Blog: The Beginning

I'm so gonna receive a lot of flak for my title again..well at least that's the feedback I got from my close friends for my previous post of I Didn't Chose Saipan, Saipan Chose Me. Yeah real friends talk crap about each other lol

Anyway you know how famous movies or books are all about producing/publishing sequels after sequels when they reach the end of the storyline, they go back to the core i.e. prequel or the beginning of everything. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, X-Men or even horror movies such as Exorcist, Conjuring & Annabelle are all about prequels just to name a few. Ok, before this turn into a horrible horror story (I do like horror movies btw) what's really my point?

Maybe you can say that I'm about to reached the end of my storyline. I already decided from the very start to only post about my travels and adventures and not about my personal life. Yeah I'm a blogger but I'm a very private about my personal life. Contradicting right?lels As you can observed, I haven't done much travelling lately not because I don't want to but it's the situation that I have no control of. Clue: Working conditions, living abroad, etc. Believe me I'm dying to TRAVEL. This is the longest that I haven't travel that I miss walking inside the airport. I miss the thrill of catching my flight, running inside to get through the departure gate and securing a window seat overlooking the city or an island or just plain clouds because it just never gets old. Ok, this is not good. I might go panic flying again real soon lol.

Since I don't have any travel stories to share for now, let's go back to the very beginning. The reason why I started this blog was because I was going through 'something' that time. That something was..ok I'm not gonna deny it, it was too long ago anyway. I was heartbroken. You know that 'my-whole-world-is-falling-apart-I'm-about-to-go-crazy kinda thing. It sucks I know and it was definitely one of my darker days. I for one wanted to find an outlet, something to distract myself from the void I'm feeling. Obviously, travelling is not the answer because I always travel whether I'm happy or not. And at that time I was already travelling non-stop so travelling alone is not enough to make me feel whole again. It just so happen that I just came from Cebu that time together with my good friend Eva June doing some hard core island hopping when the idea hits me to start a blog out of nowhere. I was like Why not? I was already reading hundreds of blog even before so I'm familiar with how it works.

And that's how I started & publish my first post Malapascua, Kalanggaman & Bantayan Island which is by the way still the most visited out of all my entries. Looking back, I actually had a hard time finishing that post. My mind often wanders somewhere and I wasn't exactly in the right state of mind to do some writing. I had to force myself to sound upbeat and I guess anyone who reads my blog wouldn't even notice that I was going through something. I could have done it so much better to be honest but that's that. So right after I publish it came the support from my friends or so-called friends it doesn't really matter. They liked it! Well there will always be haters but I don't really care. It was the beginning of something else. And it sure did. I don't want to go into details anymore of how far I've come (choz!) because there's still a lot of things that I needed to figure out. What I want you to take away from this is that don't ever let anyone or anything dull your sparkle. It was ok to feel not ok, to feel broken, to feel everything & nothing at the same time. Cry if you must but you need to pick yourself up. I mean you just can't stay crying all day can you? :p Always change for the better, the only way to go from the bottom is UP right? Go light your spark, set fire to the dark, you'll see all the shadows lie behind you. (Ok kanta yan, it's not from me but it made perfect sense lol)

My U.S. Visa Journey Part 2 (221g administrative processing)

I will try to cover as much as I can about what is 221g administrative processing is all about because as I mentioned before it is one broad & lengthy topic. In fact when I was researching about it, I've read hundreds of blogs, forums, personal stories from various applicants who like me experienced it firsthand. I went as far as the embassy in London, Egypt, Cyprus & India just to name a few. For some reason, India had the most number of 221g cases or maybe people in India were really vocal about their experience & wanted to share it to the world which I was grateful for because surprisingly I learned a lot from them just by reading their forum discussion.

Disclaimer: I'm no visa expert nor an Immigration lawyer. Everything I've written here is based on my personal experience. Below is a list of possible answers to the most common questions regarding 221g. The reader must verify the information based on their specific situation.

1. What is 221(g) administrative processing?
There are three typical outcomes for visa applicants at U.S. embassies and consulates overseas: approval, outright refusal (denied), or refusal under 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). A 221(g) refusal – commonly referred to as “administrative processing” is the time period during which visa applications undergo additional review outside of the "normal" visa processing times. Before issuing a visa, consular officers review different databases to determine if information exists that may impact individual eligibility for a visa. A 'hit' on a particular database generally occurs if the consular officer requires additional documents or information from the applicant, the application requires closer scrutiny by the officer, the applicant requires additional background or security clearances (this list is non-exhaustive).

This is the 221(g) green form that the consul officer gave me after my interview

Administrative processing may involve a request by the consular officer for a Security Advisory Opinion (SAO) from the Department as to whether the applicant poses a risk to the United States. Before issuing the SAO, the Department may in turn consult with other government agencies, such as law enforcement and intelligence agencies. There are various types of SAOs, such as:

• Visas Pegasus is a namecheck program for Officials of Commonwealth of Independent States: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and potentially Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Georgia. The Visas Pegasus hold can be waived when certain diplomatic individuals are entering the U.S. to attend pre-ministerial, ministerial, pre-summit, summit, and White House meetings.

• Visas Horse is issued immediately after an A (diplomat or foreign government official), C-3 (FGO transit visa), or G (international organization or NATO) visa is issued.

• Visas Bear is issued immediately after a foreign government official, representative to international organization, or their families are issued a visa.

• Visas Eagle is a namecheck for nationals of Cuba, China, Iran, Vietnam, and Russia who are seeking a K non-immigrant visa, an immigrant visa, or refugee status. It is a pre-issuance check to make sure there is a biographic data match with the original application (e.g., no typos).

• Visas Hawk is a namecheck (U.S. criminal history) required for all immigrant visa applicants and derivatives. It checks names, aliases, and dates of birth for individuals not otherwise in the CLASS (Consular Lookout And Support System, which is interconnected with the Consular Consolidated Database) database. Unmarried applicants under 16 years are not supposed to be held due to the results of this check, without evidence supporting the date of birth being incorrect.

• Visas Mantis is a special check for individuals who will have access to specialized technology while in the U.S. or are knowledgeable or learning in a sensitive or critical field. This primarily impacts F-1 and J-1 nonimmigrants, especially from Cuba, China, Iran, and Russia, but can potentially impact anyone.

• Visas Merlin is the background check process for all refugees and asylees.

• Visas Viper is used to report known or suspected terrorists for inclusion in the relevant terrorist watch lists. Not all posts retain information on why they nominate individuals to these lists, which can be the basis for future false hits that are exceedingly difficult to remove.

• Visas Condor is additional screening and background checks based on country of birth, citizenship, or residency in the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” (T-7) list: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Syria; or from the “List of 26”: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Yemen. This is a mandatory stop list and allegedly takes 2 to 4 days but often take 3 to 6 weeks and if there is a hit who knows how long.

• Visas Donkey is the responsive SAO when there is a namecheck “HIT” or “IDENT”. A “HIT” is a near-match of which 98% are resolved in 120 days, or an “IDENT” which is an exact match and typically resolved within 30 days.

The term “administrative processing” may also be used in various other contexts, such as

(1) when the consular post has decided to perform an investigation to verify information or to check for fraud, on issues such as the legitimacy of a marriage, an applicant’s education or work experience, the authenticity of a marriage or birth certificate, etc;

(2) after the interview if the consular officer’s decision is chosen for review by a supervisor at the consulate; or

(3) after an applicant has withdrawn his or her visa application.

2. What happens during the visa interview if I get a 221g?
Hmmm as per what I read in numerous visa forums, the consular officer already knows whether to approve o deny an applicant even before he was interviewed since the documents/info you submitted online were already been scrutinized. But that does not necessarily mean that your interview with the consul doesn't count, if there are loopholes in the information you submitted and are inconsistent with your answer that's when the consul can decide to deny. It's the same case with 221g though. When the consul handed me a list of questionnaire in the middle of th interview, that was already his cue that a 221g is forthcoming. Although I do think he did me a little favor there since some applicants were handed a questionnaire via email and we all know that takes a lot of time. The consul wasn't that intimidating after all but I wish I knew that beforehand.

3. What are the chances that my visa is approved after being issued a 221g security check?
The possibility is quite high actually. Almost all the applicants who were issued a 221g form were eventually issued a visa.

4. How long does administrative processing last?
According to the Department of State (DOS), most administrative processing cases are resolved within 60 days after the visa interview. It is important to note that the time period for administrative processing is outside "normal" visa processing time. The administrative processing period will also vary based on individual circumstances of each case, it might vary anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months. Mine actually took almost 60 days to resolved and my case did not have any update (you can check your visa status here) until I reached the 45 days mark.
Tip: It's actually a good sign once the date of your visa status has been updated. It won't be long that it will change to "ISSUED" so hang in there :)

5. What should I do after I am placed in administrative processing?
Quite frankly NOTHING. I know it's frustrating but all you have to do is wait. It's specifically noted in the U.S. embassy website that "Before making inquiries about status of administrative processing, applicants or their representatives will need to wait at least 60 days from the date of interview or submission of supplemental documents, whichever is later."

But knowing myself I just can't sit still doing nothing. I just can't lol Which is why I've researched about 221g more than I ever did like my life depends on it and read more than I could until my head hurts from all the information. I think I took comfort from other 221g applicants who eventually received their visa within 60 days. Some received it only after 2 weeks but some remain pending for months, or even years. Every case is unique and each one is treated differently. Just imagine there are a hundred or so visa applicants each day and I don't think it will help if you contact the embassy every single day. As cliche as it may sounds, patience is really a virtue in this waiting period. 

Well to even complicate things, I received a SECOND 221g green form after 2 weeks. I thought that my case was already resolved since the 2go courier already texted me that my passport was already scheduled for delivery but lo and behold there was no visa stamped but yet another 221g green form attached on my passport. Bes bakit pati ang visa paasa na rin? If this isn't hopeless, then I don't know what is. The only thing that keeps me going (and not lean on the wall & slowly glide down crying lol) was that this sort of situation already happened to some applicants before (yup reading helps). It just means that my case will take time to resolved and it certainly did. Also, the embassy don't want to retain an applicant's passport for a longer period of time since it is a valid ID and applicants will probably use it for travelling purposes among others. But honestly I was panicking already. My agency was also wondering what happened to me since out of all the workers they hired bound to Saipan I'm the only one who got stuck in 221g administrative processing. 

So after 3 weeks of waiting in vain, I finally decided to email the embassy customer service. Not that it helps since all I got was a standard reply but it's better than doing nothing. It's still wasn't enough though since at that point I'm starting to question whether Saipan is really for me, whether I made the right decision or all of my effort will just go to waste. Doubts started creeping in. Days of sleepless nights. Researching in vain. Luggages half-pack & undone. I was living in limbo. I'm not sure where did I get the strength to hold onto & not give up. Perhaps it was through faith or maybe just my innate stubbornness that I really wanted Saipan more than anything. I did still keep my job at that time but I already hand in my resignation around August. Yes I still don't have my visa and was on my 30 days of administrative processing. Call it a bold & crazy move. I don't highly recommend anyone doing what I did. I just took a huge risk because for some reason I was having this strange manifestation that I'm gonna receive my visa within 60 days. Believe it or not, it sure did. Someone from the embassy called me that I should submit my passport back so that they can issue my visa. Finally! It was really a test of patience, of character and of faith. I guess if it's really meant for you, it will be.

My U.S. Visa Journey

"Mahirap ba mag-apply ng U.S. Visa?" "Bakit biglaan naman yung alis mo?" "Kwento ka naman paano ka nag-apply ng working visa" These are just one of the many questions that were thrown at me by my family, close friends & friends of friends that made me decide to share my story. I know I should have done this sooner but I got carried away with my new life here in Saipan and I was deliberating whether to publish this or not because this is by far the hardest & most personal aspect of my life that I'm sharing so here it is..

How did it all started? Simple. ONLINE application. I think one of the most important thing I've ever learn while living in Manila is that everything are done through online. I never knew that when I first came in Manila. You know the wide-eyed, naive, innocent girl from the province who's trying to make it in the real world. Who would have thought I can make it here right? I remember when I was applying for a job, I personally hand in my resume to various companies or commonly known as walk-in application. I didn't mind it at first since it’s a good way for me to get familiar with the city but it's actually tiring & exhausting in the long run. Not to mention that I only received a few calls from interested companies. One of my good friend suggested why don't I create an account online in jobstreet/jobsdb after I complain so much about the difficulty of finding a job. I reluctantly agreed although I did not expect much from it because in my mind companies should prefer what's on their table as opposed to soft copies. But I was wrong because after I made my account public, phone calls started coming in. And so when I decided to try my luck in working abroad, I still use the same route which is online application. I know what will be your next question. What site did I use? To be honest, I tried a lot of websites such as monster.com, jobsglobal & company websites (direct hiring) just to name a few. None of them are very responsive until I tried workabroad.ph. I won't discuss it in detail about how their sites works but just to give you an overview, it works just like any other job online search sites. What makes it unique is that all the agencies listed in the site are POEA accredited which means you're applying for a legit job & not being scammed.

I've already made a brief overview of what went down to my application in my previous post I didn't choose Saipan, Saipan chose me but basically there are 3 stages. Once you accept the job offer the agency will process your work permit which is the 1st stage. The processing of my work permit took around 4 months, relatively longer compared to other countries in the Middle East. After it is approved you have to go through medical check-up (2nd stage) & the 3rd and last step is the U.S. visa application. Out of the 3 stages, applying for a U.S. visa is the most that I'm worried about. I've heard/read a lot of rejection stories that's enough to scare me off. It doesn't also help that the US embassy is the most intimidating & strictest out of all the embassies. My agency even reassure me that I have nothing to worry about since I'm not applying for a tourist visa, it's an employment/ worker's visa (which has already been processed by the employer) so I will be fine. Well that's what they thought.

It was July of 2017 when I schedule an appointment/interview for my visa application. Head to their website to know all the steps (Note: It's a lengthy one). When the day of my interview finally arrives,
everything went very smooth until the last step which is the dreaded interview with the consul. You can actually overhear the interview process of the other applicants since it is done through a window counter just a few steps away from you while you are waiting on the line. I don't want to scare you but a lot of applicants were rejected during that day. One particular window caught my attention when a very 'stern-looking-you-better-answer-my-questions-correctly' consul keeps on rejecting one applicant after another. I was like "Lord, I don't want to be interviewed by him". But as luck would have it I was assigned in his window. The girl behind my back actually said "yes!" (it means she's safe & will be assigned to a less intimidating consul) Ang galing! That wasn't very encouraging lol. So while walking towards his window, bes I actually wanted to turn back & run away but eventually calm myself that it will be fine. I'm not applying for a tourist visa so he might be a little lenient on me but I was wrong (again!). 

Consul: Good morning! How are you today?Me: Good morning! I -I'm good (in a very low voice because honestly I'm really really really nervous)
Consul: That’s good. (Looks at his computer) You're going to work in Saipan, one of the island in Pacific Ocean known for its beautiful beaches.. (it goes something like that)
Me: Ahm yes (bes sa haba ng sinabi nia 'yes' lang nasagot ko lol I was still thinking to myself 'he just deny an applicant before me')
Consul: (Types something in his computer & there was a long silence before he speaks in a very serious voice & looks me straight in the eye) So…you're born in Cotabato City..(it wasn't even a question, he said it as a matter-of-fact)
Me: Ye-es (If there's a way to prolong the 'yes', I would have lol)
Consul: (Types something in his computer again) And what will be your job in Saipan?
Me: Internal Auditor
He actually made a face as if he's not convinced & I was bracing myself to explain my job details but surprisingly he did not made any further comments. He just breathe a heavy sigh & said "Wait a moment" closes his window & turn away from his desk to get something. At this point I'm now starting to painc & there are a thousand thoughts going to my mind 'Shit he hates me already.' 'Did I do something wrong?' 'This doesn't feel right' 'I am really in big trouble' After a while, the consul return to his desk & hands me a questionnaire "Fill this up & return to me after you finished" Dumbfounded & confused, I simply muttered "Ok"

I know, I'm thinking the same thing as you guys "What in the world is this questionnaire?" I was actually hoping some other applicants were given the same thing but I think I was the only one sheepishly completing those 3-page questionnaire. And in case you're wondering it consist of personal questions like list all the countries you've travelled for the past 10 years, name of your siblings, declaration of all your social media, name of your residence, work experience, etc. Some of it were already included in DS-160 form so I skip some questions & leave it blank (oo pasaway din ako but I have my reason) Once finished, I return to his window.

Consul: Oh it's you again.
(I handed him my questionnaire & he scan it quickly. He stops when he saw that I did not fill up my work experience)
Consul: Is this your first time to work?
Me: No..it's
Consul: Why didn't you fill this up (pointing on the part of work experience & I can see that he's about to lose his patience)
Me: Because it states here 'fill this up only if it's not specified in your DS-160 form'
Consul: Miss why don't you go back there & complete this? (And now he sounds mad, ayan magjustify pa ako)
Me: Oh ok..sorry

I quickly return to the table & filled everything completely. I mean everything. I was like one more mistake he will definitely deny my visa. Imagine what I felt when he approved another applicant bound to Saipan for work right away as I was just a few steps away from his window. Their interview didn't event last for more than 5 miutes, it was that quick. I think the consul knows that I overhear the interview because when I return to his window (yet again) defeated & crestfallen, his voice was softer & calmer.

(I think by this time no introduction was needed anymore & handed him the questionnaire)
Consul: (Scanning the papers one last time) Ok..much better
Me: I just smiled & breathe a sigh of relief
Consul: (Types something on his computer) How long did you live in Cotabato?
Me: (It took me a moment to answer him) Around 22 years
Consul: And how old are you now?
Me: 28
Consul: (He also breathe a sigh of relief) Ok not that long.
Types something in his computer again before he speaks
Consul: Unfortunately I can't issue you your visa right now since your case needs to go for additional administrative processing. (He writes something on a green form & handed it to me) This will be your case number so you can track your application.
Me: How long will I need to wait for the result?
Consul: I can't also give you a definite timeline for that since administrative processing usually takes a while to be completed
Me: So I'm just gonna wait for your call?
Consul: Just read the form (Obviously wanted to dismissed me already)
Me: Ok..thank you

It would be safe to assume that I have more questions when I leave the embassy than turning up completely oblivious of what's going to happen. First of all what the heck is 221g or administrative processing? It is of common knowledge that an applicant will know at the end of his/her interview whether he/she is approved or denied. I think I've fallen into the fine line between not approved but also not denied. So the first thing I did was to reaserch about 221g the moment I got home. It only takes one click to know that my instinct was right, I am in trouble.

Well 221g administrative processing is one lengthy topic that I wanted to discuss so I will be making it in a separate post :)

I Didn't Chose Saipan, Saipan Chose Me

Ok. I think I cause quite a commotion when I post my U.S. visa just 2 days before my departure date in Manila. But rest assured that I didn't join the bandwagon of travel bloggers who leave their work/home country behind to do it full time. I wish I can do that but I don't think I was DESTINED for that kind of life. So kalma mga bes! For the record, I was leaving Manila to WORK abroad. I know I should have done this earlier but I never really considered doing it until last year. Most of my friends were telling me it would be easier for me to work abroad since I TRAVEL a lot & I wouldn't have a problem adjusting in a new environment. I think all of you would be surprise to know that I'm actually SCARED. I mean I was excited when I first got the job offer but as my estimated departure date gets nearer, I won't deny that I've thought so many times of backing out. I thought it would be easy..but I was wrong. Vacation & working abroad are two different things although I would like to think that I'm only here for vacation so I won't really feel the gravity of my situation. I don't even have a kids or a significant other that will be left behind but I still find it hard saying goodbye. It was a good thing that my leaving was so rush that I didn't even have a proper farewell to all my friends & even to my family & relatives. I will understand if most of my friends are going to stop speaking to me lol But believe it or not, just imagine how I felt when my agency said that I'm leaving in 1 week's time after I received my visa. In freaking 1 week!! I was suddenly doing everything all at once-finishing all my deadlines & turning over my work, packing & repacking, went home to the province for 3 days to spend time with my parents & family then back again in Manila 1 day before my flight. I was still packing hours before my flight mind you because I never tried packing that's good for a year, the most I did was only for a week. I really don't know how I did all of this but obviously I was dead tired. When I was on my way to the airport, I was resting my head in one of my travelling bag but the taxi driver misunderstood it & commented "Nalulungkot ka noh sa mga maiiwan mo dito sa Pinas?" I blatantly replied "Ay ndi po. Pagod na pagod po ako. Wala na po akong time mag-emote" Ayun natawa si kuya. Don't get me wrong. I'm sad that I'm leaving but I was more tired to tell you honestly. The first thing I did the moment I arrived here in our apartment was to SLEEP. Yes ladies and gentlemen I just sleep my first day here in SAIPAN. Everything was a blur to me & I wasn't even the least bit excited. All through out the 8 hours of flight from Manila to Saipan I just wanted to get it over with. Manhid na ako bes sa sobrang stress at pagod lol I have year to explore this mysterious island anyway.

So why SAIPAN? To tell you honestly I don't know. I don't even know Saipan EXIST. That there's even a place as such. Everytime I mention Saipan to my friends or even to my family, most of them will always ask me "Saan yun?" I actually had to google this place when I was invited for a job interview & as expected my employer who turned out to be my boss ask me "Do you know anything about Saipan?" I answered a little too confidently "Yes but only a little. (There's really not much about Saipan in the internet) All I know is that it's part of Guam" My boss replied "No. It's not part of Guam. It's NEAR Guam" So much for researching ayun na-wow mali tuloy ako. I really don't know why I was hired lol I think it's probably because they badly needed an Accountant hehe Anyway, I accepted the job offer in February of this year so I kinda know that I'm leaving before the year ends. I just didn't say anything since it's not yet final & all of this are just verbal/online agreement between me & the agency. Nevertheless I did ASSUME that I would be leaving so I did everything I could to enjoy my stay in the Philippines or more specifically to TRAVEL as much as I can. If you've been reading my blog, this was my BIGGER reason why I went panic flying this year. I was booking flights after flights & was flying almost every month. As exciting as that sounds, my bank account begs to differ otherwise so don't make me your #travelgoals haha This is not my normal travel expenditure. I repeat. THIS IS NOT MY NORMAL TRAVEL EXPENDITURE. What was supposed to be my 2 years worth of travel expenses I did it in 8 months. I just really went all out this year since I figured I might NOT be able to travel out of Saipan for a year since the plane tickets here are astronomical but who knows anything can change. I know myself too well, I might go panic flying again lol

Seriously I keep asking myself why I'm here. What in the world am I even doing here when I could have stayed in my beloved home country if I wanted to. I DON'T even KNOW a single person here in Saipan. All the job application from day 1 to getting here I did it on my OWN by applying through an Agency so tigilan na po ang chismis lol It was really a leap of faith but now that I think about it, I think I just jump off the highest building-head first. Some were even questioning my decision why I'm chasing this dream amidst all the uncertainty & it came to the point that I'm the only one who can see it becoming a reality. Yes I was going after this dream blindly & I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried that everything can go wrong. I can't exactly put into words all the sleepless nights, headaches, stress & tensions just to be here but I can now say that I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. That everything went according to plan. That this did not turned out to be a big scam which I know most of my haters expect it to be. That I'm perfectly alright..although I'm still adjusting with my new life.

I might not know now why I'm here but God really do have a weird sense of humor because come to think of it, I did state in my blog's bio the "Location: Probably by the beach" before all this transition even takes place and it's funny that I am CURRENTLY living by the beach. So to end this narrative, it's never too late to dream BIG. If it both scares & excites you, that's when you go for it. ALL IN. To hell with playing it safe.

Giveaway-Win A Free Private Tour in Taipei (Jiufen)!

Hi mga bes!

Yes you read that right! In collaboration with Round Taiwan Round, I'll be giving away not one but 2 Free Private Tour in Taipei (yay!). Click the link here Jiufen Custom Shared Tour for more details about the tour :)

About their product:
Round Taiwan Round is launching a revolutionary travel service called Tripool which will enable travellers to enjoy the cost-benefit of carpool, but also have the luxury to customize itinerary for the scenic areas chosen. So it's like a shared tour except you can customize where you want to go. For example the Jiufen tour that I'm giving away, you can select up to 6 awesome tour spots around that area :)

Tour value is US$30.00, if with English-speaking driver then it's US$70.00 so what are you waiting for? Christmas definitely came early!

How To Join:
Just leave a comment here in my blog or in the widget below why you should win the Jiufen Private Tour. You can state your reasons as briefly as possible or a lengthy one if you want, it's all up to you. I will also be announcing this in my facebook & instagram account so galingan niyo mga bes. This contest will run from September 15-30, 2017! Good luck to all of you!

But wait..there's more!

If you happen to be in Taiwan & wanted to book the Jiufen Custom Shared Tour, you can avail a 5% discount if you use my Coupon Code: MimizTravel
Enjoy guys for this exciting giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Below are the places that you're going to visit!

Solo Travel Guide: Taiwan on a Budget (UPDATED)

I know. I can already foresee the onslaught of questions coming my way. "What's up with all this solo travelling?" My friends have already cornered me with questions after questions. I think next time magpapa press conference na po ako choz haha I cannot reveal the bigger reason..yet. Let's just say I just wanted to see the world as much as I can or more precisely as much 'as my bank account can'. After my recent trip to Bali cut a big slashed to my savings, I need to make a damage control. Kelangan galingan ko sa Taiwan bes haha Fortunately, Taiwan turned out to be really, really, really cheap for a solo traveller or for any kinds of traveller.

How To Apply for a Taiwan Tourist Visa for Filipinos

Note: TECO just announced that Taiwan is now visa free for Filipinos starting November 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018 (on a 9-month trial period) so yes everyone can now travel to Taiwan as long as the following requirements are met:

• Stay no longer than 14 days.
• At least 6 months validity of passport
• With a return or onward ticket
• Proof of hotel booking or host's contact details
• No criminal record in Taiwan

Where To Stay in Taiwan
There are 3 things I always consider every time I booked a hotel/hostel namely 1) close to MRT transportation 2) free breakfast & 3) affordable. So I don't care whether I'll be staying in a backpacker's hostel or guesthouse for as long as these 3 conditions are met. But don't expect too much about the free breakfast though, its just free coffee, water & bread. I just think that if it's available in budget hotels, they really care about customer satisfaction so everything else follows-
free wifi, cleanliness, convenience & good facility. It's a good thing that a lot of this are being offered abroad, you just have to learn where to look.

I decided to stay in Next Taipei Hostel-Ximending & I have to say this is the best backpacker's hotel I've ever been to. I was already impressed that they actually send a direct email to me addressing my request that I will be arriving early because most of the time budget hotels won't even bother to contact you. They are very responsive & will reply to you within minutes. They actually took the time to answer all my questions i.e. thorough guide on how to reach their hotel from Ximen Station so it was easy to locate them. The hostel itself was superb, I can't say anything wrong with it. I definitely get more than what I pay for.

How To Get To Taipei City from Taoyuan Airport
Taoyuan Airport is around 45 minutes to an hour away from the airport & the two most efficient & affordable modes of transportation are MRT & Bus.

By MRT:

• You can choose to take either Express (38 minutes) or Commuter Train (1 hour & 10 minutes)
• Fare is NTD 160.00 or PHP 272.00
• Operating hours is from 6:00AM to 11:00PM

By Bus:

• Bus counters are located on the ground floor of Taoyuan airport & the buses are located just outside. 
• Bus fare is around NTD 125.00-145.00
• Operating hours is only until midnight so if you're arriving later than that, you can take Bus 1819 which can take you up to Taipei Main Station only. From there just take a taxi to your hotel.

I actually arrived in Taiwan after midnight & was cleared in the Immigration around 1:30A.M. so I decided to just sleep in the airport. Backpacker at its finest mga bes! I'm really allergic to taxis abroad, I only did it in Bali & will only consider it in extreme emergency cases haha Taoyuan airport offers sleeping lounges, free drinking water, free wifi & charging so it still feels like your sleeping in a hostel.

Taipei Currency
I was surprised to discover that Taiwan doesn't have any money changers scattered in the city so I was kind of sad that I can't play my little game with them haha You can only change money in the banks but are only open during weekdays. So if you're arriving over the weekend, just change in the money changers inside the airport although there's a 3% service charge per transaction.

Language Barrier
Mandarin is the preferred & most commonly understood language in Taiwan. I was kicking myself why I didn't even bother to review my Mandarin background, I am now more exposed to Korean thanks to K-dramas (aminin niyo kayo rin) haha I can just do numbers & the smallest phrases which is not very helpful in terms of asking around. Most locals especially locals who live in the far provinces like Jiufen, Pingxi & Shifen and even bus drivers do not understand English so I had a hard time communicating with them. I suggest translate the name of your destination to Mandarin or have it google translate & save it to your phone.

Chinese Food
Oh.my.god. the food! Food is everywhere in Taiwan. It's only my first day but I was eating like crazy and I wasn't even in the night market yet. My first & second day was spent visiting the Northern part of Taiwan namely Yehliu, Jiufen, Pingxi & Shifen and the food game in there was already intense. There are a lot of varieties to choose from, it will be a crime not to try their food. It doesn't help that everybody is eating so you will surely be tempted to hoard all the food. Don't worry with all the walking that you're going to do in Taiwan, you will burn everything right away.

Places To Visit in Taipei
The thing about Taipei is that almost all the tourist spot are FREE & transportation cost is also CHEAP so you will really save a lot. Be sure to buy a reloadable Metro Pass or Easy Card which is available in the airport and any MRT station. You can use this in taking MRT & buses across the city. For more information about Easy Card, visit Taipei Metro Pass

Yehliu Geopark
It is home to a number of unique rock formations located in the Wanli District, New Taipei, Taiwan.

By Long Distance Bus:

From Taipei West Bus Station - Terminal A (located at Taipei Main Station), go to the KuoKuang (國光) window and purchase a ticket for NT$96 to Yehliu Geopark (野柳地質公園). The journey takes around 90 minutes, and the bus will drop you on the main road just outside the park entrance. Walk down the lane on the left side to enter.

By Shuttle Bus:

Ride comfortably in a shuttle bus from Ximen to Yehliu, followed by the Ying Yang Sea, 13-Layer Remains, Golden Waterfall, Jiufen (九份), and Shifen Old Streets (十分老街), leaving at 9AM and returning at 17:45.

By North Coast Shuttle Bus (from Tamsui (淡水, Danshui) or Keelung):

Take the North Coast Shuttle Bus NT$200 all day unlimited rides from either MRT Tamsui Station or Keelung Railway Station.

Jiufen

Jiufen, also spelled Jioufen or Chiufen (Chinese: 九份; pinyin: Jiǔfèn; literally: "nine portions"), is a mountain area in Ruifang District, New Taipei, Taiwan. Jiufen Old Street is very interesting & unique place. I thought it's just a single aisle when you see it from the entrance but it's actually composed of numerous small alleys & lanes that snake around the area and sometimes even run beneath buildings.

By Train + Bus:

From Taipei Main Station, take the train north to Ruifang Station. After exiting the station and facing the Wellcome supermarket, take a left and walk 200 metres down Mingdeng Road. Next to the police station is a bus station (named Local Residents Plaza, 區民廣場) with routes 827 and 788 heading toward Jiufen. Please note that the bus stop next to the police station heads east toward Jiufen, and the bus stop across from the police station heads west toward Taipei. Route 825 provides weekend service only. From here, the bus trip takes roughly 15 minutes, and the fare is NT$15. It is recommended to take bus 1062 back to Taipei.

By Bus:

From MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing (忠孝復興), Brown Line 1 and Blue Line 5 interchange, leave from Exit 1 and take bus route 1062 (Keelung Bus) to Jinguashi, alight at Jiufen. The ride is about 1 hour and the fare is NT$102. Bus 788 is also available from Keelung.

Pingxi (平溪) and Shifen (十分)

Both towns are rich in culture and history that provides a nice glimpse of Taiwan's natural scenery. Events such as the Sky Lantern Festival draw visitors year round to create a Chinese Lantern (天燈) with a wish written on it to set into the sky, all for a modest price of NT$150-200. I personally think this 2 towns are very similar but Shifen is bigger & is well known for the Shifen Waterfall so if you only have limited time just go to Shifen instead.

How to get here:

From Taipei Main Station, take a northbound train (except Keelung-bound trains) towards Ruifang Station. Transfer to the Pingxi Line (平溪線) and purchase a One Day Ticket for the Pingxi Line, NT$52 or

From MRT Muzha Station (木柵, Brown Line 1), take bus 1076 towards Pingxi (平溪).

Tip: Alterntively you can visit Yehliu Geopark + Jiufen + Shifen in one day if you book through Klook. I was supposed to book this tour but all the tickets were sold out on my preferred travel dates so be sure to book early to save you all the hassle.

Yangmingshan National Park

The area is home to numerous parks, hiking trails, interesting plants and wildlife, and the internationally famous hot springs. I thought this is just a 'simple' park, a kind of park that you can just walk around but it turned out to be big enough to fit one city so taking the shuttle bus is highly recommended when visiting one park to another.

Yes naman uso din pala ang Pre-nup shoot doon..more wedding ideas mga bes!

How to get here:

From MRT 2 Jiantan station (劍潭), leave Exit 1 (Shilin Night Market), and walk to the left-side bus station, busses heading north. Take either the small bus S15 (PREFERRED) or S17 to Yangmingshan station (陽明山). Fare is NT$15, payable by cash or Easycard. It travels past the main transfer station to other destinations such as Xiaoyoukeng (小油坑), Lengshuikeng (冷水坑), and Qingtiangang Grassland Trails (擎天崗).

National Palace Museum

Andito lang pala yung nawawala kung bracelet choz!

This is the grandest & most glamorous museum in Taiwan & is sure worth the visit.
> Take bus Red 30, 304, 255, 815, S18 or S19 at Shilin Station.
> Operating hours: Fri-Sat 8:30-21:00; Sun-Thu: 8:30-18:30

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

> Exit 5 at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall Station
> Opens daily from 9:00-18:00

Longshan Temple

> Exit 1 at Longshan Temple Station. Head north on Xiyuan Road for 5 minutes.
> Opens daily from 6:00-22:00

National Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

> Exit 4 at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

> Opens daily from 9:00-18:00

Taipei 101

> Exit 4 at Taipei 101/ World Trade Center

> Entrance fee for Observatory is NTD 600.00 but you can buy it for a discount if you book through Klook

> Opens daily from 9:00-22:00 (last sntry 21:15)

Elephant Mountain

Also known as the Nangang District Hiking Trail and Xiangshan (象山), it provides the best view of Taipei City. Be sure to bring a drinking water with you, the trail is quite a long stairs up & pretty steep. Hihingalin ka bes! You sure will going to burn everything that you eat for the past 3 days lol.

> After arriving at Xiangshan station (象山), the terminus of Red Line 2, leave from Exit 2 and continue walking alongside the edge of the park. At the end of this road, take a left and follow until the entrance for Xiangshan Hiking Trail (象山登山步道), total 650 metres, around 20 mins.

Shilin Night Market

Eto talaga yung finale ko mga bes haha I think I went a little crazy shopping & eating here. I almost missed my flight just to shop here one last time lol Take note I was staying in the heart of Ximending Night Market but I still went out of my way just to go here. The prices in Shilin is actually cheaper compared in Ximending so this is the best place to buy pasalubong. I  did to try to haggle once but the vendor just look at me as if I'm from another planet so I don't think my charm works here haha Sorry naman hindi pa ako nkamove-on sa Bali
> Nearest MRT Station is actually Jiantan & not Shilin Station. Believe me I tried to both ways hehe

Below is my Itinerary for 5 days, 4 nights stay:

Day 0
12:30 AM	Arrival in Taoyuan International Airport
1:30 AM	Sleep in the airport	FREE
Day 1 (Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen, Ximending)
6:00-7:00 AM	Buy a reloadable Easy Card in the airport Ride Bus 1819 to Taipei Main Station	NTD 100.00 NTD 125.00
7:00-7:15AM	Transfer to Blue line going to Dingpu & get off at Ximen Station. 5 min. walk to Next Taipei Hostel	NTD 20.00
7:20-8:20AM	It was still too early for my check-in but the hotel staff was kind enough to let me leave my luggage, allow me use to their bathroom to freshen-up (borlogs na ako bes) & access to their pantry.
8:50-9:00AM	From Ximen Station get off at Taipei Main Station. Walk to Taipei West Bus Station. Buy bus ticket at Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport & ride the bus going to Yehliu Geopark.	NTD 20.00 NTD 96.00
10:30AM	ETA Yehliu Geopark. Pay the entrance fee	NTD 80.00
12:45AM	Lunch at the nearby eatery	NTD 150.00
1:00-2:00PM	ETD Yehliu Geopark to Jiufen. Ride Bus 790 to Keelung Train Station. Transfer to Bus 788* to Jiufen. *Bus 788 is actually on the other side of the street from Keelung Station & it’s quite far so you better ask around. It took me around 30 minutes to locate the bus stop.	NTD 30.00
2:30-4:00PM	Ride the Bus 788 to Jiufen	NTD 30.00
4:00-6:00PM	Explore Jiufen
6:30-7:30PM	ETD to Taipei. Ride Bus 790 to Ruifang Station   Train from Ruifang Station to Taipei City	NTD 15.00 NTD 49.00
7:30-8:00PM	Dinner at Ximending Night Market	NTD 100.00
8:30PM	Back at the Hotel	NTD 529.00
Day 2 (Pingxi, Shifen)
8:30AM	Walk to Ximen Station. Take MRT Blue line to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station Transfer to Brown line & alight at Muzha Station	NTD 20.00 NTD 30.00
9:30-11:00AM	Ride Bus 795 to Pingxi	NTD 45.00
11:00AM	ETA Pingxi. Explore Pingxi Old Street Lunch	NTD 100.00
1:15-1:45PM	Train from Pingxi Station to Shifen	NTD 20.00
1:45PM	ETA Shifen. Explore Shifen old street & visit Shifen Waterfalls Note: Shifen Waterfall is quite a long walk from Shifen Old Street around 45 minutes or so but the scenery is good & the waterfall itself is amazing. You can also fly sky lantern in Shifen for NTD 200.00.
6:30-7:00PM	Train from Shifen to Ruifang Station	NTD 19.00
7:00-8:15PM	Buy ticket from Ruifang Station to Taipei	NTD 49.00
8:15-8:30PM	Ride MRT Blue line from Taipei Main Station to Ximen Station	NTD 20.00
8:30PM	Dinner in Ximending Night Market	NTD 100.00
9:00PM	Back at the Hotel	NTD 529.00
Day 3 (Yangmingshan National Park, National Palace Museum, Shilin Night Market)
7:30AM	From Ximen Station take MRT Blue line to Taipei Main Station	NTD 20.00
8:00AM	Take the Bus 260 outside of Taipei Main Station or located just one block from Kuo-Kuang Motor Transport	NTD 30.00
9:00AM	ETA Yangmingshan National Park. Purchase the unlimited ride ticket or you can use your Easy Card for Shuttle 108 around the park.	NTD 60.00
9:00AM-1:30PM	Explore Yangmingshan
1:30-2:30PM	Take the Small Bus S15 or S17 from Qingtiangang bus stop to Jiantan Station (MRT Red line)	NTD 15.00
3:00PM	Lunch in Jiantan	NTD 150.00
3:30-4:00PM	Take bus Red 30, 304, 255, 815 from Jiantan Station to National Palace Museum	NTD 20.00
4:15-6:30PM	Explore National Palace Museum. Pay the entrance fee.	NTD 250.00
6:30-7:00PM	Ride the bus from National Palace Museum to Shilin Station	NTD 20.00
7:15-9:30PM	Shop till you drop in Shilin Night Market 😊
9:30-10:00PM	Back at the hotel	NTD 529.00
Day 4 (Chiang Kai-Shek, Longshan Temple, Sun Yat-Sen, Taipei 101, Elephant Mountain
9:00-9:30AM	From Ximen Station take the Green line going to Xindian & get off at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall	NTD 20.00
9:30-11:15AM	Explore Chiang Kai-Shek	FREE
11:15-11:30AM	From Chiang Kai-Shek Station go back to Ximen Station. From Ximen Station, take MRT Blue line to Longshan Temple	NTD 20.00 NTD 20.00
11:30AM-12:00NN	Explore Longshan Temple	FREE
12:15PM	Lunch on the nearby eatery	NTD 100.00
12:30-1:00PM	Take the MRT Blue line from Longshan Temple to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall	NTD 20.00
1:00-2:15PM	Explore Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall	FREE
2:15PM	Walk from Sun Yat-Sen to Taipei City Hall & Taipei 101. Explore Taipei 101	FREE
5:00-5:30PM	From Taipei 101 Station get off at Xiangshan Station MRT Red line	NTD 20.00
5:30PM	Take Exit 2 & walk towards the Elephant Mountain Trail. Start Trekking.
7:30PM	Hike down
8:00-8:30PM	From Xiangshan Station to Jiantan Station	NTD 30.00
8:30-10:30PM	Pasalubong shopping in Shilin Night Market Dinner	NTD 200.00
10:30-11:00PM	From Jiantan Staion to Taipei Main Station Transfer to Blue line & get off at Ximen Station	NTD 20.00 NTD 20.00
11:00PM	Check-out in the hotel
11:00-11:15PM	From Ximen Station alight at Taipei Main Station	NTD 20.00
11:15PM-12:15AM	Ride the Bus 1819 at Kuo-Kuang Terminal to Taoyuan Airport	NTD 125.00
Total		NTD 3,985.00/ Php 6,774.50

To sum it all up:
Plane Ticket: Php 4,026.76
Travel Tax: Php 1,620.00
Expenses in Taipei: Php 6,774.50
Grand Total: Php 12,421.76