CALIFORNIA - The Golden State

[sandripples]

Hi Guys, pwede bang magdrive in California with a Philippine driver's license? or meron pa kailangan gawin para makapagdrive doon?

[honeybea]

^yes, as long as your phl driver's license is valid no need to get an international driver's license. I usually drive in CA and Vegas ,with my Phil issued license wala naman akong nagiging problema, basta dalhin mo lang din ang passport mo when you drive in case may violation ka tapos may police na manita, just mention na you're a tourist.
Nga pala if you'll be using a relative's car, tell your relative to call their car insurance agent so they can include your name,minimal fee lang naman para iwas problema, madami din kasi ang di sumusunod sa traffic lights lalo na sa SoCal.

Iba nga pala ang driving doon, ha. familiarize yourself with the road signs pati mga kinds of lanes, eg. kung sino ang nasa right of way pati na ng pedestrians/bicycles, when merging or changing lanes dapat look over your shoulder, carpool lanes (2pax+) etc

[sandripples]

Thank you so much for the very helpful info!

^yes, as long as your phl driver's license is valid no need to get an international driver's license. I usually drive in CA and Vegas ,with my Phil issued license wala naman akong nagiging problema, basta dalhin mo lang din ang passport mo when you drive in case may violation ka tapos may police na manita, just mention na you're a tourist.
Nga pala if you'll be using a relative's car, tell your relative to call their car insurance agent so they can include your name,minimal fee lang naman para iwas problema, madami din kasi ang di sumusunod sa traffic lights lalo na sa SoCal.

Iba nga pala ang driving doon, ha. familiarize yourself with the road signs pati mga kinds of lanes, eg. kung sino ang nasa right of way pati na ng pedestrians/bicycles, when merging or changing lanes dapat look over your shoulder, carpool lanes (2pax+) etc

[VISION_OF_LOVE]

Hi po! Punta ako ng California this coming September for my cousin's wedding. September 10-26 po ako dun. And ask lang po ako regarding purchasing airline tickets. When's the best time to buy? I found kasi pinaka-mura na mga $1200, PAL. Sabi nila try ko pa daw next month, mas bababa pa daw yung mga presyo. Sabi naman nung iba mas maaga binili, mas mura. Totoo ba yun? Eto kasi:

1. 1st time ko mag-out of the country (Yup, US agad. hehe Pano na-grant ang visa? Swerte. mahabang storya. :P) Kaya hilo talaga ako sa mga ganitong travel ek-ek. So although mas mura yung mga flights na may stopover and change of airlines, advised ako na mag-direct flight nalang para walang hassle. Next time nalang daw ako mag-take ng may mga stopover at mamasyal sa airport ng ibang bansa.

2. Mag-isa ko lang pupunta sa US. So, the less complicated the flight is, the better.

3. Sagot lahat ng pinsan ko pati tickets. Pero sana kung cheapest possible makuha ko di ba. Pocket money nalang yung extra.

4. Travel date not flexible. September 10 alis (Kasi may exam ako ng September 9, good luck sa pagre-review at excitement ). September 15 ang wedding. Kaya yun lang pwede. May mga nakita kasi ako promo na September 16 ang alis, mura talaga. Kaso out of the question na nga.

May mga tips ba kayo about travel fairs, promos, when's the best time to buy etc. Sana po may makatulong. Salamat!

whoa! ang swerte mo naman na you got your US visa and its your first time to go abroad pa lang. I think your best bet is PAL. They have weekend promos starting at midnight (Sat and Sun). San ka ba pupunta? Sayang sa October naman kami, MNL-San Francisco then Las Vegas-Manila pauwi at first time naman namin to the US only..

[VISION_OF_LOVE]

^yes, as long as your phl driver's license is valid no need to get an international driver's license. I usually drive in CA and Vegas ,with my Phil issued license wala naman akong nagiging problema, basta dalhin mo lang din ang passport mo when you drive in case may violation ka tapos may police na manita, just mention na you're a tourist.
Nga pala if you'll be using a relative's car, tell your relative to call their car insurance agent so they can include your name,minimal fee lang naman para iwas problema, madami din kasi ang di sumusunod sa traffic lights lalo na sa SoCal.

Iba nga pala ang driving doon, ha. familiarize yourself with the road signs pati mga kinds of lanes, eg. kung sino ang nasa right of way pati na ng pedestrians/bicycles, when merging or changing lanes dapat look over your shoulder, carpool lanes (2pax+) etc

you mean po pag sinabing tourist lang e makakalusot po? we're kinda scared but this crossed our minds to avail of rent a car service like Hertz.

[wanderer9020]

Booked on August end to SFO via Asiana Airlines from BKK . Thinking of doing a cycling adventure in Napa valley, is it a good time to visit? I just have 2 days in SFO before flying to Mexico . Ive been to SFO , but just half day only, so I only went to Fisherman Wharf and did not even able to see the Golden Gate Bridge I did not researched about it, I thought it could be seen from the Wharf What is the best spot to see it, or where those postcard picture was taken? And public transport to go there (not taxi though) that is accessible by subway/bus.

[honeybea]

I am hoping to visit San Francisco this coming July. How's their public transpo? I'm a male solo traveller who doesn't know anybody there. Will i survive?

Hindi ko kabisado public transpo sa SFO, usually kasi by car kami tapos sa bart kung traffic. Refer ka na lang dito

http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mcust/visitors.htm

Balak mo bang mag- SFO ,LA at Vegas ? Mas okay kung mag-join ka ng tour, madaming Pinoy first timers ganun ang gawa para di naistorbo yung mga kamag-anak. Mahal din kasi ang mag-car rental lalo't solo, kasi sa gas pa lang from LA-Vegas balikan kulang ang 1 full tank.

If interested ka ng tour, mas okay na LA ang gawin mong base, mayroong mga bus tours covered yung 3, all in na pati hotels.
Okay ito madaming pick-up locations daming pinoys kang makakasabay pa.

http://www.tours4fun.com/los-angeles-tours/

you mean po pag sinabing tourist lang e makakalusot po? we're kinda scared but this crossed our minds to avail of rent a car service like Hertz.

Yes, nakakalusot kapag nalaman nilang tourist, yung sister ko 2x nahuli (Vegas at San Fernando Valley)

Booked on August end to SFO via Asiana Airlines from BKK . Thinking of doing a cycling adventure in Napa valley, is it a good time to visit? I just have 2 days in SFO before flying to Mexico . Ive been to SFO , but just half day only, so I only went to Fisherman Wharf and did not even able to see the Golden Gate Bridge I did not researched about it, I thought it could be seen from the Wharf What is the best spot to see it, or where those postcard picture was taken? And public transport to go there (not taxi though) that is accessible by subway/bus.

hangga't la pang nag-reply, ito na lang muna

http://goldengatebridge.org/visitors/directions.php

[warlocke]

^^ Thanks honeybea! kung san san ka rin pala napapadpad hehehe. I won't really have that much time as SFO is only a side trip for me. I'll be staying there for 2 nights and roughly 2 days only (afternoon na dating ko kasi then umaga alis sa third day)....kaya ko namang maglakad buong araw hehehehe

[honeybea]

^you're welcome warlocke. Namamasyal lang medyo na-miss kaka-post dito sa PEx
Yes, i-ready mo na ang mga paa mo sa lakad, iwas lang doon sa mga konti ang tao.
Ingat sa valuables, uso ang mugging sa SFO, paghiwalay-hiwalayin mo yung pera mo mas okay if konti lang ang nasa wallet yun kasi ang usually hinihingi ng mga mokong. Kahit cellphone at ipod hangga't maari huwag mo gagamitin sa daan, hindi din safe yung backpacks, may mga nang-aagaw din. stay safe

[warlocke]

^ Tnx Nya, kelangan ko palang gamitin ang Pinas sense ko hehehehe

[keyser_soze]

Booked on August end to SFO via Asiana Airlines from BKK . Thinking of doing a cycling adventure in Napa valley, is it a good time to visit? I just have 2 days in SFO before flying to Mexico . Ive been to SFO , but just half day only, so I only went to Fisherman Wharf and did not even able to see the Golden Gate Bridge I did not researched about it, I thought it could be seen from the Wharf What is the best spot to see it, or where those postcard picture was taken? And public transport to go there (not taxi though) that is accessible by subway/bus.

there are 2 main vista points, located at both approaches of the bridge. Marin side on the north, and San Francisco side on the south.

but, when we were there, these 2 vista pts were always jampacked with hordes of tourists, by the bus load! chinese, nippon, euros.. it's almost impossible to get a decent souvenir shot of yourself with the bridge as your background.. ang daming turista grabe. i dunno kung parating ganun, or is it because 75th anniversary nung tulay kaya sandamakmak yung mga tao dun

we knew beforehand that there are 2 other points below the bridge, Fort Baker on the north side, and Baker beach on the south side. but, we didn't know which exit road to turn from 101.

public transport to the bridge, not by taxi? hop-on/hop-off bus yung nakita ko dun.. i have no idea going about by subway, sorry

oh, mag-bi-bisekleta ka sa Napa? sounds fun, wag ka lang tumikim ng tumikim ng wine sa bawat vineyards na mapuntahan mo at baka mahilo ka hehe

enjoy bro.

[keyser_soze]

this is how the Golden Gate Bridge looked like on our 1st day...

coming from the San Francisco side






view from the north side vista point (Marin side)


on the way back to San Francisco side



...

[keyser_soze]

^^the usual cold, wet, foggy San Francisco..

but we were lucky the next day, lumabas ang haring araw..

will post pics later.

[VISION_OF_LOVE]

^^the usual cold, wet, foggy San Francisco..

but we were lucky the next day, lumabas ang haring araw..

will post pics later.

1 month ko ng inaabangan ang pics!

[keyser_soze]

1 month ko ng inaabangan ang pics!

naku sensya na luvs.. been busy


and honestly, i don't know which ones to post.. i got 1 sd cardful, almost a thousand pics.

anyways, i'll start posting na talaga

[keyser_soze]

headed for "Pacific Coast" Highway 1, we're coming from Anaheim


Orange


Los Angeles


there it is - Highway 1


Malibu








the famous Malibu Pier




Malibu Beach







...

[keyser_soze]

Malibu


paddle boarders




boardwalk at the pier




Huntington Beach "Surf City U.S.A."








beach volleyball!




surfer dudes


Surfin' USA!!!


grabbed a good ole American burger at Ruby's Diner

...

[keyser_soze]

Ventura






pit stop at a local McDo


Morro Bay






Cambria




elephant seals lying along the beach as far as the eyes can see!








this squirrel followed us around begging for some grub lol




....

[keyser_soze]

to be continued... so sleepy na

[keyser_soze]

attention admin!

haysss.. ano ba yan putol na naman ang mga litrato!

esp. yung mga naka-landscape ang orientation