pillar Pagoda whose origins date back to the foundation of Hanoi.  After lunch, depart fro airport for flight back home.

Meals: breakfast, lunch.
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Includes:

- Hotel accommodation as specific or similar in twin sharing
- All transportations in program include train ticket
- All entrance fees
- English or French speaking guide
- All meals as per program

Excludes:

- Drinks, except otherwise mentioned
- International flight and international airport tax on departure
- Insurance
- Personal expenses & Tips
- Visa fee

HOW TO BOOK THIS TRIP ONLINE

1. Proceed to the HopVietTravel site.  Click on the Wonders of the North Vietnam button for tour details. Select number of persons in group. Click on the button Book Tour.
2. Book your flights to and from Hanoi, Vietnam at mydreamtravels for the best possible rates.  Select arrival in Hanoi no later than lunch, if possible,  to avail of the short excursion around the old quarter. Select departure time for after lunch, if possible.

Or email mydreamtravels.gttrends.net for assistance.

CHECK OUT MORE VIETNAM PACKAGES AVAILABLE
Vietnam Holy Places Tour

Save on your travel and earn income.
Be your own travel agent.

Dictionary of colloquial Filipino

The Philippines boasts of a highly literate population, and one that actually speaks English.  No less than 96% of Filipinos anywhere around the 7100+ islands can understand and speak English, a result of the Education Department’s stress on English as a medium of instruction.

Yet because of the predominant use of the national language, Filipino, one can expect Filipinos to understand and speak at least 2 languages plus one, two  or more of the 100+ regional dialects. Expectedly, over the decades of migration to the cities, several sub-languages are evolving, which leave even some locales wondering how best to use the words.

Yet, the sub-languages seem to be the colloquial Filipino, a creative, sometimes funny, fusion of English, Filipino, Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampanga, Ilongo, and several other dialects.

Surely passing travelers can safely survive the tour with English spoken clearly and slightly slower than normal.

For natural and alien residents, a working knowledge of the colloquial language can work wonders, especially when trying to negotiate a bargain.

Fortunately,  there’s an online reference (and a book) to refer to, for those oft-intriguing bastardized words, phrases and idioms that local Filipinos use — the better for our immigrant and foreign-based Pinoys to understand our language and culture, and for foreigners in the country to finally learn to speak some colloquial Filipino.

Ano ba ‘yon? Ano ba ‘yan? http://www.anoyon.com is authored by Cynch Sta. Maria-Baron, and enriched by contributions of family, friends, and the general public. The site is a great reference for conversational Filipino, at least for use of some phrases, though it is a continuing work in progress. As I went through the long list, I actually learned a word or two, perhaps less commonly used, but nonetheless a part of colloquial Tagalog. I see the site evolving with thousands of additional words and phrases, corrections and adjustments, as well as a section on sample usage of these words, phrases and idioms.

The book version of the website was  launched November 15, 2008, and available at all major bookstores.

Travel-size toiletries facilitate check-in

If you make frequent short trips by air, and want to be able to carry your personal care items with you on the plane, make sure to bring along TSA-approved travel size versions of your favorite toiletry/personal care products. This will enable you to breeze through airport security checkpoints.

As you may already know, the TSA now requires that any personal care items, such as liquids, gels, and aerosols, must meet certain requirements in order to be taken through an airport security checkpoint–what they call the 3-1-1 rule. Specifically,

• 3-ounce bottle or less (by volume)
• 1 quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag
• 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin

But travel-size versions of my favorite toiletries are so difficult to find, right.  We have discovered a company that sells such items online and delivers to your home or your destination.  Check out the items at TravelToiletryKits.com, which are under 3 ounces and easily meet the 3-1-1 requirements.

They carry travel-size versions of popular brands of baby care products, deodorants/ antiperspirants and body sprays, hair styling gels, hairspray, shampoo and conditioners, toothpaste, mouthwash, denture adhesives, shaving cream, after shave lotion, skin creams, hand lotions, moisturizers, body wash and body powders, foot care products, insect repellants, lip balms, sunscreen and suntan lotion, as well as items such as nasal spray, feminine deodorant spray, nail polish remover, makeup remover, and antibacterial wipes, as well as a selection of aromatherapy inhalers.  And if they don’t have what you need, just let them know. They can probably get it for you.

The available brands offered by TravelToiletryKits.com include Johnson & Johnson, Mennen, Dove, Right Guard, Old Spice, Secret, Soft & Dri, Ban, Tom‘s of Maine, Pantene, Tresemme, Breck, Head & Shoulders, EO, Sunsilk, FDS, Visine, Choraseptic, Cutex, Ponds, Crest, Colgate, Scope, Listerine, Fixodent, Aquafresh, Sensodyne, Arm & Hammer, Aramis, Addidas, Pierre Cardin, Chaps, Gillette, Nivea, Gold Bond, Pharmacopia, Caress, Old Spice, Purell, DrScholl’s, Blistex, Vaseline, Coppertone, Chapstick, Lubriderm, and Aveeno, among others.

And with every order, they will include a FREE TSA approved one-quart Zip Top clear plastic bag and pack your travel size items into the bag for you.

They also ship your travel-size personal care items directly to your hotel or destination, if you enter all the details of date and address in the comments box at the online checkout.

TravelToiletryKits.com accepts via Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discovery, and Paypal.

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We have just discovered an online store that sells ultra-light-weight face and beach towels that can fit inside a pocket.  Lightload Towels actually takes the load off the trouble of packing towels for those nice walks and hikes, as well as those extended lounging at the beach.  We understand that  these towels are easy-to dispose, environment-friendly, and are available at many stores in the US. We’ll talk about this ingenious travel essential soon.

Travel agents take holidays breaks but our search site doesn’t

Storefront travel agencies will be closed for the holiday season, yet GTTrends mydreamtravels continues to serve you 24/7  at our travel search site http://mydreamtravels.gttrends.com

Should you need to book any special travel packages in Asia for Dec 24 to Jan 3, please contact us now.

To allow its corporate staff the time off to celebrate the Christmas season and be with their family and friends, the GTTrends Corporate offices have scheduled non-working holidays.

The GTTrends International Headquarters located in California, USA, will be closed on December 24, 25, 26, 2008, and January 1, 2009.

The GTTrends Asia-Pacific Headquarters located n Pasig City, Philippines, will be closed  from December 24, 2008 through January 1, 2009 (which have also been declared official holidays by the Philippine Government).

Both offices will be open until December 23, 2008 for all special travel  arrangements  and transactions, such as Asian package tours, passport and visa applications, group bookings, and other services which are facilitated through direct office.

However, all travelers may continue to directly access, search & book their flights, hotels, cars, and packages through the GTTrends search engine anytime 24/7m even though offices are closed.

Application for membership as Associate Travel Agents are also available directly at the GTTrends Business website.

Please direct any concerns and questions
mydreamtravels@gttrends.net

How to get through the line faster

Article from the Transportation Security Administration, US Department of Homeland Security

Passengers are asked to bear in mind the following advice to help make their passage through the airport as efficient and comfortable as possible.

Pack Smart

• Pack an organized carry-on bag using layers – a layer of clothes, then electronic, more clothes, and then any heavier items. This will help transportation security officers see what’s in your bag. Innocent items can actually appear to be potential threats in an X-ray image, simply by the way they’re packed.

• Do not pack oversized electronics (laptops, full-size video game consoles, DVD players and video cameras that use cassettes) in your checked baggage when possible. However, please be advised that you will be required to remove these items from your carry-on bag and submit them separately for x-ray screening. Click here for “checkpoint friendly” laptop bag procedures. Small electronics, such as iPods, can remain in your carry-on.
• Prepare your 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag of liquids before arriving at the airport. For more information on liquid rules: 3-1-1 for carry-ons, click here.
• Pack all your coats and jackets in your checked baggage when possible. All coats and jackets must go through the X-ray machine for inspection.
• Do not wrap gifts. If a security officer needs to inspect a package, they may have to unwrap your gift. Please wait until you’ve reached your final destination to wrap gifts.
• Film. Undeveloped film should go in your carry-on bag. You will able to declare film that is faster than 800-speed to a transportation security officer for physical inspection to avoid being X-rayed.
• When in doubt, leave it out. If you’re not sure about whether you can bring an item through the checkpoint, put it in your checked bag or leave it at home. Click here to see the list of prohibited items.

Dress the Part

Transportation security officers have to identify any metal that is detected at the checkpoint. If the metal detector alarms when you pass through, you will be required to undergo additional screening. This includes a hand-wand and pat-down inspection.

Items that might set off an alarm on the metal detector include:

• Keys, loose change, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs)
• Heavy jewelry (including pins, necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, earrings, body piercings, cuff links, lanyards or bolo ties)
• Clothing with metal buttons, snaps or studs
• Metal hair barrettes or other hair decoration
• Belt buckles
• Under-wire bras

Body Piercings. Certain metal body piercings may cause you to alarm at the metal detector, which will result in you getting additional screening. If additional screening is required, you may ask to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down search.
Head Coverings. You are permitted to wear head coverings and religious garments during the screening process. You may be directed to additional screening if your headwear or clothing (religious or otherwise) is loose fitting or large enough to hide prohibited items. For more information, click here.
Shoes. Travelers are required to remove their shoes before entering the walk-through metal detector at all U.S. airports and put them through the x-ray machine for inspection. This allows officers to see if the shoes have been tampered with in any way.

Have the Following Ready

The items you’ll need to present to a Transportation Security Officer at the checkpoint are:

• Boarding pass
• Identification (click here to see a list of acceptable IDs)

We encourage each adult traveler to keep his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID available until exiting the security checkpoint (children are not required to show identification).

If you do not have identification (if it is lost, stolen, etc.), you will be required to provide the document checking officer with some information to help verify your identity. This will slow down your screening process and will result in additional screening.

Hassle-Free Security Tips

• Arrive on time. Arrival time recommendations vary by airline and day of travel, so check with your carrier. Remember to give yourself adequate time to check your baggage and move through security.
• Wear slip-on shoes. This will allow you to take them off and put them back on quickly, without having to sit down.
• Pets. Please remove all animals from their carrying cases and send the case through the X-ray machine. Hold your pet in your arms and proceed through the metal detector.
• Children. Please take your infants and children out of baby carriers and strollers and take them through the metal detector with you. Strollers and baby carriers go through the X-ray machine with your bags. If possible, collapse your stroller before you get to the metal detector. For more information traveling with children, click here.
• Think before you speak. Belligerent behavior, inappropriate jokes and threats will not be tolerated. They will result in delays and possibly missing your flight. Local law enforcement may be called as necessary.

Helpful Videos

Make your screening experience as smooth as possible. Select a video to help you understand the screening process.

• Step-By-Step Screening (WMV, 3 MB)
• Female business traveler (WMV, 3 MB)
• Male business traveler (WMV, 3 MB)
• Traveling with a baby or small child (WMV, 3 MB)
• Travelers with special needs (WMV, 3 MB)

Korea-Unique Tourism Plan Unveiled

By Kim Rahn
Staff Report, Korea Times

Royal palaces will be open to visitors and tour programs involving traditional and eastern religious cultures will be developed in a government effort to develop more “Korean-style” tourism programs.

The government announced a long-overdue plan to develop Korea’s unique cultural, historical, and ecological resources into tourism attractions at a meeting of the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness and 18 related ministries and government organizations on  Friday.

Restricted areas in five major places in downtown Seoul — Gyeongbok, Changdeok, Changgyeong, Gyeonghee and Deoksu– will be opened to the public one at a time in 2010.  Also a package ticket for admission to all five and a {DA guide will be available.

Geongbok Palace will be a venue to introduce Korea’s court ceremonies, while other various traditional ceremonies and traditional customs will be reenacted at other palaces.

The government will also develop religious-related programs such as temple stays, lotus lantern festivals, sutra recitals, and Confucian school stays. A Zen Buddhism center will be set up in central Seoul.

…more on the story from Korea Times

Southeast Asia Tours till Jan 2009

GLOBAL TRAVEL TRENDS
CST # 2061856-40
PRESENTS WEEKLY TRAVEL OFFERS

You can also e-mail Victoria B. Cabrera at vikkycab@skydsl.com.ph
or proceed to book directly at http://mydreamtravels.gttrends.com

Free Room Upgrades, Tours, Meals & More

Bangkok & Phuket, Thailand
Radisson Hotel Bangkok & Banthai Beach Resort
Breakfast Daily, City &
Temple Tour and BONUS Room Upgrade
7 Nights from $1,415

Book by 1/31/2009

Bangkok, Thailand & Siem Reap, Cambodia
Radisson Hotel Bangkok & Allson Angkor Hotel
Breakfast Daily, Cooking Class,
Tour and BONUS Room Upgrade
7 Nights from $1,639

Book by 1/31/2009

Bangkok, Thailand & Hanoi, Vietnam
Royal Orchid Sheraton & Sheraton Hanoi Hotel
Breakfast Daily, Thai Dinner & Dance, 2-Day Cruise and BONUS Room Upgrade
6 Nights from $3,439

Book by 1/31/2009

Kota Kinabalu & Kuala Lumpure, Malaysia
Le Meridien Kota Kinabalu & Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
Breakfast Daily, Kiulu River Rafting, Batu Caves Tour and BONUS Room Upgrade
7 Nights from $2,015

Book by 1/31/2009

The Westin Resort Nusa Dua & Alila Ubud, Nusa Dua Elephant Trek & Eco Trails Soft Trek in Ubud, 7 nights from $2,265

Romance & Honeymoon Vacations

Las Vegas
Excalibur Hotel & Casino
2 for 1 Spa pass
3 Nights from $225
Book by 12/31/2008

Riviera Maya
Barcelo Maya Colonial & Tropical
All-Inclusive Honeymoons
4 Nights from $795
Book by 4/22/2009

Aruba
Renaissance Marina Hotel
Save up to 50% in Aruba
4 Nights from $825
Book by 12/31/2008

Aruba
The Westin Resort, Aruba
Save up to 50% in Aruba
4 Nights from $989
Book by 12/31/2009

OTHER EXCITING VACATION PACKAGES

Cancun
Great Parnassus Resort & Spa, Reduced Rates, 3 nights from $489

Quebec
Fairmont Tremblant, 4th Night Free, 4 nights from $755

St. Kitts
Bird Rock Beach Hotel, 5th Night Free, 5 nights from $875

Terms & Conditions: Prices are per person, based on double occupancy accommodations and round-trip midweek air from lowest priced U.S. gateway (unless otherwise noted). Airfare for other departure dates may be higher. Government fees/taxes are additional. Single, triple, and children’s rates, if available, on request. Prices are valid for new bookings only, subject to availability, may change without notice, and are not retroactive. Blackouts, peak period surcharges, cancellation charges, and other restrictions may apply. Air fuel surcharge is included in pricing. September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 is additional. U.S. departure taxes for international travel of up to $96 and PFCs of up to $16 may be additional and payable prior to departure. Foreign departure taxes of up to $41 may also be additional and payable directly to the appropriate foreign airport authority or prior to departure depending on destination. Advertised prices already reflect savings and free nights when applicable. Some package prices are based on the lowest available airfare at the time of pricing and may be subject to availability and change. Not responsible for errors or omissions in the content of the offers displayed here. Prices valid from U.S. departure cities only.

Prices may vary for your departure city and dates of travel.

VIKKY CABRERA
ATA 3386334
GLOBAL TRAVEL TRENDS
CST # 2061856-40

Great Madrid Vacation Packages – Airfare Included

Great Madrid Vacation Packages – Airfare Included

High Tech Cliper Gran Via Hotel
High Tech Cliper Gran Via Hotel is placed in the city centre, just on the corner of Gran Via St, an area full of life and activities, from which it is possible to accede without the need of transport to the most important cultural monuments.
Standard Package Price from $2,230.40 USD per person

Petit Palace Ducal Chueca Hotel
The Petit Palace Ducal Chueca Hotel is located in an old palace dated from the end of the nineteenth Century, it is situated in the city centre, in Hortaleza St on the corner of the “Gran Via St” from which you can get to the most important areas and cultural monuments by foot.
Standard Package Price from $2,293.40 USD per person

Go to mydreamtravels.gttrends.com. CLICK ON PACKAGES
This week’s package prices are based on departure from La Guardia.

5 free flights up for grabs from Cebu Pacific

Smile, the in-flight magazine of Cebu Pacific, is giving away one round trip ticket each for Macau, Bangkok, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, and Osaka. Flights emanate from Manila or Clark.

Simply fill in a survey about inflight magazines.

The contest in open to all passengers of Cebu Pacific flying from January 1 to February 28, 2009. Only one winner will be chosen per destination.

For more information, visit the Smile site

For your BOOKINGS /RESERVATIONS, contact

Vikky Bondoc-Cabrera
GTTrends ATA 3396334
Email: mydreamtravels@gttrends.net or vikkycab@skydsl.com.ph
Mobile: 09286148600  Landline: 02 4559230