cheapacco.com- Portal for Backpackers

Launched new portal for Backpackers http://cheapacco.com/home/. Though 96% job not yet done.
Hope all backpacker friends get help from this portal.

Have plan to start a chain of cheap dorm hostel for backpackers, lets see what can do.
Also have plan to provide decent work/job to backpackers, when they travel and when not travel.
If require provide proper training to them.
Travel more, meet more people, eat more food, learn new culture more! Happy Backpacking!

Hong Kong Diaries-Eating, Living, Walking Hong Kong

Had 6 hours, no1 was there at transfer desk, ran to immigration, convinced others so not had to wait in the queue, got 14 days visa, ran to nearest money changer (7.20 H$ for 1 USD), ran and again convinced others so not had to wait in the queue to buy same day return ticket for airport metro, from Airport to Hong Kong Central and back (H$ 100). Took 24 minutes, from Airport to Hong Kong central.
At Hong Central, only big malls, e.g., IFC mall, skyscrapers, store of all well known fashion houses, office of all big banks.

Saw poor people begging, commuters running to catch city bus, cobbler polishing boot of some banker, some smart girls trying to make money by selling some fake products.
Was hungry, saw 1 restaurant in a narrow lane, ate there with local people, egg noodle (soup noodle and fried egg) with grilled chicken (H$ 29) and lemon juice (H$3). Mixed black pepper sauce, vinegar, chili sauce and soya sauce with soup noodle. Taste was awesome, though weather was cold but after my lunch I was sweating.

Walked around, wanted to meet some companies there, not had time and also not had any confirmed meeting.
Walked around, talked with some local people, read 1 article in a local English news paper, got free, more than 233 mn people have renounced Chinese Communist party in China.
Hong Kong is a big sea port.
Next time will stay couple of days and try to meet as many company as possible, hope get some clients and partners here also.
Hope visit Hong Kong soon and from here Shanghai, Beijing and Guanzhou.

Being Filipino-Come back soon

Liked Manila, liked Filipino people, crowd, food, live corals, pristine water, Jeepney, MRT/LRT!
Liked marriage ceremony at Manila Cathedral, 1st time I was present in a marriage ceremony!
Not liked eating Balut, fried squid.
Not liked the way prostitutes and their pimps pitched.
Met many nice people, had wonderful time with some, get some clients, get some partner.
Come back soon, Manila, miss you!
Started working, started pitching to companies, started following up with companies, will have meeting with 1 company tomorrow, conf-call with some.
Before coming here, watched many video clips on Filipino people, destinations, street food etc!and not had high expectations.
But here ate with local people, interacted and traveled with many, found out many new Filipino dishes not read about or watched in any video clips, a gem like Big La Laguna beach, money saver mineral water filling stores/stations, traveled in Jeepeney/MRT/LRT with local people.
And my good experience here defeated my not so high expectations!
Soon come back, get more clients, partners, will have more meetings and travel more, next time!
Next time visit Palawan, Cebu and Boracay!

P.S. No shuttle bus to Terminal 2 from Taft Avenue MRT. Ask taxi driver to use meter.
P.S.S. This morning MRT was not operating, so traveled in a bus from Buendia to Taft (Peso 12) and then in a taxi to Terminal 2 (Peso 106.5)

Being Filipino-Same day CEO and Chef

Eat veg food on Thursday. Its not easy to get veg food in Manila, mix pork in all veg curry. Gave up, got some cabbage, carrot and beans, soya sauce, fried garlic, chili, sunflower oil, salt, kalamansi from a restaurant and cooked vegetable curry in their kitchen. Had with rice (Peso 50), I am a good cook and vegetable curry was not bad. Was hungry, only had fruit juice and fried banana, whole day traveled a lot in Manila, met many companies, potential clients and partners.

1 company wanted to meet me on Friday, yesterday requested to have meeting today, woke up this morning and saw email from that company for meeting today at 11 AM, near Ortigas MRT station. Hope will work on different projects with that company.
Next meeting was at Tinoi street, near Torras street, asked many people but not knew that place, went to a police station near Shaw Boulevard MRT, all people working there helped me to find out the way to Tinoi street, some used google maps, some talked with their colleagues over wireless phone and found out exact location of that tiny street.
Next meeting was at Diliman, instead of MRT, traveled in a bus, bus conductor not knew where I have to get down, after that bus traveled in a Jeepney to Heart center of a Hospital, my meeting was at Ramcar Center and driver thought heart center. Again asked many people, most of them not knew where is Roces Avenue, and traveled in a Jeepeney to a place, from there another Jeepney to Roces Avenue.
Yesterday also whole day had meetings, in Ayala. Ayala is like Milan, all big fashion houses have store there, many big 5 star hotel, every where only skyscrapers and malls. I felt like I am in Europe. I had meeting with biggest telecom company of Philippines, during meeting pitching how we can help to improve internet speed here.
Yesterday after last meeting had chicken burger and cola(Peso 55) in a McDolands in a mall near Ayala MRT. Met 1 crazy Indian guy. And then had strawberry donut (Peso 13), and cheese-sausage waffle (Peso 20).

Yesterday night had all food I wanted to have day before yesterday night. Had Ham-Cheese-chicken roll (Peso 60), wanted to have fried big pork rib (Peso 50) but had a small piece (Peso 5), tacos (Peso 20) and then local drinks.

Yesterday woke up and met 1 nice girl from Sweeden, now studying in Australia. Wanted to have coffee but later changed her mind. Want to spend some time with her.
My last night in Manila, what wanted to do, get , did and got. Get some long term partner, clients here. Tomorrow morning flight for Hong Kong. Soon want to come here again, hope to sign contract with any of our clients.

Being Filipino-Hectic Day, Best Dinner

First meeting was at Eastwood City. Asked people at Hostel how can go there. 1 lady said, get down at Quezon Avenue station and from there catch Jeepney to Eastwood City. Found in google map, from Quezon Avenue to Eastwood City, 9 km.
Caught North Avenue bound metro, packed with commuters, from Buendia MRT station, got down at Quezon Avenue Station(Peso 24), asked some people out side of station from where can catch Jeepney to Eastwood city, most of them not knew where that place is, 1 lady said Eastwood city is near Cubao MRT station. Changed platform, saw many people in queue waiting to enter inside station full of commuters, had to convince security guards at station to let me enter the station instead of waiting in the queue. Boarded in a Taft Avenue bound MRT, got down at Araneta Center-Cubao station. Asked many people outside station, most of them not understood anything, 1 traffic police said from where can get Jeepney to Eastwood City (Peso 13). Took 15 minutes from station, many BPO-Call Center-IT Services companies have office in Eastwood City Cyberpark.
Wanted to repair my laptop, after 1st meeting went to office of HP near Quezon Avenue, 1 guy met in a computer repairing shop at Cubao said that is the HP's service center. Out side of Quezon Avenue station saw office of many BPO. Receptionist at office of HP said HP's service center is in Gil Puyat Avenue, near Buendia MRT station. And my next meeting was in the same area.
So again caught Taft Avenue bound MRT, got down at Buendia MRT station (Peso 24), walked and went to Gil Puyat Avenue. Had couple of meetings. After 1st meeting, whom I met was kind enough to ask driver to drop me at office where I had next meeting.
Many Filipino banks, insurance companies, goverment agencies have their head office in Gil Puyat Avenue. Saw some money changer, for 1 USD giving Peso 46.75, I got better rate last week at Ermita (Peso 47 for USD 1).
Whole day had only 1 fried banana roll at Cubao and 1 glass water, was hungry, saw many 7x11 store in Gil Puyat avenue, and after last meeting had Bola Bola (Peso 29) and energy drink (Peso 20) from 2 different 7x11 store there.

After last meeting went to HP Service center in Gil Puyat Avenue, engineers working there co-operated and almost fixed my broken laptop screen.
Worked bit at Hostel, planned for tomorrow's meeting, saw 1 email in my inbox, from 1 California based magazine, they selected my company as 1 of the 10 Fastest Growing Retail companies of 2016.
Was hungry, wanted to fill my empty water bottle, here water filling store operate from 8 AM to 8 PM, Nfally, my friend fom The Gambia, was also pitching for dinner.
After filling water bottle had dinner at same restaurant, where had dinner last 2 days, today got Kalamansi and salt from the chef of the restaurant, so I added those in my own spice mix of fried garlic, fried chili and vinegar and mixed everything with yellow rice (Java rice) and had with fried chicken (Peso 39).

Last 3 days not had fried peanuts with fried garlic, so had from a vendor near Ministore (Peso 5). Was walking with Nfally and saw many new restaurant near Ministore, had Ham-Sausage roll (Peso 10) first with tomato-chili sauce and then with BBQ sauce. Best thing had in Philippines so far. Then saw 1 vendor selling Ham-Sausage Pizza (Peso 79), had 1 slice (Peso 10), liked with tomato-chili sauce. My stomach was full so not had Fried pork rib (Peso 50), Ham-Chese-chicken roll (Peso 60), fried fish (Peso 35), Pork-bean roll (Peso 10) and Ham Pattice (Peso 50), will eat tomorrow.

Today's dinner was the best, my taste buds and stomach, are happy. People say food in Philippines not tasty, last 10 days food I only had not much tasty plain food, but after today's dinner can say, have to find out tasty foods in Philippines, some dishes are really mouth watering, make your taste buds happy.

Being Filipino-New Friends, More Work

New Friends

"I need some time to digest everything you said", Nfally from The Gambia said, when I was talking about my company, plan and inititatives in Nigeria. He worked in Lagos, Port Harcort and Abuja, where we want to operate. Last 8 years traveling, worked as an English teacher in Beijing in different schools, though not got work permit. Now in Manila, waiting for tourist visa for Dubai, he thinks it'll be easy for him to get a job in Dubai and any company will apply for his work permit.
"Any1 know how can go to Batangas port?" Heidi from Switzerland was asking to people at Hostel. I said her how can go there and not have to spend much. She is a ski instructor, when not ski, makes cheese, lives in a small village, 1 hour drive from St Moritz, "where only reach people live" she said. Last 2 years, during winter she is traveling, 2 years back traveled in all countries in Central America, last winter traveled in Caribbean and this year whole south Asia. Already traveled in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and now in Manila. Her friend lives in a small island in Puerto Galera and she is going to meet her. She loves traveling like a true Aquarius, loves scuba diving. I said her to dive/snorkel once in the water near Big La Laguna beach in Sabang, Puerto Galera. Gave her route map to reach there. She said she'll be there. She wanted to talk more but I was working.
Met 1 lady, from Cebu, a civil engineer, working in a real estate company in Manila, got a condominium from the company, that she said, but every week end she stays in the hostel now I am in, she said all staffs working here are her friend. She said real estate sector is booming in Manila, when I was coming to Gil Puyat from Batangas, saw new townships, new buildings, malls, construction completed or going on, targetted to Filipinos living abroad or working in booming BPO-Call Center sector in Philippines.

More work

When I was in Sabang and internet not working, not having skype call with my colleagues, only thinking about work, projects in the pipe line. After reaching hostel in Manila, started working like a crazy. Editing all presentations, marketing collaterals and loving my work. 1 corner of my laptop screen broke 2 weeks back and now having problem to close laptop. After reaching Mumbai, 1st thing will do to repair it in nearest HP service center.
Next couple of days meet CEO/Owner of some companies in Quezon City, Manila and already excited.

Being Filipino-Like a Filipino

Like a Filipino not paid to porter (saved Peso 20) at Sabang, traveled on a Father & Sons Ferry to Batangas (Peso 260) and not Sikat, travelled in a Jeepeney from Batangas port to Batangas City (Peso 8) and from there to Batangas Terminal(Peso 12). From there to Buendia LRT/Gil Puyat LRT in a local AC bus (Peso 157) and not DLTB bus.

At Sabang one day had BBQed tiger prawn not had squid not snapper not barracuda and not tuna even. Near Gil Puyat LRT station saw many local having fried squid (Peso 10), I had, and not liked.
After reaching hostel, washed dirty clothes, used small bucket like Filipinos.

Looked at myself in the mirror and found looking like a Filipino, with my beard face.
Filled my water bottle in a water filling store (Peso 5 for 1 ltr) near hostel.
Had fried chicken (Peso 14) near water filling store.

Saw many local eating yellow rice with fried egg/sausage/pork/chicken. I also had yellow rice, not sticky rice, with fried chicken. Saw fried red chili, fried garlic, black pepper powder and soya sauce at restaurant. Mixed everything with yellow rice, wish had Kalamansi and rock salt. 1st time in Philippines had proper meal, 1st time my taste buds liked taste of my meal.
Now have access to faster internet and so back to work. Working on all presentation, marketing collateral of my company. Was in a hurry when prepared all presentation, collateral of my company. Now time to edit.
Hope will start working on a project from next week in India and my company's balance sheet will be bit healthy, some junior can start working with us and able to pay them fixed salary.

Being Filipino-Lost and Found

And again miraculously internet worked at bar this morning. New post, email checked, paid for my room and found Anna and I are now connected in Facebook.
Met couple of nice old chaps, living life to the fullest in Sabang, wake up and start drinking at bar, then go to Pier and drink more. Some of them have Filipino girl- girl friend for 1 day or wife for months.
One of those old chap one day took me to some discs and bars near Pier. Was pitching for beer and girls(wife). Pitched to have pork sausage from the corner restaurant near Pier, I really like having chicken spring roll from there. This morning also he was pitching to me for some Filipino girls. I showed him snap of Anna.
Started walking to Lighthouse, 2 km from hostel. Saw local kids playing basket ball, locals eating breakfast, listening Luis Armstrong, bike guy pitching for paid ride.
Couple of bungalows/villas are there near Light house, some plot of land and house for sale. View of Puerto Galera, Sea, Coral Cove/Sabang Beach from Light house awesome.  

Not knew Sabang Beach, where I went on 1st day, dead coral full beach, located near fisherman's village, and Coral Cove same. Walked 2km, from Light House, saw some deserted house, mad dog barking, broken jeepney, houses/villas for sale, deserted resort and then found shitty Sabang Beach. Thank god not carried my snorkel with me like 1st day.
Yesterday lost snorkel clip when was snorkeling and a big wave hit me. So bought new clip (Peso 20), different type of clip for different type of snorkel that people use in Puerto Galera, but something is better than nothing.
Wanted to have banana-caramel snacks, found 1 lady selling spring roll and not banana snacks, near pier, so stuffed my stomach with spring roll and went to big La Laguna for snorkeling.
Met 1 nice girl from Shanghai, a fashion designer, ex boy friend a Scorpio and running business in China, present boy friend a German, traveled 6 months on his bike in India. 2nd time she is in Sabang.
Met 1 girl from Poland, last 2 years in Germany, working there and living with her German boy friend.
When was snorkeling, I really liked 1 blue colored fish with big thorn (crown-of-thorns sea star or seastar), and wanted to catch, but thorn of the fish stinged my finger. Next 2 hours I never forget. Pain, my finger paining, my hand paining, not had any idea how'll swim to beach. Some how reached beach, talked with local divers and washed my stinged paining finger with vinegar, found from a restaurant at beach.
Again snorkeled with my paining finger and hand.
Was talking with some local people, people from Germany holidaying with their Filipino wife and relatives, Filipino food not tasty, though they have all ingredients to make food tasty but they dont use those ingredients, say black pepper, ginger, coconut or coconut milk, herbs, garlic etc Here starting an Indian curry restaurant is a good business proposition.
Tomorrow will leave Sabang, thank God will have access to faster internet, start working, start following up with companies, start preparing for meetings will have next week. But miss, some time, pristine water, live corals, 1000s of different type of fish. May be soon come here, only for snorkeling.

Being Filipino-First day of 2016, Few Surprises

Miraculously internet was working at Bar! Checked email, after 7 days talked with my business partner Rohit!Messaged Rohit and Abhishek, my other colleague.
Greeted my colleague in Nepal, Mukesh. Posted new post, checked email, skype worked!
Almost all restaurants, bars, discs were closed. All were partying, celebrating new year.
Wanted to have Lechon (roasted pork) and had bacon with egg (Peso 24).

Due to high tide, water level was high, cloudy sky, almost whole day raining and still snorkelled, whole day. Met 1 guy at Big La Laguna, from Germany, met his Filipino wife 5 years back in Sabang, now has 1 kid, with his wife manages summer camp in Germany.
When was snorkeling, a big wave hit my snorkel and lost clip. As all shops were closed so not able to buy new.
Wanted to have banana snacks but had peanuts again from the corner store near Pier. Tried to catch fish with 2 Chinese guys near Pier water and this time was not lucky.
Roamed around and was waiting for Lechon vendor. Met that nice girl again, whom met couple of days back in a disc and gave her candy!She bowed down and said "Happy New Year" to me.
Had BBQed pork (Peso 10), BBQed Chicken wing (Peso 40), near Sea Shore resort, and got password to access their wifi hotspot, though not able to connect to the internet.

Near our hostel found big map of the village, found direction of Light House and coral cove. Today can go there.