Farewell from This Purple Coffee Wanderer

It's been almost a year since my last entry on this blog. After I moved to Japan, priorities have changed including things to write about. There's nothing I can write here anymore. The Purple Coffee Wanderer had ran its course.

I'm officially retiring this blog but I won't delete this. The numerous things I tried to cover here is a reflection of who I am in the years of this blog. I realized how much I love to travel, how much I love to share information and how much I love to write. I can see a part of me in this blog- someone who wanted to see the world, someone who valued information and in rare moments, someone who can feel passionately about something even without a tag price.

I'm striving to be a better writer and blogger. This blog showed me that there's a big room for improvement. Still, I'm glad I started somewhere.I'm grateful to all the people who took time to read the writings and ramblings on this blog. Knowing someone is reading this kept me going. I'm not the best blogger there is. My blogs are not entirely impressive or even evocative. But I hope, they have been informative enough to help the reader get some needed information. I hope, my blog helped you even in the smallest of ways.

It has been a pleasure to have reached you through The Purple Coffee Wanderer.

credit: www.tangrammedia.com

With high hopes,
The Purple Coffee Wanderer


PS: In my hopes to be a better writer, I started two other blogs. One is on my life in Japan. It's the Purple Pen in Japan. (Yes, I love the color purple.) The other is a Christian blog- The Lovely Cup. I hope you take time to browse them and feel free to leave comments. Thank you.

Private Hot Spring Resort in Laguna: Villa Valentino

There are many private resorts in Pansol, Laguna but I know it can be hard to pick the best ones. My family and I go to Laguna almost every year to ease the summer heat. This year, I personally find the private resort we rented better than the ones we used before. This is the Valentino Private Resort. 

Valentino Private Resort is located in the midst of hot spring resort hub of Laguna- Barangay Pansol. The resort's location is ideal compared to others. It's not in the forefront so there are no street noises but it is not also in the interior part making stores accessible from the resort. 

The pool and space are the best things about Valentino. The pool is creatively-shaped. It's not round, not rectangular or any other thing. I like it because it's not overwhelmingly large or deep. The deepest part is 6 feet while the most shallow 4. There's also a net to shield swimmers from sun's rays during day swimming. There's a jacuzzi cum kiddie pool beside it so kids can also enjoy. The water's temperature is just right- not scalding hot. Also, the water is not heavy with chlorine. The the tiles are clean which is an important thing to consider I think. Some resorts have pool tiles which are full of mildew and molds.

Adult pool at Villa Valentino
photo credit: calamba-city.saintclassifiedphilippines.com

Kiddie Pool at Villa Valentino
photo credit: www.sulit.com.ph

Some resorts in Laguna consists of rooms and pool with limited open space for parking.  At Valentino, there's open space. I think the place is ideal for small parties with 30 to 50 people without being cramped. It is that big. There's also a billiards table, karaoke and kubo. 

kubo house at Villa Valentino
photo credit: www.sulit.com.ph

There are four rooms. Two are air conditioned. All four, the rooms can accommodate 20-25 people. The only issue I have about the rooms is the worn-out furniture. I think the resort should invest on new furniture to eliminate the "old feel" of the rooms. Other than that, the rooms are okay. They are not exceptional but they are acceptable. 

airconditioned room
photo credit: www.sulit.com.ph

Lastly, for a good private resort, Valentino is quite affordable. We rented the place for 8,000 Pesos for 12 hours on a Holy Week (the peakest of the peak season) for 30 people. It's a good deal, I think. 

To reserve the resort, you can contact 0915-7467423. Enjoy the summer!

Note: I forgot to take my own pictures during my stay. I was busy having fun. I'll replace these pictures from the people who were with me. 

How to Get a Japanese Tourist Visa for Filipinos

I would love to go back to the Philippines to spend the holidays but the airfares are impossibly high. So my boyfriend decided to just come here in Japan instead. Surprisingly, it's a lot more cheaper. Our only fear was that his visa may not be granted because the Japan Embassy are very strict in issuing tourist visa for Filipinos. I can't blame then since it is also our doing. A lot of Filipinos try to obtain a tourist visa with malicious intentions. But this is not to say that obtaining a tourist visa is impossible. The key is strict compliance with the Japanese Embassy requirements. 

Basic Requirements: 

1. Passport- Make sure your passport won't expire within 6 months. I think the more stamps you have on your passport from other countries, the higher your chances. This would show that you are a regular tourist. I heard that it is also easier for those who were issued Japan visa before. 

2. Application Form- This can be downloaded from the Embassy's website or from accredited agencies. 

3. Income Tax Return- As much as possible, submit your ITR. I think this reflects that you have a job and you are paying your taxes. My boyfriend is a free lancer. In his case, he submitted a letter explaining why he won't be able to submit an ITR. 

4. Bank Certificate- This shows that you can support your trip or that you are in good financial standing. I don't think that the Embassy would be impressed if you have lots of money but you only opened your account a few days or weeks before your application. I think your bank account should be at least 6 months with reasonable amount of money on a regular basis. 

5. Photo- Just go to a studio and ask to have your picture taken for Japan Visa. They know what to do. 

6. Itinerary- The Embassy requires that you enumerate the things you will probably do in Japan. If you are in a package tour, just submit the tour's itinerary. If you're making it alone, make sure that your itinerary looks reasonable and within your budget. You can't go on touring from one place to another if you only got 50,000 Php. 

7. Birth Certificate- Most probably, if you have a passport you also have this. 

Other Requirements: 

1. Invitation Letter and Letter of Guarantee - These would be coming from your relative or friend in Japan if you have one. I think with these letters, you chances of getting a visa is higher since someone in Japan will be responsible for you. If you're joining a tour, they will act as your guarantor. If your going alone, you don't have to submit any of these. These can be downloaded from the embassy's website

2. Residence and Bank Certificates- If you are being invited, make sure that a residence and a bank certificate are also sent to you. The residence certificate is a testament that the person inviting you really lives in Japan legally. The bank certificate testifies that your guarantor tor inviting person can support your stay. The residence certificate can requested from the City Office. 

3. Income Tax Return- Your guarantor and invitee must also submit an income tax return from the city office. In my case, I wrote a letter explaining I don't have an ITR yet because I was just here for a few months. 

4. Photos- If you are visiting a friend or relative, show photos that would prove you are related. 

Also, take note that the Japanese Embassy does not accept direct applications. You have to go through accredited agencies to process your visa. My boyfriend had his at Reli Tours in SM Megamall. They are open from Mon to Sun so it's very convenient. He made sure that all documents are complete before he passed his requirements. After 5 working days, he got his Tourist Visa, thankfully.