Why you should travel with a tech support guy

Many  in the call center /BPO ( Business Process Outsourcing) industry has the penchant of travelling. And with the money available at their disposal, money, which in most cases is the main roadblock for travelers, has becomes less of an issue to some if not most of the people who works in the BPO industry, As they could either get this through their paycheck, or through incentives, thanks to their bosses who recognize their efforts and rewards their hard work.

And so, with this in mind, who would you like to spend your precious time travelling with among the people in the BPO industry? Mr/Misss Customer Service rep? or Mr/Miss Tech Support rep?

I spent most of  the 9 years in my BPO career as a technical support representative  handling ISP accounts for both US and AU. And having been to places with people during my CS years and  Tech Support years, I was able to spot some differences, Ergo..

A CS group loves to do it less of a hassle type of trip. The plan, if it pushes through, consist of the following stages:

1. More or less 2 months of planning
2. Battling to the finals of a months scorecard and making it to the top to get the elusive team fund and finalize the trip planned on step 1
3. Pre shift meeting, post shift meeting , approved team meeting, team huddle, name it , and it has been done. Ask what was the meeting about? the answer is of course , team building stuff.
4.Then after all the series of meetings, having decided on a set of budget, ( this would consist the team fund and the extra amount to be divided to all team members), the team would now start to browse all the resorts that tickles their imagination, and this is where the fun part begins, at this stage, each has their own suggestion and the team manager will start getting confused( pun intended)
5.After a series of debates, the team manager would  then decide which resort, ( could either be Pansol, or any of the resorts in Rizal, or if the team would insist, they will hit the beach.
6. If the team decides to  hit the beach, it could either be La Luz, or any of the commercial resorts in Zambales, Batanggas,or Bataan.

As reflected on the steps mentioned above, CS people has this make it simple attitude in terms of traveling. Not too much on details. Here is the money and here is what I want  way of planning a trip. In my experience, we would like to make the trip as comfortable as possible given that we have the funds, we would not play around with the details, we would pay the money, get a cozy resort, stay in their cozy place, buy some food, and  party at the place till you pass out.

Now lets talk  about the tech guys. Most of the entries on this blog has been written  during my stint as an ISP tech. Having said that, all the travels that I have been to  were DIY travels and not something arranged by a travel agency or travel groups in facebook and other social media sites.

Disclaimer: The entries stated in this blog are based on my  own experience having been once a CS rep and having planned all my travels  DIY style during which I was a tech, hence:

How A tech guy/gal plan their travel, and what makes the travel worthwhile:

1. A travelling tech group are keen into details of the travel,from the working budget to itineraries, from boatmen to resorts contact person.They want to travel DIY style.
2. A tech gives importance to the journey itself and not the destination.
3. A tech  doesn't really mind if there are people in the group that he/she met on the same date of the travel, they can be polite at times but are always ready to mingle.
4. A tech doesn't care if he stays overnight in a tent, or on a hammock. They did not come for the comfort, they came for the experience
5. A tech loves the off the beaten track and prefers the road less traveled. In return, a tech often gets rewarded with pleasant surprises brought about by the journey.
6. A tech does not overspend. He plans his own itinerary, he designs his own working budget, given the available information he contacts his own suppliers and in most situations he has a good haggling skills which results to a less expensive travel.
7. Finally, a tech is appreciative of the simple joys that he/she encounters along the way, which makes the journey more meaningful and worthwhile.

How about you, would you like to spend your vacation with a tech  guy/gal? Go ahead make your own list of observation and lets see if we can agree.

Sumlang Lake in Camalig Albay, A must see surprise..

So you think you had enough of Albay, You might have circumnavigated the Mayon loop stopping at every spot .( Cagsawa Ruins, Mayon Skyline Hotel, Lignon Hill, Mayon rest House ), well, stop.  There'r this place worth dropping by in Camalig Albay.

The best things in life are free. Just like Sumlang Lake. You can visit this fast rising tourist destination in Camalig Albay free of charge. (Though there's a donation box to all those who want to try water rafting at the lake)

Camalig Albay is home to the famous delicacy "Pinangat". But hey, there is more that Camalig has to offer. Situated in Camalig is Hoyop Hoyopan Cave, Rolling Hills in Quitinday  and of course Sumlang Lake.Camalig is Albay's next big thing in eco tourism. It is being promoted as a heritage town backed up by natural  beauty and  its gentle people.

My wife and I did not miss the chance of visiting Sumlang Lake. Thanks to my Auntie Myrna  who had taken us for our Mayon Loop expedition last December 29 2016. Sumlang Lake was our First Stop.

Sumlang lake is best visited in the afternoon when the majestic Mayon's reflection is seen in the lake, indeed a picture perfect view. I highly recommend to take sidetrip for those who have very limited time as the place is very accessble. From the National Highway , a signage that says Sumlang lake can be seen, if you are coming from Ligao, you can turn right just after the signage, volunteers are on standby along the thoroughfare to give directions.

Things to do in Camalig:

1. Visit the 17th Century church of Saint John the Baptist
2. Spelanking at Hoyop Hoyopan Cave
3. Visit the Green Rolling Hills at Quitinday
4. See a cluster of Spanish Ancestral Houses
5. Visit Sumlang lake and do water rafting
6. Eat Pinangat at any of the Local Shops that sells the towns delicacy.

Caramoan bliss at Sabitang Laya : A short love affair.

You know that feeling, when time goes so fast and yet you still manage to be with your love? That feeling when you do so much out of so little time? That feeling when you know you might be hurt and you still want to go anyway, after all you had longed for it, you had waited for long, and when the right time came, you just have to do what can be done with so little time yet too much heaven awaits?

4 hours. 4 hours was all we had.  That was the day when we had spent  4 hours of our lives as a couple  in a place we always longed to be. A place where we can enjoy natures splendid beauty. A place where we can, as a couple just enjoy ourselves and be with nature. A place to be thankful for all the blessings that came our way, A place to  plan ahead for the  coming year. A place where time could stand still, a place where we can be silent for a time and just enjoy the time as it unfolds.

I was disappointed at first to know that we wont be able to follow our itinerary that day. We planned to explore at least 3 islands during the trip but our boatman refused to follow what was planned due to strong winds that causes huge waves. As usual we had to adhere to their "safety first"policy.  Not bad though as  we still managed to dock at Sabitang Laya without hassles, but looking at the waves far down Matukad Island, I must admit it was not a bad decision. I would be happy to go to the place no matter how huge the waves are. I can say this after braving the waves to Calaguas Island but having my wife with me who wants all the adventure but does not know how to swim, I would want safety first. Thanks to Kuya Jonald for not giving in.

Our love affair with Caramoan had been a long time dream. Something that the two of us had always looked forward to. An experience worth living, a memory worth sharing. As our boatman started to maneuver the boat, we could not help but be excited in anticipation of a surreal experience. Finally we will have a taste of Caramoan, Sabitang Laya style.

Sabitang Laya is sometimes called the triangle island. The side facing Bikal Port is Called Bigang by locals while on the other side ( a 5 minute walk from Bigang is Sabitang Laya) both sides has a long white powdery white sand stretch. Of the 2 sides of the island we spent much of our time on Sabitang Laya. No doubt the reality show  Survivor often times does its taping in this side of the island. It has a breathtaking view. Like some other bloggers description it is like a combination of both Boracay and Palawan. Maybe because of the long stretch of powdery white sand and the rock formations in the island same to that in El Nido.

As the boat docked Bigang we did not wasted much time. It was low tide when we get there so we had to walk at the rocky part of the beach before getting to the island. We had not wasted much time, knowing it was going to be a short love affair, we started roaming at the island, trekking both Bigang Sabitang Laya. My wife had a good time just taking pictures and walking and taking a dip at its  pristine beach. The beach has a rocky part but there is ample space for swimming sans rocks on the sea bed.

It was a very candid experience. A short love affair, but the memories, priceless. We swim to our hearts content in the shallow part of the beach and boy the waters is so clear. We enjoyed the beach like kids. At least just for a short while, here we are, living the dream of being here for once. Here we are in the same spot we had only seen on TV, here we are, two souls one with the beach.

 As I closed my eyes while taking a dip in this piece of paradise, a famous movie quote flashed back to me:

" Trust me it's paradise. This is where the hungry come to feed. For mine is a generation that circles the globe and searches for something we haven't tried before. So never refuse an invitation, never resist the unfamiliar, never fail to be polite and never outstay the welcome. Just keep your mind open and suck in the experience. And if it hurts, you know what? It's probably worth it."- The Beach