Bitten By the Travel Bug!

Newsflash: You have just made us NUMBER 1 in Koh Samui through your votes for the Ultimate Thailand Explorers! :) This is the first time we made it in the top spot. We are overwhelmed by your support. Thank you especially to our friends in the media who have taken time to write and feature us. We feel like celebrities already. Hehe, We went around town yesterday to campaign and the people of Zamboanga City were very positive.  Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!  Keep us at the TOP by voting everyday till Nov. 12:

http://tinyurl.com/mike-jennifer  

 Torre Molinos, Spain

My husband Michael and I are  both passionate about traveling and exploring other cultures.

     

                                  Gaudi's work in Barcelona, Spain 

 I have been traveling since I was 12  and  writing and taking photos about my travel since age 22. I have been blessed to be born into a set of parents whose credo is "Travel is the best education a parent  can give their children."  I noticed through the years that the number of countries I have traveled to always exceeds my age and I have my parents to thank for that. I am now in country 38. 

 

       Plaza de Espana in Sevile where they filmed 

               Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

I took up Business Management and Communications in college and eventually started working for the print and TV media. Because of my work, I have been privileged to be given the chance  to go around Asia-- to shoot, produce  and write stories.  It's a pleasure to go to exotic places and  rub shoulders with people whose culture and language are uniquely different from yours and to discover you're not as separate and  different from them  as you'd like to  think. 

Michael, on the other hand, has been going on cross country tours in his motorcycle since his early twenties. He got his motorcycle at age 18 and he has traveled around 12,000 kilometers with his bike.  He is still using that same bike today.  Five years ago, he and his brother established a travel agency. He has been managing it since and it thrills him to travel vicariously through his clients as he books airplanes tickets and designs tour packages for them. 

 

        Enjoying the sea breeze at Microtel, Cebu

One of our faith goals, when we got married was to see the world together before we start a family. So far, we have traveled together to the following places  around the Philippines: 

Cebu--It is also called the queen of the south, and was mentioned by Celtic singer Enya in her song Ornico Flow.  Cebu is famous as the landing site for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. It was here  where he was killed by Lapu-lapu, a local datu. It is known for its white- sand beaches, well-crafted guitars and the local delicacy danggit (Cebu's salted fish). Cebu is the hometown of furniture designer Kenneth Cobunpue and fashion designer to Hollywood stars Monique Lhuillier. 

Bohol-- Bohol has so much to offer, from the famous Chocolate Hills to the tarsiers,  smallest primates in the world, to some of the  most beautiful and diverse  dive sites in Asia. While there you can visit, the Bee Farm and taste local salad made of flowers and pasta with coconut milk.  You can also  ride an All-Terrain Vehicle to take you on a worms-eye view of the chocolate hills.  Go dolphin watching at dawn and swim with the fishes at Balicasag Island. And don't miss the Loboc River cruise  and enjoy the sumptuous buffet lunch onboard while being serenaded by the locals. 


  

         Mitra's Ranch in Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan

Palawan--Palawan is an eco-tourist's and adventurer's  paradise. It known for its exotic flora and fauna, the crystal clear beaches and lagoons  and  the breathtakingly raw and  jagged islands. (Read my article about Coron, Palawan at http://jctravelblog.blogspot.com) 

Boracay Island-- In my travels, I haven't seen a beach that can rival Boracay's powdery-white sand and 4-kilometer long  beach front.  It is a perfect getaway with friends. All sorts of water sports await you in Boracay.  You can even play pingpong under the sea! (Yes, we have! And it's on video, too.) If you get tired of the beach, you can also try your hand at golf, biking or this crazy attraction called Zorb that has you bouncing inside a giant plastic ball filled with water. Not for faint of heart.

There's a lot more travel stories & pictures  to come. Do watch out for that . . . Have a great day!  

PEP.ph: Zamboanga couple competes in Ultimate Thailand Explorers

Early Friday morning, I was in the kitchen when relative called and told us that she read an article about us in the Philippine Entertainment Portal or PEP for short. We so appreciate the support. Thank you to PEP writer Yas Salanga. Click the link below to see the full article. :)

PEP.ph: The Number One Site for Philippine Showbiz | News | Zamboanga couple competes in Ultimate Thailand Explorers /

Hope you can continue to vote for our video! God bless! 

Ultimate Thailand Explorers write up in CNET Asia's Babel Machine

Mr. Joey Alarilla, marketing head of Level Up , was so kind to have featured us in his CNET Asia blog entitled Babel Machine! Do read his post here  and tell us what you think!

Don't forget to vote today: http://tinyurl.com/mike-jennifer! Remember that you may vote once  day until Nov. 12. We are still in 3rd place and trailing the leader by 294 votes but nothing is impossible! Come on, Philippines!

Fun Facts about Thailand!

Hello, friends! Only 20 more days to vote  for tour favorite teams in the Ultimate Thailand Explorers competition. You can VOTE  for your favorite video EVERYDAY! The contest organizers encourages you to vote everyday.  (Opo, pwede kayo bumoto araw-araw para sa video, basta bawat 24 hours!)  We are now in 3rd place with only 365 votes. You can help us become number 1 and win for yourself $2500 in prizes including a trip to Thailand & a blackberry phone.


Do register and vote today. Log on to: http://tinyurl.com/mike-jennifer  


Did you know that-- 

*Thailand is also known as the "Land of the Free". The Thai people are proud of the fact their country is the ONLY country in South East Asia never to have been colonized by a European country.

*The monetary unit of Thailand is called the Baht. One Thai Baht is equal to US $0.029.

*Thai Airways, the official air carrier of Thailand flies to over 70 destinations around the world

*The official national flower is Ratchaphruek. The brilliant yellow color of the flower  is the same tone as official religion of the country and the color of Monday, the day when His Majesty King Bhumibol Aduladej was born. Since orchids are most abundant in Thailand, it  is also unofficially honored as the national flower.

*The beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is turning 82 on December 5, is the world's current longest serving head of state and the longest reigning monarch in Thai history, having reigned since June 1946.

*December 5, the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is also the National Day of Thailand. It is a public holiday.

*The elephant is the national animal of Thailand, a big help in the logging industry and a vehicle of war since the 16th century. The Thai people regard the white elephant as auspicious.

*March 13 is regarded as Elephant Day, when government and non-government organizations organize fund raising and public  awareness events  for the conservation of this beloved animal.


*Thailand is the world's 50th largest country in terms of land area. It is slightly smaller than Yemen and slightly bigger than Spain.

Vote and Win $2,500!!!

 

Woooohoooo!!!! 

We just got into the SEMIFINALS of the Ultimate Thailand Explorer! We're the only Philippine contestants that got in.  The long wait is over!
 
YOU MAY NOW VOTE FOR US! Voting is 2x a day or every 12 hours from Oct. 19 to Nov. 12!

Voting Procedure:

1.  Log on to: http://bit.ly/4wns1s  and Register your details. (Do this and you also get the  chance to win $2,500! Two voters will get this prize!)

2.  Open the confirmation email and click on the link in that email. 

3. Log on to: http://ultimatethailandexplorers.com  and scroll down to KOH SAMUI. Then find, contestants  Michael Paul & Jennifer.

4. Double click our video and find the pink button that says "Vote for Michael Paul & Jennifer."

Your vote will determine if we get to the FINALS! :) Plus, you stand to win $2,500 in cash and prizes including a blackberry and a trip to Thailand when you take the time to vote. 

Thanks so much for the support and encouragement. :) 

Michael & Jenny

The Making Of Our Audition Video

We get queries about who filmed our audition video for the Ultimate Thailand Explorers. They scratch their heads when we say that we took it ourselves. Yes, really.

We took it with  our DSLR camera, a  folding chair and a trash can--which served as our improvised tripod.  We couldn't bare the shame of asking someone else to film us doing our crazy spiels. Not only that, I don't think anyone would have the patience to wait for us "perfect" our lines.

After talking about our concept and writing a guide, we set out to a nature reserve near the city of Zamboanga one Saturday afternoon. It took only 15-minutes to get there. That's the beauty of living in a small province where everything is within reach.  We went straight to the Boys Scout field to film our opening lines. It took a while to get the shots right, because, even with markers, we kept going outside the camera frame.  And then, we had our lines to contend with. We started filming at 4:45 PM for 3 separate spiels and didn't get them right until quarter to 6. It was getting dark and we hadn't even finished half of our spiels. We  had the resident goat to thank for that. Michael calls him Pavarotti. His loud bleating left us with a lot of useless footage. We had no choice but  to pack up and reschedule for another day.

We woke up very early next Sunday morning so that we could finish everything and enjoy the remainder of our weekend. As we drove to the hills, I saw  a beautiful scene near a bridge. I told Michael it would perfect for our spiel about Koh Samui! I hurriedly stepped down the car to position our camera. As I did so, I stepped on something soft and slippery on the ground. Guess what? I had just landed on fresh dog poo! It was such a warm welcome, hahaha.  The sad part was we didn't bring tissue along. So, we had to improvise by rubbing my slippers on the ground many times before resuming our filming. Michael had a good laugh.

At the Climaco Park, where I filmed Michael, I got bitten by a big spotted mosquito. I suddenly thought of one word--Dengue! I quickly swatted it only to have my palm tainted with warm blood. Remember, no tissue. So I wiped everything on a poor unsuspecting leaf.

When I asked Michael to film me driving the car, he kept backing away for fear that I might hit him. No amount of dollars can make up for a lost limb. I thought he did the shot perfectly and for only 2 takes at that.

Then, we were ready to  film our favorite event of all--the slide! Even before I landed in Zamboanga, I had heard about the Weewee pool, the favorite hang out of Zamboanguenos.  During our courtship, it  was  Michael's dream initiation  for me to wade in its moss-green waters. It was the ultimate test of true love for him.The Weewee pool, called such because the architect is Mr. Wee, is composed of  two Olympic-sized swimming pools. Water comes from the mountains. But beware, it's not as clean as it looks, because algae abounds. We were thinking about either jumping on the diving board or sliding down the kiddie pool. Jumping would be less riskier because we would be able to get to the camera right away. Sliding down was not a good option because the slide was about more than 30 feet and we had to scramble to the top to protect the camera. But hey, sliding down would look more fun so took the second route.

Again we positioned the camera on our foldable chair, all the while praying that the people around us wouldn't think of snatching the new camera. The onlookers were actually very cordial and supportive. They must have thought we were some crazy tourists out to film our misadventures. It was a crucial shot because we couldn't do it a second time. We held our breath and slid down! Soaking wet and shivering from the cold, Michael got to the camera and saw that  it was a perfect shot! Yahhhhooooo!

Filming the scene where we were supposed to pop out of the water was trickier. (Yup, for those who wanted to know-- that was a separate shot, unless you have 2 cameras.)  We filmed it while hoping that the kids who were running to and fro would not accidentally bump the camera. When we packed up and saw the shot, we were not inside the frame at all. We missed the spot and  had to redo it. It was not easy popping out of the water and talking. The water made it hard to speak and look straight to the camera. I must have swallowed a lot of water with algae since we had to do it at least four times.

We finished filming two hours later. When we got to the house, we realized that we were sun burned even if it wasn't that hot that morning and we did not  forget to wear sunblock.

We edited it using Final Cut Express in our Macbook. We're thinking of coming up with a video of our out-takes soon. But then again maybe not. It might be too embarrassing. . . :)

Stay tuned!

View our video here: http://bit.ly/qt0s

Thailand Reaches Out to Philippine Typhoon Victims

Yesterday, we met up with a  friend whose house was ravaged by Typhoon Ondoy. He told of how their whole family, including two toddlers, escaped the floods that reached the 2nd floor of house by climbing down a wall and wading through the chilly waters, before safely reaching  higher ground. They were thankful they didn't suffer any injury as they plunged into and walked barefoot on the muddy water.  A the two killer typhoons have claimed more than 600 lives and untold millions of properties damaged. 


As the Philippines is trying to recover from this onslaught of calamities, we find a glimmer of hope in the outpouring of support from our own countrymen and even foreign governments and organizations. Yesterday, amidst the bad news that greeted us in the front page of our favorite daily, we chanced upon a article that warmed our hearts.

                           

IT READ: 

The Thai government, through the Royal Thai embassy in Manila, is extending assistance to the victims of tropical storm "Ondoy." The donation of the Thai government will arrive on board a special Royal Thai Airforce C130 aircraft tomorrow at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, consisting of more than 100 metric tons of rice and 50,000 sets of medical aid amounting to a total of five million baht ($150,000), together with a medical team of 20 doctors to assist evacuees in various affected areas around the country. 

The Royal Thai Embassy, together with Thai Airways International, is presently coordinating with various organizations and the National Disaster Coordinating Council in facilitating the donations. Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadejm Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya have sent their messages of condolence. "On behalf of the government and the people of Thailand, the Royal Thai embassy shares with the Filipinos the hope for the speedy recovery from this tragic disaster," the embassy said in a statement." In collaboration with the Airline Operators Committee in Bangkok, Thai Airways will be flying in assistance consisting of canned goods, dried food, clothing, blankets, and medicine donated by Thai Airways and AOC member-airlines operatiing into Bangkok's Suvanabhumi Airport. The first lot of aid is expected to arrive in Manila on Oct. 12. 

Nivat Chantarachoti, general manager for Thai Airways in the Philippines and Guam, expressed condolence and sympathy for the Filipino people. We have been operating in the Philippines since 1962 and this is the worst flood ever. I have conveyed the situation to our head office for assistance and support as some of our own staffers were also affected by the typhoon. Donation centers have been set up at both the Thai head office in Bangkok and Thai's Operation Center at Suvanabhumi Airport until Oct. 20,"Chantarachoti said. Thai Airways haas been actively involved in supporting various fundraising activities for typhooon victims such as the recent "Hoy Hoy Ondoy" fundraising concert at the NBC Tent in Taguig City by donating two business class tickets to Bangkok for auctions.

                                            

             -- from the THE PHILIPPINE STAR  Oct. 11, 2009 

We would like to say thank you to the Thai people for helping our brethren in this time of need.

Our Love Story!

Because of our Ultimate Thailand Explorers video, we have been getting questions about how the two of us met and fell in love. Did we really meet online? How did it happen? Was it love at first "type"?  Since we just celebrated our 1st anniversary, allow us to retell our story to all of you. :)

JENNY'S VERSION 

For me, it was love at first sight. I first caught a glimpse of Michael in a singles' retreat organized by our church. It was a  beautiful April day. There was  a Sports fest  that afternoon and since volleyball isn't my sport, I chose to sit at the sidelines to cheer on my teammates. Then one fine gentleman caught my eye. There was something special  about the way he moved and conducted himself during the game. I was struck by his gentleness most of all. 

At that point in my life, I was so happy reveling in my singleness that I wasn’t even thinking about meeting anyone. I was content that I was living a purposeful life with God at the center of it. But there I got the shock of my life, after seeing this person for the first time, I blurted to God in prayer that this is the guy I wanted to marry. I didn’t even believe at love at first sight . . . until that point. 

And God did set us up. Arriving late at the last session of the retreat, my friend and I sat at the last row of the function room. Before the session commenced, the speaker asked those at the back to transfer to a couple of vacant seats in front. My friend and I hurried to the front. The guy and I landed on the same table, at the same time. Our friend introduced us. Months after that first encounter, I still couldn’t take him off my mind. But then, he was from a far-flung place and we were both still strangers to each other.

Three years later, I saw him again. Two weeks before my birthday,I woke up and told God that I wish He’d let me meet my future mate before I turn a year older.That night that same friend who I was with at the retreat dragged me to a birthday party of someone I didn’t even know. That was where I saw him again. He didn’t even remember me, but I sure recognized him. Before I left, he caught up with me and said, “It was nice meeting you.” That started a solid friendship that lasted for three years.

One day in November, I was surprised to receive an email from Michael. In a few words, he told me that he read my article in a local newspaper. I was elated, to say the least.  Being miles apart, he in Zamboanga City (in the sourthern part of the Philippines) and I in Metro Manila, the internet paved the way for us to  get to know each other. Since we were both online in our separate offices, we became part of each other's daily routine. We chatted, quarreled and played games online. Once in a while, when time permitted, we met up and traveled with friends.  I'm glad I got to know him as a friend before romance got in the way, because I got to see who he really was as a person. 

And then it happened.  October 3, 2007, Michael took me to his hometown and  as we were wading in the ocean at sunset, Michael asked if we could take the friendship to another level. It wasn’t much of a surprise, as I already had an inkling on our first meeting that this day would come. It was worth the wait. 

Exactly a  year later, we got married in a garden ceremony in a country club near Taal Volcano (the smallest volcano in the world).  For me, Michael is a great gift, an answered prayer who embodies all  I have ever  wanted in a husband and best friend.  

MICHAEL'S Version 

There was a time that I thought that I would not marry. I was simply happy doing business, traveling with my motorbike, and day dreaming. 

I began to notice Jen about 5 years ago. I read an article she had written for a national daily.  Her excellent article made me want to congratulate her immediately.  My only way of communicating with her was through email because we were part of the same mailing group.

We also began communicating through Yahoo Messenger throughout our friendship.  What amazed me at that time was how honest she was with our friendship-- so honest that there were times I got mad when she would challenge me with her high standards of conviction in the middle of work. Imagine, I  was  way down south in Zamboanga City while she, on the other hand, was in Manila or in far away Beijing!  It was simply amazing that she could affect me that way.

All through out our friendship, I can honestly say that I was myself and she was herself--so ourselves that I personally stepped using the wrong foot first. . . almost everytime.  And I think that helped us build a great foundation of trust in and through Christ. I really got to know her that well.

One day while I was doing my weekly routine of swimming in the river,  I had a very clear epiphany.  I normally swim with the boys on early weekends; but for this weekend, I was alone.  The rain just fell and the water was high.  The higher than usual water did not deter me from still jumping in.  

"It's no fun being alone noh?"

I heard that still small voice speak deep inside of me.  And I can not argue the truth it communicated to me.  Instantly,  I knew that I would like to marry and there was no one else in this world that I would like to spend my life with except Jen.

I told myself that the woman  marry must be capable of doing the adventurous things that I love: motorcycle rides, mountain climbing, river swims, and diving. I never thought I could find one special girl who could all that-- anytime, anywhere! I could not think of anyone else but Jenny! From the rough bike rides, to rugged jungle trails, river swims and deep sea diving, Jen was always game. I got to know her better during those times, with nature as our backdrop—the perfect setting!  

 Time came when I decided to let Jen know that I wanted to make her mine, and I wanted to do it in a place that we will always remember. I didn’t like to do it in a restaurant or any common place. I wanted to tell her what was in my heart while we were swimming at sea near sunset.

I fetched her straight from the airport. And lead her to one of the nicest beaches in my hometown. The trooper that she was, she never had second thoughts about taking a dip with me. It was a perfect afternoon. The water was calm and there was nobody else on the beach but the two of us. We swam and talked in the water. 


It was the perfect moment: there was nothing to distract us. Instead of just saying yes, she gave me a challenge I can never forget! She asked me to recite to her by memory the whole chapter of the Bible's Matthew 5. Out of my love for her, I was able to memorize the 48 long verses in 3 weeks! I finally married her last October 2008 and we have had so much fun exploring the world together.


P.S. It's only a week before they announce the semi-finalists for the Ultimate Thailand Explorers. Hope you can help us by telling your friends to view the video here: http://bit.ly/qt0s     

Ten Things We Love About Thailand!

Michael and I both went to Thailand separately in our teens and here are 10 things we couldn't forget about our first visit to Bangkok and Pattaya:

1. The warmth and gentleness of the Thai people.

2. The unique mode of transport called the  Tuktuk, Thailand's version of a motorized rickshaw or tricycle as we would call it in the Philippines. It is so named because of the sound its engine makes as it navigates the busy streets of Bangkok.

3. The wobbly and hilarious Elephant Ride.

4. The kick your taste buds get when you eat Thai Food. Thom Yum Goong, Pad Thai, Chicken in Pandan Leaves. . . I'm getting hungry.

5. The tart and sweet mangosteen, a local fruit.

6. The sights, sounds and smell of the floating market! It is an experience to be in the middle of the river with trade and commerce all around you.

7. Affordable shopping at Pratunam Market!

8. Jetskiing in the clear waters of  Pattaya. As you look down from your jetski, the clear blue waters actually allows you to see the teeming marine life below.

9. The buffet breakfast at our hotel! It was always a feast!

10. The symbolic purple orchid that greets you everywhere.

Michael & Jenny's Ultimate Thailand Explorer's VIDEO!

Sawadeeka! 

Our video  has just been posted on the Ultimate Thailand Explorers website! We are the FIRST CONTESTANTS from the Philippines and  one of the teams who will vie for a chance to promote Koh Samui to the world!  

This is a promo by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). They are looking for teams of 2 to promote the following destinations in Thailand: Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui. Applicants are required to post a one-minute video on their site. Entries are accepted until Oct. 15 only, so hurry if you want to join! 

We chose Koh Samui because it is an island paradise perfect for nature lovers and adventurers like us! There are so many attractions and natural wonders in Koh Samui and we can't wait to check them out.  The TAT will choose 25 semifinalists on Oct. 19. Pray we get chosen to be part of the 25. 

Afterwards, the final 5 who get the most votes will be given the chance to travel to their chosen destination. 

We will update you about the results. Do watch our video below and ask your friends to view it too. 

Here is the link to our video: http://ultimatethailandexplorers.com/no_cache/destinations/koh-samui/applicants-profile/?user=jennycaspe

Enjoy! 

Our Ultimate Thailand Explorers Blog!

Welcome to our official site for the Ultimate Thailand Explorers contest! 

We are Michael and Jenny Cocuaco, adventurers and explorers set to discover the world together. Join us on an adventure of a lifetime vie for the title Ultimate Thailand Explorers '09 where we hope to get a chance  to promote the beautiful island of Koh Samui. 

We  are longtime friends and online chat-mates who fell in love and got married just a year ago. Since Jenny was stationed in Manila and Michael was in his home province down south, a big chunk of our courtship was spent online. We communicated via instant messenging and  social networking sites, posting our letters and pictures online.Aside from sharing a deep faith, we both have a  penchant for good food, books, spa treatments,  travel and adventure.

View our video here: http://ultimatethailandexplorers.com/no_cache/destinations/koh-samui/applicants-profile/?user=jennycaspe